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ROY CURTISS III Professor Ph.D. 1962 University of Chicago Send e-mail to rcurtiss@asu.edu

Research Interests

The major research focus of our research group concerns the design, construction and evaluation of recombinant genetically modified Salmonella vaccine strains as immunizing vectors to express and deliver protective antigens/epitopes representing virulence determinants from other pathogens and/or to deliver novel DNA vaccines encoding protective antigens/epitopes specified by genetic information from various pathogens for expression by the immunized individual. These recombinant attenuated Salmonella vaccines (RASVs) are administered intranasally or orally to home to the nasal-, bronchial-, and/or gut-associated lymphoid tissues and thus induce mucosal, humoral, and cellular immunities and confer protective immunity to bacterial, viral and parasite infectious disease agents infecting agriculturally important animals and humans. Current endeavors are directed at developing vaccines to prevent infections by: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis,Clostridium perfringens, Yersinia pestis, enteric pathogens such as Salmonella, Escherichia, Shigella and Yersinia, Listeria monocytogenes, hepatitis B virus, influenza viruses (human and avian), Eimeria species and Taenia solium.

Research is also directed at understanding the genetic and biochemical bases of pathogenicity of Salmonella typhimurium, S. typhi, S. paratyphi A, S. choleraesuis, and Escherichia coli (causing respiratory and systemic disease in birds). Emphasis is on understanding the genetic control over attachment to and persistence on eukaryotic surfaces (colonization) and invasion of and persistence and multiplication in tissues. Studies are in progress to understand how genes for virulence properties are regulated in response to the environment and to the eukaryotic host. The newest endeavor is to evaluate the genetic control over survival in ex vivo environments necessary for successful transmission of Salmonella from one host to another.

Biochemical, genetic, microscopic, and immunological approaches are used in our research. Various animal systems are used for the analysis of virulence with immune responses and protective immunity evaluated in animals and human volunteers.

Selected Publications

Santander, J. M., S.Y. Wanda, C. Nickerson, and R. Curtiss III. 2007. Role of RpoS in fine-tuning the synthesis of Vi capsular polysaccharide in Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi. Infect. Immun. 75:1382-1392.

Mahoney, R.T., A. Krattiger, A.,, J.D. Clemens, and R. Curtiss III. 2007. The introduction of new vaccines into developing countries IV: global access strategies. Vaccine. Epub ahead of print.

Konjufca, V., S.Y. Wanda, M.C. Jenkins, and R. Curtiss III. 2006. Recombinant attenuated Salmonella typhimurium vaccine encoding Eimeria acervulina antigen offers protection against Eimeria acervulina challenge. Infect. Immun. 74:6785-6796.

Loessner, H., A. Endmann, M. Rhode, R. Curtiss III, and S. Weiss. 2006. Differential effect of auxotrophies on the release of macromolecules by Salmonella enterica vaccine strains. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 265:81-88.

Curtiss, R. III. 2005. Antigen delivery systems: Development of live recombinant attenuated bacterial antigen and DNA vaccine delivery vector vaccines, p. 1009-1037. In J. Mestecky, J. Bienenstock , M.E. Lamm, L. Mayer, J.R. McGhee, and W. Strober (eds.). Mucosal Immunology, 3 rd edition, Academic Press.

Lamarche, M. G., C. M. Dozois, F. Daigle, M. Caza, R. Curtiss III, J.D. Dubreuil, and J. Harel. 2005. Inactivation of the Pst system reduces the virulence of an avian pathogenic Escherichia coli O78 strain. Infect. Immun. 73:4138-4145.

Uzzau, S., G. Marogna, G.S. Leori, R. Curtiss III, G. Schianchi, B.A.D. Stocker, and S. Rubino. 2005. Virulence attenuation and live vaccine potential of aroA, crp cdt cya, and plasmid-cured mutants of Salmonella enterica serovar Abortusovis in mice and sheep. Infect. Immun. 73:4302-4308.

Faucher, S.P., R. Curtiss III, and F. Daigle. 2005. Selective capture of Salmonella enterica serovar typhi genes expressed in macrophages that are absent from the Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium genome. Infect. Immun. 73:5217-521.