Rickettsia
are obligate intracellular bacteria that are transmitted by ticks, lice
and fleas. Rickettsia are normally classified into either of two groups
based upon particular outer membrane proteins. The typhus group
rickettsiae (TG) contain an immunodominant cell surface-exposed protein
designated as rickettsial outer membrane protein B or (OmpB). The second
type of rickettsiae is designated as the spotted fever group (SFG). In
addition to containing OmpB, SFG rickettsiae contain OmpA. Although the
true function of OmpA or OmpB has yet to be definitively established, it
is thought that these molecules participate in the attachment of the
bacteria to the host cell. My goal is to obtain a complete structural
biology analysis of the aforementioned cell surface layer proteins and
to determine their roles in pathogenesis and immunity. The information
obtained will be used experimentally in vaccine development, the design
of adhesion/invasion blocking molecules, and identification of sites for
drug interventions.
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