Progress 03/04/09 to 03/03/14
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience is comprised of scientists with relevant expertise in the research areas being pursued and the scientifically literate public. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The project provided training opportunities for undergraduates and postdoctoral trainees. This training included learning experimental and lab safety practices, as well as the intellectual basis of the scientific method in practice. Trainees also learned about how to communicate scientific findings to broad scientific audiences. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The results have been disseminated through peer reviewed publication What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We gained insight into molecular mechanisms mediating interactions between bacterial and fungal pathogens and their corresponding host cells. In addition, we advanced the development of novel microbial fuel cell and microbial bioconversion platforms.
Publications
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Progress 01/01/13 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience for my research activities have included scientists with research interests in environmental microbiology, infectious diseases, molecular biology, biochemistry and cell biology. An additional audience has included undergraduate, graduate student and postdoctoral trainees. The biotechnology community and leaders with interests in technology commercialization have also constituted an audience for this research. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The project has supported the training of undergraduates, postdoctoral fellows and high school students, in state of the art molecular, microbiological and cell biological methods. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We advanced the development of a novel microbial fuel cell platform, and elucidated mechanisms mediating interactions between the fungal pathogen C. neoformans and the bacterial pathogen Brucella melitensis and host cells.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Death be not proud--cell death control in plant fungal interactions.
Dickman MB, de Figueiredo P.
PLoS Pathog. 2013 Sep;9(9):e1003542. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003542. Epub 2013 Sep 12. No abstract available.
PMID: 24068920
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Tripping on acid: trans-kingdom perspectives on biological acids in immunity and pathogenesis.
Criscitiello MF, Dickman MB, Samuel JE, de Figueiredo P.
PLoS Pathog. 2013;9(7):e1003402. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003402. Epub 2013 Jul 18.
PMID: 23874196
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Fifty shades of immune defense.
Criscitiello MF, de Figueiredo P.
PLoS Pathog. 2013 Feb;9(2):e1003110. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003110. Epub 2013 Feb 7.
PMID: 23408882
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Microfabricated devices in microbial bioenergy sciences.
Han A, Hou H, Li L, Kim HS, de Figueiredo P.
Trends Biotechnol. 2013 Apr;31(4):225-32. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2012.12.002. Epub 2013 Feb 28
PMID: 23453527
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Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The project advanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms mediating interactions between pathogens and host cells. The project also developed novel bioenergy platforms and elucidated mechanisms mediating the inherited bone failure syndrome Shwachman Diamond Syndrome. The project contributed to the training of postdoctoral researchers and scientists as well as undergraduate students. PARTICIPANTS: Participants included Paul de Figueiredo, Sheng Li Ding, Lei Li, Raul Calzada, Olga Belyanina. Each of these individuals received training and were provided professional development opportunities while in the laboratory. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audiences of this research included: cientists, Physicians, Technology leaders, undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, patients and their families. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The project contributed to the development novel methods for measuring intracellular pathogenesis, novel microscale devices that can be used to advance the development of bioenergy solutions, and identified novel small molecule compounds that may have efficacy in treating the inherited bone marrow failure syndrome Shwachman Diamond Syndrome.
Publications
- 1. A microfluidic microbial fuel cell array that supports long-term multiplexed analyses of electricigens. Hou H, Li L, Ceylan C, Haynes A, Cope J, Wilkinson HH, Erbay C, de Figueiredo P, Han A. Lab Chip. 2012 Oct 21;12(20):4151-9.
- 2. A PLA1-2 punch regulates the Golgi complex. Bechler ME, de Figueiredo P, Brown WJ. Trends Cell Biol. 2012 Feb;22(2):116-24. doi: 10.1016/j.tcb.2011.10.003. Epub 2011 Nov 28.
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Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Instructed more than 120 undergraduate students in the bioenvironmental sciences. This instruction included descriptions of research findings. Trained graduate students and postdoctoral trainees in state of the art molecular methods. I also developed new methods to study interactions between pathogens and host cells and contributed to NIH and NSF review panels. I secured competitive federal funding as well as support from private foundations, including the Gates foundations Established collaborations with investigators in disparate departments and Universities. I participated in outreach activities in the State of Texas, including HESTEC, one of the States largest science outreach endeavors, in the Rio Grande Valley. I also led the development of Invisible Jungle Radio-- a public outreach program Commercialized technology in the bioenergy arena PARTICIPANTS: Paul de Figueiredo, Qingming Qin, Sheng Li Ding, Lei Li TARGET AUDIENCES: Undergraduate students, Graduate students, Scientific research community, Bioenergy commercialization community and the General public PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
I enhanced knowledge of host pathogen interactions. I enhanced knowledge among the general public in the microbiological sciences. I also enhanced our understanding and approaches of clean energy approaches and supported technology commercialization
Publications
- Functional analysis of host factors that mediate the intracellular lifestyle of Cryptococcus neoformans. Qin QM, Luo J, Lin X, Pei J, Li L, Ficht TA, de Figueiredo P. PLoS Pathog. 2011 Jun;7(6):e1002078. Epub 2011 Jun 16.
- Comparative pathobiology of fungal pathogens of plants and animals. Dckman MB, Figueiredo P. PLoS Pathog. 2011 Dec;7(12):e1002324. Epub 2011 Dec 15.
- A PLA1-2 punch regulates the Golgi complex. Bechler ME, de Figueiredo P, Brown WJ. Trends Cell Biol. 2012 Feb;22(2):116-24. Epub 2011 Nov 28.
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Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Dissemination through publication of research findings, teaching of graduate students, undergraduates, and post-doctoral fellows, presentations at national and international scientific meetings. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Lei Li, Dr. Qingming Qin and Ms. Veronica Ancona worked on the project. Support was provided by undergraduate students. Collaborators from Harvard (Shamu), the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (Shimamura), UCSF Medical School (Huang), U of Louisville Medical School (Ellis), Texas A&M (Samuel, Ficht, Rice-Ficht) participated on the project TARGET AUDIENCES: Patients, energy users, scientists, companies, technologists PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Research resulted in the signing of an option agreement for technology transfer, the development of candidate therapeutics for treating bone marrow failure diseases and cancer, and new strategies and approaches for combating infectious disease
Publications
- 1. Hou H Li L de Figueiredo P and Han A Microfabricated microbial fuel cell arrays reveal electrochemically active microbes PLoS ONE 2009 Aug 10 4(8)e6570
- 2. Jupiter D Ficht TA, Samuel J Qin Q and de Figueiredo P. DNA watermarking of infectious agents: progress and prospects. PLoS Pathog. 2010 Jun 17 6(6):e1000950
- 3.Ancona V, Appel DN, de Figueiredo P. Xylella fastidiosa: a model for analyzing agricultural biosecurity. Biosecur Bioterro. 2010 Jun;8(2) 171-82
- 4.Dodsworth JA Li L Wei S, Hedlund BP Leigh JA and de Figueiredo P. Inter-domain conjugal transfer of DNA from Bacteria to Archaea Appl Environ Micro 2010 Aug;76(16) 5644-7 Epub 2010 Jun 2
- 5. Hou H Li L de Figueiredo P Han A Air-cathode microbial fuel cell array: A device for identifying and characterizing electrochemically active microbes Biosens Bioelectron 2010. Jul 1
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Training of graduate students and postdocs. Systems for elucidating host pathogen interactions developed. In particular, functional genomics system for elucidating host factors that support infection by the bacterial pathogens Brucella melitensis and Acinetobacter baumannii, and the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, were developed. The identification of these host factors is expected to facilitate the development of therapeutic interventions for these diseases. In a parallel line of investigation, research to develop systems that support the direct conversion of cellulosic substrates into high energy biofuels was performed. Research communicated through publications and symposium presentations. Research communicated in undergraduate curriculum. Grant applications to federal agencies pursued. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: We have expanded our research to include work on Cryptococcus neoformans, Acinetobacter baumannii and also into bioenergy, including microbial fuel cells
Impacts
The research increased our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of host pathogen interactions, in general, and the way in which bacteria and fungi interact with host cells in particular. Students demonstrated increased appreciation of science and research skills. Jobs were created by external funding secured.
Publications
- Qin QM, Pei J, Ancona V, Shaw BD, Ficht TA, de Figueiredo P. 2008. RNAi screen of endoplasmic reticulum-associated host factors reveals a role for IRE1a in supporting Brucella replication. PLoS Pathog. 2008 Jul 25;4(7):e1000110 PMID: 1865462.
- Sriranganathan N., Seleem MN, Olsen SC, Samartino LE, Whatmore AM, Bricker B, OCallaghan D, Halling S, Crasta OR, Wattam RA, Purkayastha A, Sobral BW, Snyder EE, Williams K, Yu G-X, Ficht TA, Roop, CM, de Figueiredo P, Boyle SM, He, O, and Tsolis, RM. 2009. Brucella. In Animal associated microbes, Vol: 8 Genome Mapping in Animals and Microbes.
- Springer-Verlag. Hou H., Li L, de Figueiredo P and Han A. 2009. Microfabricated microbial fuel cell arrays reveal electrochemically active microbes. PLoS ONE 2009 Aug 10;4(8):e6570 PMID: 19668333
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