PATHOGENESIS OF HELICOBACTER HEPATICUS

描述（由申请人提供）：Catherine Beckwith， D.V.M，博士，美国实验动物医学学院文凭，在密苏里大学跟随Lela Riley博士接受博士培训，她的研究重点是诊断分析的发展，毒力因素的鉴定，以及啮齿动物幽门螺杆菌感染的发病机制的表征。在SERCA，贝克威斯博士将建立在她的研究背景，并获得额外的培训，这将使她发展成为一个独立资助的研究调查员。贝克维斯博士将在苏大丰富的学术环境中接受训练，国际知名的细菌发病机制研究领导者斯坦利·法尔科博士将指导她。贝克威斯博士的共同赞助人是兽医病理学家、比较医学系主任琳达·科克（Linda Cork）博士，她将确保她有足够的资源和时间来开展研究。临床和教学职责将仅限于维持她的临床技能。她将进行深入的研究项目，在国家科学会议上展示她的研究成果，参加实验室会议，参加冷泉港实验室的专业课程，参加与细菌发病有关的研讨会和期刊俱乐部。

DESCRIPTION (Provided by applicant): Catherine Beckwith, D.V.M, Ph.D., Diplomate, American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, received her doctoral training with Dr. Lela Riley at the University of Missouri where her research focused on development of diagnostic assays, identification of virulence factors, and characterization of the pathogenesis of rodent Helicobacter infections. With the SERCA, Dr. Beckwith will build upon her background in research and obtain additional training that will allow her to develop into an independently funded research investigator. Dr. Beckwith will train in the rich intellectual environment of SU where Dr. Stanley Falkow, an internationally renowned leader in bacterial pathogenesis research, will mentor her. Dr. Beckwith is co-sponsored by Linda Cork, D.V.M., Ph.D., a veterinary pathologist and the Department Chair of Comparative Medicine, who will ensure that she has the resources and time to carry out her research. Clinical and teaching responsibilities will be only as sufficient to maintain her clinical skills. Dr. Beckwith will conduct an in-depth research project, present her research at national scientific meetings, participate in laboratory meetings, attend specialized courses at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and attend seminars and journal clubs related to bacterial pathogenesis. Dr. Beckwith's research will use a molecular and genetic approach to identify and characterize virulence factors in H. hepaticus, the cause of IBD, chronic active hepatitis, and hepatocellular tumors in mice. The H. hepaticus-infected mouse is an animal model of chronic bacterial infection, which closely mimics human hepatobiliary and inflammatory bowel diseases. Dr. Beckwith will create a transposon library in H. hepaticus and identify virulence factors through negative selection in mice. Novel virulence factors and the host response will be characterized using traditional and cutting edge techniques including global gene expression analysis with microarrays. Characterization of virulence factors is essential to understanding the pathogenesis of IBD and hepatitis caused byH. hepaticus. Recent evidence suggests a link between helicobacters and chronic hepatobiliary diseases in humans. The long-term goal of the proposal is to develop new strategies for prevention and treatment of chronic liver and intestinal disease in humans.