THE TUFTS 2009
SUMMER SCHOLARS
 

Opportunity Details

Details about the opportunity you selected and the mentor are shown below. It is your responsibility to contact the mentor to discuss collaborating with them this summer. If your mentor invites you to submit an application, you can access that from the front page of this site. Upon completion of the application, it will be sent to the mentor for approval before being passed on to the Summer Scholar Selection Committee, which will make the decisions.

Faculty Information
   Joan Mecsas
   joan.mecsas@tufts.edu
   Assistant Professor
   P: (617) 636-2742
   F: (617) 636-0337
Address:
   Dept of Microbiology
136 Harrison Ave
   Boston,, MA  02111
Affiliated Institutions:
  
Sackler School
Medical School
Associated Departments:
  
Dept of Molecular Biology and Microbiology
Web Sites:
  
http://www.tufts.edu/sackler/microbiology/faculty/mecsas/index.html
http://www.tufts.edu/sackler/immunology/mecsas/index.html
 
Opportunity:
   Bacterial Pathogenesis
Summary:
   The Mecsas lab works on two major topics in infectious diseases. The first project involves understanding how the bacterial pathogen, Yersinia, causes disease in mammals. Using a mouse model system of infection, we are investigating how the Yersinia Yops, which are injected into mammalian cells by a type III secretion system, inactive immune cells. In addition, we are investigating how Yersinia specifically targets host immune cells for Yop delivery. The second project involves understanding how the type III secretion system works and how small molecules, which we have previously identified, inhibit type III secretion and Yop delivery into mammalian cells. In addition, we are exploring whether these small molecules are useful anti-infectives and whether they halt infection by Yersinia and other bacteria carrying type III secretion systems in mice.
Contact Via:
   E-mail
What is the timeframe for this research opportunity?
   May-August
Prerequisities for students?
   Some Biological and/or chemistry labs and course work
Responsibilities for students?
   Carrying out experiments under the direction of the PI and a graduate student or post-doc
Area(s) of Research:
  
Microbiology
Bacterial Genetics
Infectious Diseases
Immunology
 

 

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