Molecular Sciences Faculty Directory
Thomas P. Hatch, Ph.D.
Professor
858 Madison Ave.
701 Molecular Science Building
Memphis, TN 38163
Email: thatch@utmem.edu
Phone: 901-448-4664
Fax: 901-448-8462
Research Interests
The primary research interest in the Hatch lab is gene regulation in the obligate intracellular bacteria of the genus Chlamydia. Productive chlamydial infections are characterized by three stages: Early---the endocytosis of a metabolically inactive elementary body (EB) and the turn-on of early stage genes, followed by the expression of housekeeping genes, and the conversion of EBs to reticulate bodies (RBs); Middle---division of RBs; Late---down-regulation of housekeeping genes, the reorganization of RBs to EBs, and the release of infectious EBs from the host cell. Chlamydiae can also be induced to a persistent state characterized by maintenance of an abnormal RB form of low metabolic activity and defective in cell division. We study the role of DNA binding proteins and sigma factors and their regulators in controlling gene expression. We are particularly interested in a DNA binding protein, EUO, which is made in the immediate early stage of the cycle and which is highly up-regulated during persistent infections. A second focus of the lab is the identification of novel T cell antigens in the select agent of bioterrorism, Franciscella tularensis.
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Education
- Ph.D., UCLA, 1971
- B.S., Amherst College, 1966
