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Research Interest Our laboratory is focused on understanding the basic biology and pathogenetic mechanisms of the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum using a variety of molecular approaches. H. capsulatum is a major cause of respiratory and systemic mycosis in the United States and worldwide, particularly in immunocompromised people such as those with AIDS. It is a facultative intracellular pathogen that survives and replicates in the harsh environment of the host macrophage phagolysosome to cause disease. Molecular genetic tools and techniques have only recently been developed for this organism. We study virulence determinants (e.g., adhesins, secreted enzymes, iron acquisition mechanisms), environmental gene regulation (e.g., related to iron, oxidative stress, conditions occurring in vivo in the host cell or animal during infection), and interactions with the mammalian host (e.g., attachment and entry into macrophages, intraphagolysosomal survival). Training 1982 - B.A., Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN Publications – NCBI PubMed search for "J.P. Woods" Woods, J.P. 2002. Histoplasma capsulatum molecular genetics, pathogenesis, and responsiveness to its environment. Fung.Genet.Biol. 35: 81-97. Timmerman, M.M. and J.P. Woods. 2001. Potential role for extracellular glutathione-dependent ferric reductase in utilization of environmental and host ferric compounds by Histoplasma capsulatum. Infect.Immun. 69: 7671-7678. Woods, J.P., E.L. Heinecke, J.W. Luecke, E. Maldonado, J.Z. Ng, D.M. Retallack, and M.M. Timmerman. 2001. Pathogenesis of Histoplasma capsulatum. Seminars in Respiratory Infections. 16: 91-101. Woods, J.P. 2001. Dimorphism in human pathogens. In Fungal Pathogenesis: Principles and Clinical Applications, R. Cihlar and R. Calderone (Eds), New York, Marcel Dekker, Inc., Ch. 5, pp. 99-113. Fisher, K.L. and J.P. Woods. 2000. Determination of b-glucosidase enzymatic function of the Histoplasma capsulatum H antigen using a native expression system. Gene. 247: 191-197. Retallack, D.M., G.S. Deepe, Jr., and J.P. Woods. 2000. Applying in vivo expression technology (IVET) to the fungal pathogen Histoplasma capsulatum. Microb.Pathog. 28: 169-182. Scott, A.J. and J.P. Woods. 2000. Monitoring internalization of Histoplasma capsulatum by mammalian cell lines using a fluorometric microplate assay. Medical Mycology. 38: 15-22. Timmerman, M.M. and J.P. Woods. 1999. Ferric reduction is a potential iron acquisition mechanism for Histoplasma capsulatum. Infect.Immun. 67: 6403-6408. Retallack, D.M. and J.P. Woods. 1999. Molecular epidemiology, pathogenesis, and genetics of the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. Microbes and Infection. 1: 817-825. Fisher, K.L., G.S. Deepe, Jr., and J.P. Woods. 1999. Histoplasma capsulatum strain variation in both H antigen production and b-glucosidase activity and overexpression of HAG1 from a telomeric linear plasmid. Infect.Immun. 67: 3312-3316. Retallack, D.M. and J.P. Woods. 1999. Transcript splicing is essential for functional Histoplasma capsulatum URA5 expression. Gene. 230: 181-185. Retallack, D.M., E.L. Heinecke, R. Gibbons, G.S. Deepe, Jr., and J.P. Woods. 1999. The URA5 gene is necessary for Histoplasma capsulatum growth during infection of mouse and human cells. Infect.Immun. 67: 624-629. Woods, J.P., D.M. Retallack, E.L. Heinecke, and W.E. Goldman. 1998. Rare homologous gene targeting in Histoplasma capsulatum: disruption of the URA5Hc gene by allelic replacement. J. Bacteriol. 180: 5135-5143. Woods, J.P., E.L. Heinecke, and W.E. Goldman. 1998. Electrotransformation and expression of bacterial genes encoding hygromycin phosphotransferase and b-galactosidase in the pathogenic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. Infect.Immun. 66: 1697-1707. |
