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Biography |
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Dr. Jason N. Cole received his biotechnology degree and Ph.D. in microbiology at the University of Wollongong, Australia. In 2008, he was awarded a NHMRC Overseas Biomedical Training Fellowship to conduct microbial pathogenesis research at the University of California San Diego. In 2012, he was awarded a NHMRC Project Grant to continue his research at the University of Queensland, Australia. Dr. Cole is currently a visiting research scientist at the University of California San Diego. His general research interests include understanding the fundamental mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis and the innate immune system, with a special focus on human streptococcal infections. His current research focuses on unraveling the invasive disease mechanism of group A Streptococcus (GAS), a human pathogen responsible for potentially fatal infections. The identification of virulence factors essential for severe invasive GAS disease progression may facilitate the development of novel therapeutic agents against this globally important pathogen.
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Abstract |
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Using the group A Streptococcus genome to identify virulence genes and novel vaccine candidates |
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The Gram-positive bacterium group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a human-specific pathogen ranked among the top 10 causes of infection-related deaths worldwide. Annually, GAS is responsible for ~700 million cases of superficial throat and skin infections and 660,000 cases of potentially fatal severe invasive infections with a mortality rate of ~25%. Recurrent GAS infections can trigger rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease (~19.6 million cases and 233,000 deaths worldwide annually). Despite an urgent global need, a safe and effective human GAS vaccine is not available. This presentation discusses how GAS genome sequences are being used to identify virulence factors and new vaccine candidate antigens in the fight against this globally important human pathogen. |
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