Medical Microbiology and Immunology

1. Medical Microbiology and Immunology Lab location: Criss I, Room 510/511 • OBJECTIVES: to apply the fundamental concepts and broad technologies of cell/molecular biology to understand mucosal immunity and immunopathobiology of epithelial-pathogen interactions. • MicroRNAs in Biliary Immunity: We are interested in the molecular basis underlying C. parvum-biliaryepithelial interactions, in particular, the role of microRNAs in epithelial anti-C. parvum defense, as well as its relevance to mucosal innate and adaptive immunity in general.    • B7-H1 in Biliary Inflammatory Responses: We are interested in the molecular regulation of B7-H1 expression in biliary epithelial cells, as well as a potential role for B7-H1 in the regulation of biliary inflammatory responses. • GRANTS: HFF, Tobacco Settlement, and NIH. TECHNOLOGIES: • MicroRNA analysis (qRT-PCR, Northern, in situ hybridization, microarray, etc.) • MicroRNA targeting identification. • In vitro translational analysis. • Mutagenesis and RNAi gene silencing. • Protein analysis (Western, ELISA, flow cytometry, immunofluorescent confocal microscopy, etc.) • In vitro & in vivo models of cryptosporidiosis, etc. PERSONNEL: • Rui Zhou, PhD; Aiyu Gong, MD • Guoku Hu, PhD; Xian Ming Chen, MD • (http://mmi.creighton.edu/faculty/chen.html) C. parvumis a NIAID Category B Priority Pathogen MicroRNAs Are a Group of Small RNAs Important in Gene Regulation B7-H1 is a Member of the B7 Family of Immunoregulatory Molecules The Small RNA World Finnegan, et al. J Cell Sci, 2003 Dong and Chen, Cell Mol Immunol, 2006 Chen, et al. NEJM, 2002