School of Dental Medicine - University at Buffalo

Connell, Terry Ph.D. Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology; Associate Professor, Department of Oral Biology

Address:

138 Farber Hall

Buffalo, NY 14214

(716)716-829-3364

connell@buffalo.edu

Research Profile

REGULATION OF MUCOSAL IMMUNE RESPONSES. A major focus of my laboratory is to
investigate the cellular and molecular events which modulate mucosal immune
responses. We have demonstrated that LT-IIa and LT-IIb, two Type II
heat-labile enterotoxins of Escherichia coli, are potent oral and nasal
immunogens that have the capacity for augmenting humoral and cellular immune
responses . Using a variety of immunological and cellular techniques
(including flow cytometry, FRET fluorescent detection, cytokine multiplex
analysis, mutagenesis, and the use of transgenic mice), we are evaluating
the manners in which these two immunomodulators productively interact with
various lymphoid cells such as T cells, B cells, and dendritic cells to
induce or suppress cytokine production, co-stimulatory ligand expression,
and proliferation.

IRON ACQUISTION IN THE BORDETELLAE. A second focus of my laboratory is to
investigate the mechanisms by which Bordetella pertussis, B. bronchiseptica,
and B. avium, three gram-negative bacteria that infect the upper respiratory
tract of children and domesticated animals, acquire essential nutrients
required to colonize the respiratory tract and to sustain progressive
infections. Iron (Fe) is one of the most important nutrients required by
most, if not all infectious bacteria which must be obtained from the tissues
and fluids of the infected host.
Using proteomic, recombinant, immunological, and biochemical methods, we are
unraveling the genetic and molecular components of these bacteria that
mediate acquisition of Fe from host-derived heme, myoglobin, and hemoglobin.
We have identified a cluster of genes (bhuRSTUV) which encodes five proteins
required for uptake of heme and a second gene cluster (rhuIR) which encodes
for two heme-dependent regulatory proteins which control heme-dependent
expression of the uptake systems. Our current research is focused on
analysis of these seven genes and expressed proteins. we are also
initiating a proteomics-based analysis of the B. pertussis and B. avium
outer membranes using a state-of-the-art Two-dimensional fluorescent gel
electrophoresis method (2D-DIGE).