Borrelia burgdorferi Pathogenesis and Control

Dr. Hu’s laboratory studies host-pathogen interactions of the organism Borrelia burgdorferi. His laboratory is interested in both how the organism responds and adapts to its changing environments, as well as the impact of the host immune response to B. burgdorferi on manifestations of disease. The current projects are:

• Co-opting of host proteases by Borrelia burgdorferi: utilization of host inflammatory responses in the pathogenesis of Lyme arthritis

• Mechanisms of host adaptation by B. burgdorferi

• Understanding host inflammatory responses to B. burgdorferi: role of Toll-like receptors and integrin receptors in coordinating inflammation and phagocytosis

• Reduction of vector and reservoir competence for carriage of Borrelia burgdorferi: development of a vaccine for mice in wild-life settings

• Cooperation between microbes: bacterial interactions in the pathogenesis of periodontitis