F. nucleatum in periodontal disease and preterm birth

简介(申请人提供)：韩益平博士，博士，微生物学家。韩博士的研究围绕了解核镰刀菌的毒力机制展开。自从加入凯斯西储大学的教职以来，她的研究兴趣已经从基础科学扩大到更多面向临床的研究。韩博士和她的同事最近开发了一个怀孕的小鼠模型，并证明了核孢子虫与早产之间的因果关系。韩博士正在使用核藻作为模式生物来研究口腔健康和早产之间的相关性。她获得了NIDCR的研究支持，获得了R03奖(DE 14447)，以调查早产妇女羊水中核孢子虫感染的来源，并获得了R01奖(DE 14924)，以进一步表征这种微生物的FADA粘附素。K02奖项的支持将使韩博士在不久的将来放弃进一步的拨款申请，并避免预计增加的教学和行政责任。这将使韩博士能够将80%以上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发展的口腔微生物学家，在基础科学和翻译研究方面都有能力。这项应用的具体目的是：(I)鉴定核杆菌FADA粘附素在组织细胞附着和侵袭中的作用；(Ii)鉴定FADA的宿主受体，并表征其在核杆菌与宿主细胞相互作用中的作用；以及(Iii)确定羊水感染核杆菌的妇女是否在阴道、血液或口腔中具有相同的菌种。

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.