David L. Hasty

DAVID L. HASTY, PH.D.

Professor
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology
The University of Tennessee, Memphis

Address

The University of Tennessee, Memphis
Research Service (151) Veterans Affairs Medical Center
1030 Jefferson Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104
Tel: (901) 523-8990, ext. 7556; Fax: (901) 577-7273;

Education

Ph.D. Institution: University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN
Postdoctoral: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Research Interests

Research in my laboratory focuses on various aspects of the pathogenesis of infections caused by uropathogenic E. coli and group A streptococci. We have been interested for many years in the molecular mechanisms whereby these pathogenic bacteria attach to mucosal epithelial cells of the host. This involves identification of the adhesive surface proteins (adhesins) of the bacteria and their cognate receptors on the surfaces of host cells, as well as studying their molecular interactions. Molecular biological techniques have enabled us to clone adhesin genes, sequence allelic variants having different binding activities, inactivate the genes to create knockout strains and express fragments of the adhesin proteins to determine active motifs. Standard biochemical procedures have allowed us to purify adhesin and receptor proteins and to study the characteristics of their binding interactions. Experiments in animal models allow us to demonstrate the contribution of adhesins to pathogenesis of disease and to test anti-adhesion compounds to treat infections. Recently, we have begun to study the proinflammatory properties of various bacterial products and to determine the role this plays in activation of the innate immune system to either clear or exacerbate the infection. Current studies in this area deal with the synergistic interactions of streptococcal lipoteichoic acid and host blood components in the activation of macrophages to produce inflammatory cytokines.

Recent Publications

view complete list of references (pubmed link)