Development and Evaluation of an Immunoinformatics-Based Multi-Peptide Vaccine against Infection.

Multi-drug-resistant (MDR) is an opportunistic pathogen associated with hospital-acquired infections. Due to its environmental persistence, virulence, and limited treatment options, this organism causes both increased patient mortality and incurred healthcare costs. Thus, prophylactic vaccination could be ideal for intervention against MDR infection in susceptible populations.

Thioredoxin-mediated alteration of protein content and cytotoxicity of outer membrane vesicles.

is a Gram-negative bacterium responsible for many hospital-acquired infections including ventilator-associated pneumonia and sepsis. We have previously identified thioredoxin A protein (TrxA) as a virulence factor with a multitude of functions including reduction of protein disulfides. TrxA plays an important role in resistance to oxidative stress facilitating host immune evasion in part by alteration of type IV pili and cell surface hydrophobicity.

Modulation of Immune Response to by Host miR-135a.

Previously, our laboratory established the role of small, noncoding RNA species, microRNA (miRNA) including miR-135a in anti-chlamydial immunity in infected hosts. We report here chlamydial infection results in decreased miR-135a expression in mouse genital tissue and a fibroblast cell line. Several chemokine and chemokine receptor genes (including CXCL10, CCR5) associated with chlamydial pathogenesis were identified to contain putative miR-135a binding sequence(s) in the 3' untranslated region.

Thioredoxin Modulates Cell Surface Hydrophobicity in .

, a Gram-negative coccobacillus, has become a prevalent nosocomial health threat affecting the majority of hospitals both in the U.S. and around the globe.

Thioredoxin-A is a virulence factor and mediator of the type IV pilus system in Acinetobacter baumannii.

The Gram-negative pathogen, Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged as a global nosocomial health threat affecting the majority of hospitals in the U.S. and abroad.