The Mucosal HIV and Immunobiology Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, established through the NIH's Digestive Diseases Research Development Center program, offers a unique opportunity for medical fellowship or faculty recruits specializing in Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Our collaborative effort by the Departments of Medicine, Pathology, and Microbiology, along with other centers, focuses on researching the interaction between microbes and mucosal tissues to accelerate the development of therapies and vaccines for mucosal diseases.
With a strong focus on HIV-1, Helicobacter pylori, and commensal bacteria, our Center provides a rich environment for generating new concepts in mucosal immunobiology. We offer three cores promoting innovative research in digestive diseases, making us an ideal place for advancing careers in Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Our goals are accomplished through the Center’s three Cores.
These Cores promote innovative, cutting-edge research in digestive diseases at UAB.
CORE 1: GENETICALLY-DEFINED MICROBE
Director: John Kappes, Ph.D.
Co-Director: Qing Zhao, Ph.D
Units: Bacterial Unit , Viral Unit
The Bacterial Unit acquires, characterizes and facilitates standardization of defined commensal bacteria and/or their recombinant products for in vitro and in vivo systems. The Unit also provides genetically-defined or genetically-manipulated bacteria for colonization of germ-free animals. In addition, the Unit provides bacterial 16S rDNA analysis to characterize and provide control quality of defined organisms. Such analysis is a useful check that gnotobiotic mice with a defined flora are colonized only with the intended organism(s). This method does not require culture and thus is ideal for analysis of enteric bacteria, many of which have never been cultured. The use of standardized, genetically-defined strains in in vitro and in vivo systems allows investigators to build data sets that can be compared and assembled into a larger context of understanding.
The Retroviral Unit provides services and expertise in virus vector gene transfer and expression. The Unit centralizes and makes available innovative genetic manipulation technologies, particularly lentiviral vectors, that otherwise would not be broadly accessible. The Unit constructs viral vectors with genes of interest and genetically engineered recombinant cell lines and assay systems to address specific questions regarding HIV mucosal interaction. By providing specific expertise and the high cost equipment required for this technology, the Unit facilitates and broadens the research capabilities of investigators in digestive diseases.
Core 1 Services • Core 1 Services Request Form
CORE 2: GNOTOBIOTIC AND GENETICALLY-ENGINEERED MOUSE
Director: Jeremy Foote PhD, DVM, DACVP
Departments
Cell Biology: Casey D. Morrow, Ph.D.
Genetics: Daniel C. Bullard, Ph.D.
Medicine: Anupam Agarwal, M.D., Charles O. Elson, M.D., John C. Kappes, Ph.D., Christina Ochsenbauer, Ph.D., Phillip D. Smith, M.D., C. Roger White, Ph.D., Xiaoyun Wu, M.D.
Microbiology: Jiri Mestecky, M.D., Ph.D., Suzanne M. Michalek, Ph.D., Zina Moldoveanu, Ph.D., Jan Novak, Ph.D.
Pathology: Zdenek Hel, Ph.D., Ken B. Waites, M.D., Casey T. Weaver, M.D., Craig Maynard, Ph.D.
Pediatrics: William R. Britt, M.D., Reed A. Dimmitt, M.D., D.V.M.
Pediatric Surgery: Jacqueline Saito, M.D.
Investigators
Click on the name of the investigators to learn more about their research. You can also contact them if you would like to collaborate.
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Department |
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Medicine, Division of Nephrology |
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Pediatrics |
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Genomics |
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Pediatrics |
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Pediatrics |
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Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology |
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Cell Biology |
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Pathology |
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Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology |
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Microbiology |
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Microbiology |
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Microbiology |
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Cell Biology |
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Microbiology |
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Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology |
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Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics |
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Cell Biology |
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Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology |
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Pathology |
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Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology |
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| Katie Alexander, Ph.D. | Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology | |
| Qing Zhao, Ph.D. | Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology |
CORE LEADERSHIP
Center Location:
Shelby Research Building, Room #610
1720 2nd Ave. South
Birmingham, AL 35294-2182
Phone: (205) 996-4744
Fax: (205) 996-9113
Center Director:
Phillip D. Smith, M.D.
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Department of Medicine/Gastroenterology
SHEL 610
1720 2nd Ave. South
Birmingham, AL 35294-2182
Phone: (205) 996-4744
Fax: (205) 996-9113
pdsmith@uab.edu
CORE 1: GENETICALLY-DEFINED MICROBE
Director: John C. Kappes, Ph.D.
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Department of Medicine/Hematology/Oncology
LHRB 613B
1720 2nd Ave. South
Birmingham, AL 35294-0006
Phone: (205) 934-0051
Fax: (205) 975-7300
kappesjc@uab.edu
Co-Director: Charles O. Elson, M.D.
Department of Medicine/Gastroenterology
SHEL 607
1720 2nd Ave. South
Birmingham, AL 35294-2182
Phone: (205) 996-4744
Fax: (205) 996-9113
coelson@uab.edu
CORE 2: GNOTOBIOTIC AND GENETICALLY-ENGINEERED MOUSE
Director: Casey T. Weaver, M.D.
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Department of Pathology
BBRB 870
1720 2nd Ave. South
Birmingham, AL 35294-2170
Phone: (205) 975-5537
Fax: (205) 975-8310
weaver@path.uab.edu
Co-Director: Trenton R. Schoeb, D.V.M., Ph.D.
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Department of Genetics
KAUL 724
1720 2nd Ave. South
Birmingham, AL 35294-0026
Phone: (205) 934-2288
Fax: (205) 975-4418
trs@uab.edu
| Center Location: Shelby Research Building, Room #610 1720 2nd Ave. South Birmingham, AL 35294-2182 Phone: (205) 996-4744 Fax: (205) 996-9113 |