Brady Spencer, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, was awarded a two-year, $250,000 K22 Career transition award from the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases titled, “Characterization of a Type VII Secretion System in Group B Streptococcus and its Role in Virulence and Immune Response.” K Awards are a vital funding source to support faculty as they grow in their research and serve as a launchpad for future funding opportunities.
The Spencer Lab studies infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, specifically the how secreted bacterial effectors and toxins impact the host immune system and the microbiota during infection. Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is one such Gram-positive pathogen that remains a leading cause of neonatal infections and certain adult populations. During pregnancy, GBS colonizing the female genital tract can be transmitted to the fetus or newborn and can progress to neonatal meningitis upon GBS disruption of the blood-brain barrier. However, the mechanisms by which GBS causes damage and inflammation in the host during infection are not well understood. Dr Spencer’s study will investigate how secreted bacterial proteins and toxins contribute to GBS pathogenesis and thwart the host immune response. The knowledge gained from this work may identify new targets and therapies to limit GBS disease, thereby reducing neonatal morbidity and mortality and associated health-costs.
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