Larry Schlesinger, MD, Director
The Center for Microbial Interface Biology (CMIB), created by Larry Schlesinger,
MD, in 2002, was awarded University center status by Ohio State’s Board of Trustees in December 2006. Its hub is on the tenth floor of the Biomedical Research Tower (BRT). A multidisciplinary research center focused on microbe-host interactions, the CMIB promotes and coordinates interdisciplinary research and training in infectious diseases, microbial pathogenesis and biodefense. CMIB laboratories occupy some 16,000 square feet of the BRT, including several common-user areas. In 2007, the CMIB had eight core faculty members, and general membership grew to 58 faculty representing seven colleges across Ohio State’s Columbus and Wooster campuses. The CMIB also manages the University’s Biosafety Level III core research facilities, which are available to Ohio State’s research community, University collaborating researchers and non-University researchers.
Ongoing Research Programs
- “Lung Innate Immune Responses to Francisella tularensis: A Central Role for the Macrophage,” a $1.05 million research project funded by the Great Lakes Regional Center of Excellence in Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Disease Research – This grant, led by Larry Schlesinger, MD, principal investigator, includes four investigators in the CMIB
and the Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute (DHLRI) at Ohio State. They are exploring lung immune responses to these bacteria, especially as they relate to interactions with macrophages, to identify molecular targets for diagnostic
strategies as well as targeted immune therapies aimed at enhancing host immunity.
- “Determinants of H. influenzae Virulence in Otitis Media” – The objective of this $2.6 million award, led by Lauren Bakaletz, PhD, of the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, is to identify, investigate and characterize virulence-associated nontypeable haemophilus influenza (NTHi) genes and their role in the pathogenesis of otitis media, and then to assign a role to those as-yet undefined determinants.
- “Analytical and Empirical Approaches to the Origin and Prediction of Pathogenicity” – This $1 million award to Daniel Janies, PhD, is designed to extend the software for high-performance phylogenetics developed by the Co-PIs to incorporate general models suited to elucidating genomic recombination and host shift events among infectious pathogens across time and geography.
- “Ehrlichiacidal Mechanisms in Leukocytes” – This $2.9 million award to Yasuko Rikihisa, PhD, will help scientists find mechanisms whereby intracellular ehrlichiae are destroyed
in host cells.
- “Porcine Respiratory Coronavirus as a SARS Model” – This $2.06 million grant will enable scientists to use the porcine respiratory coronavirus infection of pigs as a model for SARS
coronavirus to explore mechanisms for disease pathogenesis and enhancement. Principal investigator is Linda Saif, PhD.
- “Simple, Selective Antimitotic Antiparasitic Agents” – Karl Werbovetz, PhD, is principal investigator for this $1.32 million project to identify selective modulators of the tubulin protein from parasitic protozoans that may be useful drug candidates.
- Three NIH T32 training grants with total funding of $3.36 million were active in 2007: “Interdisciplinary Study of the Microbe-Host Interface,” $674,045, Larry Schlesinger, MD,
principal investigator; “Molecular Mechanisms of Lung Inflammation,” $1.2 million, Mark Wewers, MD, principal investigator; and “Mouse Pathobiology: Models of Human Disease,” $1.48 million, Michael Lairmore, DVM, PhD, principal investigator.
- Two NIH K08 awards and one NIH K01 award with total funding of $1.8 million were active in 2007: “Chemokines and Their Receptors in the Pathogenesis of Tuberculosis,” (K08), $543,930, Gillian Beamer, DVM, principal investigator; “Cytolytic Attack Against Lung Parenchyma in Emphysema,” (K08), $634,710, Daren Knoell, PharmD, principal investigator; “Hormonal Modulation of DCs: Influences on Innate and Adaptive Immunity,” (K01), $622,755, Tracy Papenfuss, DVM, PhD, principal investigator.
Research Accomplishments of 2007
- Total research funding for grants active in 2007 for CMIB core faculty members was $13.15 million, of which $6.33 million was newly awarded. Grants submitted in 2007 by CMIB core faculty totaled $11.5 million. Total membership faculty garnered grant support in excess of $60 million.
- 2007 awards for new research grants to core CMIB faculty
included:
- “Bile, Biofilms and Salmonella Gallbladder Carriage,” $1.87 million to principal investigator John Gunn, PhD, to investigate the role of biofilm formation on gallstones in the development and maintenance of typhoid fever
- “Viral and Placental Determinants of HIV-1 Subtype C Mother-to-Child Transmission,” $497,277 to Jesse Kwiek, PhD, to determine if viral genotypes and/or phenotypes are associated with in utero HIV-1 mother to-child transmission, and if placental receptors and
co-receptors (CD4/CCR5/CXCR4) are associated with in utero HIV-1 mother-to-child transmission
- “Characterization of an Antimicrobial-Peptide-Sensing Mechanism of Trypanosoma cruzi,” $260,000 to Bradford McGwire, MD, PhD, to characterize interactions of antimicrobial peptides with Trypanosoma cruzi and the contribution of these to parasite differentiation
- “Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Lipoarabinomannan Metabolism Within Human Macrophages,” $375,000 to Larry Schlesinger, MD, to study the nature of ManLAM and its metabolites within human macrophages
- “Immune Correlates of Reactivation Tuberculosis,” $1.87 million to Joanne Turner, PhD, to determine the role of IL-10 and CD8 T cells during tuberculosis disease
progression
- The CMIB received National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding of $674,045 for a T32 training grant titled “Interdisciplinary Study of the Microbe-Host Interface.” This fiveyear award supports two predoctoral trainees and one postdoctoral trainee per year in microbial response to infection and host response to infection.
- CMIB core faculty had 33 papers published or in press in 2007; total membership faculty had 260 papers published or in press.
- The CMIB hosted its first research retreat June 15-16. The retreat was attended by 121 registrants and included a keynote speaker, Dr. Michel Desjardins, from the University of
Montreal, and several faculty presentations.
- CMIB faculty received six national awards, including a fellowship in the American Association for the Advancement of Science and an NIH Merit Award.
- CMIB faculty sit on 32 editorial boards and are regular members of 14 national grant review panels.
Center for Microbial Interface Biology
N1149 Doan Hall 410 West 10th Avenue Columbus, OH 43210 (614) 293-5671
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