# overview
The long-term objective of my research is to identify and characterized virulence determinants that contribute to the pathogenic potential of the B. burgdorferi. Through the utilization of in vivo bioluminescence we are evaluating the kinetics of borrelial infectivity in various strains or mutant derivatives that exhibit distinct phenotypes.  We are also tracking how in vivo synthesis of critical virulence determinants affects B. burgdorferi colonization and dissemination. This work will contribute to the current body of knowledge by shedding light on the pathogenic and temporal role of specific borrelial genes during the infectious process.

# keywords[]
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

# keywords[]
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

# keywords[]
2.2 Factors Relating To The Physical Environment

# educationAndTraining[].organization.label
Texas A&M University - (College Station, Texas, United States)

# educationAndTraining[].organization.label
Texas A&M Health Science Center - (College Station, Texas, United States)

# educationAndTraining[].organization.label
Texas A&M Health Science Center - (College Station, Texas, United States)

# publications[].label
Detection of Bioluminescent Borrelia burgdorferi from In Vitro Cultivation and During Murine Infection.

# publications[].label
Transcriptional profiling of Borrelia burgdorferi containing a unique bosR allele identifies a putative oxidative stress regulon.

# publications[].label
The intergenic small non-coding RNA ittA is required for optimal infectivity and tissue tropism in Borrelia burgdorferi.

# publications[].label
A conservative amino acid change alters the function of BosR, the redox regulator of Borrelia burgdorferi.

# publications[].label
In Vivo Imaging Demonstrates That Borrelia burgdorferi ospC Is Uniquely Expressed Temporally and Spatially throughout Experimental Infection.

# publications[].label
Borrelia burgdorferi alters its gene expression and antigenic profile in response to CO2 levels.

# publications[].label
pncA and bptA are not sufficient to complement Ixodes scapularis colonization and persistence by Borrelia burgdorferi in a linear plasmid lp25-deficient background.

# publications[].label
A high-throughput genetic screen identifies previously uncharacterized Borrelia burgdorferi genes important for resistance against reactive oxygen and nitrogen species.

# publications[].label
Borrelia burgdorferi spatiotemporal regulation of transcriptional regulator bosR and decorin binding protein during murine infection.

# publications[].label
Genetic transformation of Borrelia burgdorferi.

# publications[].label
The BB0646 protein demonstrates lipase and haemolytic activity associated with Borrelia burgdorferi, the aetiological agent of Lyme disease.

# publications[].label
Borrelia burgdorferi engages mammalian type I interferon responses via the cGAS-STING pathway

# publications[].label
Borrelia burgdorferi Keeps Moving and Carries on: A Review of Borrelial Dissemination and Invasion.

# publications[].label
Genome-wide screen identifies novel genes required for Borrelia burgdorferi survival in its Ixodes tick vector.

# publications[].label
The Borrelia burgdorferi Adenylate Cyclase, CyaB, Is Important for Virulence Factor Production and Mammalian Infection.

# publications[].label
The BBA33 lipoprotein binds collagen and impacts Borrelia burgdorferi pathogenesis.

# publications[].label
The Intergenic Small Non-Coding RNA ittA is Required for Optimal Infectivity and Tissue Tropism in Borrelia burgdorferi

# publications[].label
The BosR regulatory protein of Borrelia burgdorferi interfaces with the RpoS regulatory pathway and modulates both the oxidative stress response and pathogenic properties of the Lyme disease spirochete.

# publications[].label
Characterization of a conditional bosR mutant in Borrelia burgdorferi.

# publications[].label
Bioluminescent imaging of Borrelia burgdorferi in vivo demonstrates that the fibronectin-binding protein BBK32 is required for optimal infectivity.

# publications[].label
The Borrelia burgdorferi adenylyl cyclase, CyaB, is important for virulence factor production and mammalian infection

# publications[].label
Enzyme functionalized microgels enable precise regulation of dissolved oxygen and anaerobe culture.

# researcherOn[].label
Genetic Mechanisms In Borrelia Burgdorferi Pathogenesis

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - (Bethesda, Maryland, United States)

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.preferredLabel
National Institute of Infectious Diseases

# researcherOn[].label
Characterization of C02 Sensing and Regulatory Response in Borrelia burgdorferi

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Institutes of Health - (Bethesda, Maryland, United States)

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.preferredLabel
DHHS-NIH-National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

# researcherOn[].label
In Vivo Dual Bioluminescence Reporter System of Infectious Borrelia Burgdorferi

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Institutes of Health - (Bethesda, Maryland, United States)

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.preferredLabel
DHHS-NIH-National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

# researcherOn[].label
The Role of Small Non-Coding RNA in Borrelial Pathogenesis

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Institutes of Health - (Bethesda, Maryland, United States)

# streetAddress
Texas A&M Health Science Center; Microbial Pathogenesis And Immunology; 1359 TAMUS