F. nucleatum in periodontal disease and preterm birth

描述（由申请人提供）：韩一平博士是微生物博士。韩博士的研究围绕着理解F.核质自从加入凯斯西储大学以来，她的研究兴趣已经从基础科学扩展到包括更多的临床研究。韩博士和她的同事最近开发了一个怀孕的小鼠模型，并显示了F。核质和早产。韩博士使用F. nucleatum作为模式生物，研究口腔健康与早产之间的相关性。她得到了NIDCR的研究支持，获得了R 03奖（DE 14447），以调查F的来源。早产妇女羊水中的FadA感染，以及R 01奖（DE 14924），以进一步表征来自该生物体的FadA粘附素。K 02奖项的支持将使韩博士能够放弃在不久的将来进一步的资助申请，并避免预计的教学和行政责任的增加。这将使韩博士能够将超过80%的精力投入到她的研究计划和牙科和生殖生物学的再教育计划中。长期的职业目标是成为一名全面的口腔微生物学家，能够胜任基础科学和转化研究。本申请的具体目的是：（i）表征来自F. nucleatum在组织细胞附着和侵袭中的作用;（ii）鉴定FadA的宿主受体并表征其在F. nudeatum-hosl细胞的相互作用;和（iii）以确定是否与F.在阴道、血液或口腔中，有核细胞具有相同的种类。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Dr Yiping Han is a PhD microbiologist. Dr Han's research evolves around understanding the virulence mechanism of F. nucleatum. Since joining the faculty at Case Western Reserve University, her research interest has expanded from basic science to include more clinically oriented studies. Dr Han and her colleagues recently developed a pregnant murine model and showed a causal relationship between F. nucleatum and preterm birth. Dr Han is using F. nucleatum as a model organism to investigate the correlation between oral health and preterm birth. She has research support from NIDCR, with an R03 award (DE 14447) to investigate the source of F. nucleatum infection in amniotic fluids in women in preterm labor, and an R01 award (DE 14924) to further characterize the FadA adhesin from this organism. Support from a K02 award will allow Dr Han to forego further grant applications for the near future and to avoid projected increase in teaching and administrative responsibilities. This will permit Dr Han to devote over 80% of her effort on her research program and her plans for re-education in dentistry and reproductive biology. Long term career goals are to become a well-rounded oral microbiologist competent in both basic science and translational research. The specific aims of this application are: (i) to characterize the FadA adhesin from F. nucleatum for its role in tissue cell attachment and invasion; (ii) to identify the host receptor for FadA and to characterize its role in F. nudeatum-hosl cell interactions; and (iii) to determine if women with amniotic fluid infections of F. nucleatum harbor the same species in the vaginal track, blood, or the oral cavity.