MB&B Seminar: “Anaplasmaphagocytophilum–Translating Microbial Pathogenesis Discoveries to Potential Protective and Therapeutic Approaches”

Obligate intracellular bacteria, significant causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, invade host cells and modulate cellular pathways as essential steps in infection. Using A. phagocytophilum as a model pathogen, we have mechanistically dissected adhesin function, immunized against adhesin binding domains to protect against bacterial challenge, and established that an FDA-approved drug that disrupts cholesterol trafficking effectively treats active infection. These approaches are potentially extendable to diverse diseases caused by intracellular microbes