Faculty
Joao Pedra
Assistant Professor of Entomology
Location: Genomics 2202B
Tel: (951) 827-7051
E-mail: joao.pedra@ucr.edu
Research Specialization
The Pedra laboratory studies the mechanisms of immunity and pathogenesis triggered by tick-borne pathogens. Three broad questions are currently under investigation in the Pedra laboratory: i) What are the mechanisms of pathogen immunity in the mammalian host and the tick vector? ii) Are the mechanisms of innate immunity evolutionarily conserved in ticks and mammals? iii) What are the molecular and cellular events that enable pathogens to evade host and vector immunity? We envisage that deciphering the mechanisms of pathogenesis and immunity triggered vector-borne pathogens may lead to the development of novel strategies that prevent or delay the onset of arthropod-borne diseases.
Degrees
- B.Sc. Biology 1998
- Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Brazil
- M.Sc. Agricultural Chemistry 2000
- Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Brazil
- Ph.D. Entomology 2004
- Purdue University
Awards
2007-2010 CDC K01 Mentored Public Health Research Scientist Development Award
Publications
Chmelar, J., Calvo, E., Pedra, J.H.F., Francischetti, I., Kotsyfakis, M. Tick Saliva as a Source of Anti-Hemostatics. Journal of Proteomics. In Press.
Severo, M.S., Stephens, K., Kotsyfakis, M., Pedra, J.H. Anaplasma phagocytophilum: Deceptively Simple or Simply Deceptive? Future Microbiology. In Press.
Pedra, J.H.F., Narasimham, S., Rendic, D., DePonte, K., Bell- Sakyi, L., Wilson, I.B.H., Fikrig, E. Fucosylation Enhances Colonization of Ticks by Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Cellular Microbiology 12: 1222-1234. 2010.
Chen, G., Pedra, J.H. The Inflammasome in Host Defense. Sensors 10: 97-111. 2010.
Pedra, J.H.F., Cassel, S. L., Sutterwala, F.S. Sensing pathogens and danger signals by the inflammasome. Curr. Opin. Immunol. 21: 10-16. 2009.
Pedra, J.H.F., Mattner, J., Tao, J., Kerfoot, S.M., Davis, R.J., Flavell, R.A., Askenase, P.W., Yin, Z., and Fikrig. c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase 2 inhibits gamma interferon production during Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection. Infect. Immun., 76: 308-316. 2008.
Pedra, J.H.F., Sutterwala, F.S., Sukumaran, B., Ogura, Y., Qian, F., Montgomery, R.R., Flavell, R.A. and Fikrig, E. ASC/PYCARD and caspase-1 regulate the IL-18/IFN-ƒg axis during Anaplasma phagocytophilum Infection. J. Immunol., 179: 4783-4791. 2007.
Pedra, J.H.F., Tao, J., Sutterwala, F.S., Sukumaran, B., Berliner, N., Bockenstedt, L.K., Flavell, R.A., Yin, Z., and Fikrig, E. IL-12/23p40-dependent clearance of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in the murine model of human anaplasmosis. FEMS Immunol. Med. Microbiol. 50: 401-410. 2007.
Pedra, J.H.F., Narasimhan, S., Deponte, K., Marcantonio, N., Kantor, F.S. and Fikrig, E. Disruption of the salivary protein 14 in Ixodes scapularis nymphs and impact on pathogen acquisition. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 75(4): 677-82. 2006.
Pedra, J.H.F., Sukumaran, B., Carlyon, J.A., Berliner, N. and Fikrig, E. Modulation of NB4 promyelocytic leukemic cell machinery by Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Genomics 86 (3): 365-377. 2005.