Department of Oral Biology

Home > About Oral Biology > People

Li, Chunhao (Chris) M.D., Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Biology

Address:
304b Foster Hall
Buffalo, NY 14214
(716)829-6014
cli9@buffalo.edu

Research Profile

Spirochetes are a group of medically important but poorly understood bacteria, which can cause numerous human and animal diseases, including syphilis (Treponema), Lyme disease (Borrelia), leptospirosis (Leptospira), human periodontal diseases (oral Treponema species) as well as swine dysentery and human diarrhea (Brachyspira ). The research in Dr Li’s laboratory is centered on understanding the basic biology and pathogenesis of the pathogenic spirochetes, including the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi and the oral spirochete Treponma denticola, by using a genetic, biochemical, genomic, proteomic and animal model approach. His current research efforts are directed to the following specific projects:
1. To elucidate the unique complex structure of periplasmic flagella (PF) of spirochetes by using the spirochete Brachyspira hyodysenteriae as a genetic model.
2. To understand the molecular mechanisms of motility and chemotaxis of the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi.
3. To determine the roles of motility and chemotaxis in the pathogenesis of Lyme disease.
4. To determine the roles of bacterial two-component signaling pathways and small signaling molecules such as c-di-GMP in the biology and pathogenesis of the spirochetes, including Treponema denticola and Borrelia burgdorferi.

Representative Publications Search Publications in MEDLINE

1. Li CH, Qing JC, Shi MH, Wang YZ, Lie YX.1997. Characterization of Chinese Leptospriaceae by rRNA gene restriction fragment length polymorphism. Chinese Journal of Microbiology and Immunology. 17 (3):187-191.

2. Shi, MH, Liang ZX, Li CH, Hartskeerl RA, Herman VDK. 1997. Investigation of infected cattle by Leptospira interrogans in China. Chinese Journal of Epidemiology.18 (1): 12-14.

3. Ge Y, Li, C., Corum L, Slaughter CA and Charon NW. 1998. Structure and expression of the FlaA periplasmic flagellar protein of Borrelia burgdorferi. J. Bacteriol. 180:2418-2425

4. Li, C., Corum L, Morgan D. Rosey EL, Stanton TB, Charon NW. 2000. The spirochete FlaA periplasmic flagellar sheath protein impacts flagellar helicity. J. Bacteriol. 182:6698-6706.

5. Li, C., Motaleb A, Sal M, Goldstein SF, and Charon NW. Spirochete periplasmic flagella and motility. 2000. J. Mol. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 2:345-354

6. Li, C., Md.A. Motaleb, M.Sal, S.F.Goldstein, and N.W.Charon. Gyration, Rotation, Periplasmic Flagella: The Biology of Spirochetes Motility. In:Cellular and Molecular Biology of Spirochetes. Horizon Scientific Press. 2001.

7. Li, C., Bakker RG, Motaleb MA, Sartakova ML, Cabello FC and Charon NW. 2002. Asymmetrical flagellar rotation in Borrelia burgdorferi non-chemotaxis mutants. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 99: 6169-6174.

8. Zuerner RL, Stanton TB, Miniton FC, Li, C., Charon NW, Trott DJ and Hampson DJ. 2004. Genetic variation in Brachyspira: chromosomal rearrangements and sequence drift distinguish B. pilosicoli from B. hyodysenteriae. Anaerobe.10: 229-237

9. Motaleb, M.A., Miller, M.R., Li, C., Bakker, R.G., Goldstein, SF, Silversmith, RE, Bourret, R.B., and Charon, N.W. 2005. CheX is a CheY-P phosphatase essential for Borrelia burgdorferi chemotaxis. J. Bacteriol.,187:7973-3969.

10. Charon, N.W. Li, C., Goldstein, S.F. The Beguiling Motility of the Genus Treponema. Chapter 6 (130-147), Treponema Molecular and Cellular Biology. Horizon Bioscience/Caister Academic Press. 2006.

11. Bakker RG, Li, C., Miller MR, Cunningham C and Charon NW. 2006. Identification of specific chemoattractants and complementation of cheA2 of Borrelia burgdorferi: A flow cytometry-based capillary tube chemotaxis assay. Appl Environ Microbiol.73:1180-8.

12. Motaleb MA, Miller MR, Li C, Charon NW. 2007. Phosphorylation Assays of Chemotaxis Two-Component System Proteins in Borrelia burgdorferi. Methods Enzymol.422:438-47.

13. Motaleb MA, Miller MR, Bakker RG, Li C, Charon NW. 2007. Isolation and Characterization of Chemotaxis Mutants of the Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi Using Allelic Exchange Mutagenesis, Flow Cytometry, and Cell Tracking. Methods Enzymol.422:419-37.

14. Sal MS, Li C, Motaleb MA, Shibata S, Aizawa S, Charon NW. 2008. Borrelia burgdorferi uniquely regulates its motility genes and has an intricate flagellar hook-basal body structure. J Bacteriol.190:1912-21.

15. Li, C., Wolgemuth CW, Marko M, Morgan DG, and Charon NW. 2008. Genetic analysis of spirochete flagellin proteins and their involvement in motility, filament assembly, and flagella morphology. Journal Bacteriology,190(16):5607–5615.

16. Yu Yang, Philip E. Stewart, Xiaoguang Shi, and Chunhao Li*. 2008. Development of a Transposon Mutagenesis System in the Oral Spirochete Treponema denticola. Appl Environ Microbiol., 74(20):6461-4.

17. Yang Y, Li C. 2008. Transcription and genetic analyses of a putative N-acetylmuramyl-l-alanine amidase in Borrelia burgdorferi. FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2008 Nov 18