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Joanna  B.  Goldberg
Degree(s): Ph.D.
Graduate School: University of CA,Berkeley
Primary Appointment: Professor of Microbiology
Research Interests:
Mechanisms of Bacterial Pathogenesis

Email Address: jbg2b@virginia.edu
Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program(s)
  • Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases
  • Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology
  • Molecular Medicine
    • Research Description

    The major focus of my laboratory is the investigation of strategies used by bacteria to cause diseases in humans. We study various bacteria and their factors especially surface polysaccharides and other potential adhesins and assess their effect on the virulence and physiology of the bacterium as well as on host cells. Our general approach is to construct and characterize bacterial mutants and monitor these for relevant phenotypic and genotypic characteristics and in in vivo and in vitro models of infection. In addition, we are constructing vaccines to these pathogens based on the expression of polysaccharides and testing these in mouse models of infection. The goal of these studies is to develop rational strategies to disrupt virulence and promote clearance of pathogenic bacteria.

    Selected Publications
  • Kintz, E., J. M. Scarff, A. DiGiandomenico, and J. B. Goldberg.  2008.  Lipopolysaccharide O antigen chain length regulation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa serogroup O11 strain PA103.  Journal of Bacteriology, in press.

  • Scarff, J. M., and J. B. Goldberg.  2008.  Vaccination against Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia in immunocompromised mice.  Clinical and Vaccine Immunology 15:367-375.

  • Rao, J., A. DiGiandomenico, J. Unger, Y. Bao, R. K. Polanowska-Grabowska, and J. B. Goldberg.  2008.  A novel oxidized low-density lipoprotein binding protein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.  Microbiology 154:654-665.

  • DiGiandomenico, A., J. Rao, K. Harcher, T. S. Zaidi, J. Gardner, A. N. Neely, G. B. Pier, and J. B. Goldberg.  2007.  Intranasal immunization with heterologously expressed polysaccharide protects against multiple Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections.  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 104:4624-4629.

  • PubMed Listings for this Faculty Member
    • Intranet Profile
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    Contact Information
      Office Address: PO Box 800734, Jordan Hall, 7231, 
      Office Phone: +1 434-243-2774, +1 434-243-2775
      Fax Phone: +1 434-982-1071
      Home Phone: +1 434-975-1955

    Other Websites for this mentor:
    http://www.faculty.virginia.edu/goldberg/

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