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Faculty G. Jilani Chaudry, Ph.D. Research Interests My lab is focusing its current research in two areas, one of which is the intoxication of mammalian cells by anthrax toxin. Although historically significant as a livestock disease, anthrax has also been the hallmark weapon for germ warfare. The bacterium that causes anthrax secretes three distinct proteins, collectively called anthrax toxin. Two of these are the actual toxic components, but the third is crucial because it delivers the two toxic proteins into cells, where their targets reside. I am working to elucidate the intoxication mechanism. A major focus of his research with anthrax toxin is to identify the mammalian genes important for intoxication and, ultimately, to decipher the mechanisms by which these genes confer resistance or sensitivity to the toxin. A second equally important focus is to study the toxin receptors and how the toxin employs them to enter cells. My interdisciplinary approach encompasses molecular and cell biological, biochemical, genomic, genetic, and recombinant DNA techniques. My work will help identify targets for disrupting the action of anthrax toxin and for developing new therapeutic strategies. The second focus of my current research is to identify novel genes that confer drug resistance in mammalian cells. I am currently working with a collection of breast, colon, and prostate cancer cell lines resistant to a particular drug. Recent Publications Wei W, Lu Q, Chaudry GJ, Leppla SH, Cohen SN. The LDL receptor-related protein LRP6 mediates internalization and lethality of anthrax toxin. Cell. 2006 Mar 24;124(6):1141-54. Chaudry GJ, Moayeri M, Liu S, Leppla SH. Quickening the pace of anthrax research: three advances point towards possible therapies. Trends Microbiol. 2002 Feb;10(2):58-62.
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