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-biliary epithelial 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 (
C. parvum is 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
Chen, et al. NEJM, 2002
Dong and Chen, Cell Mol Immunol, 2006