Faculty
Duncan
C. Krause,
Ph.D.
Professor of Microbiology
Ph.D.
(1982) University of North Carolina
Address: Department of Microbiology
019
Riverbend South Building
220 Riverbend Road
Athens, GA 30602
Phone: (706)
542-2671
E-mail: dkrause@uga.edu
COS CV: http://myprofile.cos.com/kraused65
PubMed: krause
dc
Research Interests:
Mycoplasmas are among the smallest,
simplest known prokaryotes and are thought to approach the minimal
requirements for a self-replicating existence. Mycoplasmas are
characterized by a very small genome (approximately 800 kilobase
pairs in M. pneumoniae), the complete lack of a cell wall or cell
wall precursors, and very limited biosynthetic capabilities. My
research interests focus primarily on the molecular and cell biology
of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, which causes bronchitis and "walking"
pneumonia. M. pneumoniae is responsible for about 20% of all pneumonias
and is the leading cause of pneumonia in older children and young
adults.
Our research concentrates on the interaction
of the mycoplasmas with the respiratory epithelium and encompasses
gliding motility, adherence, and invasion. Adherence is mediated
by a polar differentiated structure referred to as the attachment
organelle. This structure is also the leading end as the mycoplasma
cells move by gliding motility, and its duplication precedes
cell
division. A major goal of our research is to define the organization,
assembly and regulation of the attachment organelle. The production
of a number of proteins associated with cytadherence is phase
variable. We are also studying the significance of this phase
variation in the interaction of M. pneumoniae with the human
host. We employ genetic systems to manipulate the mycoplasma
genome
by transposon mutagenesis and by genetic complementation. In
addition, by using Green Fluorescent Protein fusions we are
examining in
real time the events in assembly of the attachment organelle
and the coordination of this process with cell division. Finally,
we are exploring the significance of gliding motility in M.
pneumoniae as well as the mechanism by which gliding is achieved.
