Publications by authors named "Jada L George"

Unlabelled: Pathogenic bacteria rely on secreted virulence factors to cause disease in susceptible hosts. However, in Gram-positive bacteria, the mechanisms underlying secreted protein activation and regulation post-membrane translocation remain largely unknown. Using proteomics, we identified several proteins that are dependent on the secreted chaperone PrsA2.

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The placenta is a critical barrier against viral, bacterial, and eukaryotic pathogens. For most teratogenic pathogens, the precise molecular mechanisms of placental resistance are still being unraveled. Given the importance of understanding these mechanisms and challenges in replicating trophoblast-pathogen interactions using models, we tested an existing stem-cell-derived model of trophoblast development for its relevance to infection with .

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is a Gram-positive bacterium and a significant health threat with the populations most at risk being children, the elderly, and the immuno-compromised. To colonize and transition into an invasive infectious organism, secretes virulence factors that are translocated across the bacterial membrane and destined for surface exposure, attachment to the cell wall, or secretion into the host. The surface exposed protein chaperones PrsA, SlrA, and HtrA facilitate protein secretion; however, the distinct roles contributed by each of these secretion chaperones have not been well defined.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The placenta serves as an essential barrier against various pathogens, but the specific ways it resists infections are still being studied, particularly for teratogenic pathogens.
  • - Researchers used a stem-cell derived model of trophoblast development to investigate how different types of trophoblasts respond to infections, finding that one type (syncytiotrophoblast) shows strong resistance to certain pathogens while the other (cytotrophoblast) does not.
  • - The study highlighted that the structure and behavior of stem-cell derived trophoblasts closely mimic primary cells in terms of pathogen resistance, emphasizing the placenta's role in protecting against infections that can harm fetal development.
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