• B.S. , Washington University, 1994

• Ph.D., University of Iowa, 2000

• Postdoctoral fellow, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 2000-2005

  
  
  
  

• BIOL 205 Microbiology
• BIOL 310 Pathogenic Microbiology
• BIOL 598 Infection/Immunity
  
  

My research has focused on the development and characterization of bacterial enterotoxins as molecular tools and potential vaccines. The protein toxin secreted by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, cholera toxin (CT), has long been known as a potent immunomodulator. When administered orally with other antigens of interest, this toxin can elicit a strong antibody response directed to the antigen of interest, indicating it has potential to act as an important oral vaccine adjuvant. Vaccine adjuvants are much needed "helpers" to stimulate immune responses to poorly immunogenic antigens. To date, there is only one vaccine adjuvant approved for use in humans, and there are no approved adjuvants that are effective when delivered orally. Bacterial enterotoxins, including CT and the E.coli heat-labile toxins (LTI and LTII), are extremely potent adjuvants when delivered orally in animal models, however, they are toxic, and not applicable for humans. My laboratory has developed chimeras that eliminate the toxic portion of the CT molecule while retaining the receptor-binding and adjuvant activity of the molecule. We are working to express and purify these proteins within the periplasm of E.coli so that the chimeras can be introduced into animal models and the immune response characterized. In addition, I am interested in better understanding the trafficking and signaling of these molecules within the eukaryotic cell, as well as characterizing novel bacterial toxins that may act as modulators of the immune system.