Wisconsin Discovery Portal

Researcher's Profile

Last Name

Splitter 

First Name

Gary 

Middle Initial

Areas of Research Expertise

* Host-microbe interactions and pathogenesis
* Immunology
* Focuses on Brucella-host interactions by using comparative genomic analysis of Brucella species whole genomes to identify factors that may be responsible for differences in host preference and virulence restriction
* Uses bioluminescent imaging to gain greater insight into Brucella pathogenesis to identify the dynamics of acute and chronic infection in real time
* Identifies Brucella genes that contribute to its survival strategies in the mammalian host

Web site

Gary Splitter's University Web Page 

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

 

Current/Active Funding

  • NIH, 2007-2011, Brucella Epitope Recognition by CD8+ T Cells

Issued Patent(s)

  • 7,297,536 - Inducible protein expression system, granted Nov 2007.
  • 6,316,252 - Biotherapeutic delivery system, granted Nov 2001.
  • 5,441,889 - MHC eukaryotic promoter, granted Aug 1995.
  • 4,918,178 - Test for Johne's disease, granted Apr 1990.

USPTO Published Applications

  • 20080107682 - Brucella melitensis mutants and methods, May 8, 2008.

Recent Publication(s)

  • "Biochemical and functional analysis of TIR domain containing protein from Brucella melitensis"

Radhakrishnan GK, Splitter GA, Biochecmical and Biophysical Research Communications 397 (1): 59-63 Jun 2010.  Toll/interleukin-1 like receptors are evolutionarily conserved proteins in eukaryotes that play crucial role in pathogen recognition and innate immune responses.  With the objective of detailed characterization, we have over expressed and purified TcpB from Brucella melitensis in native condition. The purified protein exhibited lipid-binding properties and cell permeability.

  • "Discordant Brucella melitensis antigens yield cognate CD8(+) T Cells in vivo"

Durward MA, Harms J, Magnani DM, Eskra L, Splitter GA, Infection and Immunity 78(1): Jan 2010.  The authors found by microarray analysis that the genes encoding these epitopes are differentially expressed following macrophage infection, further emphasizing that these discordant genes may play an important role in the pathogenesis of B. melitensis infection. 

  • "Brucella regulators: self-control in a hostile environment"

Rambow-Larsen AA, Petersen EM, Splitter GA et al. Trends in Microbiology 17(8): 371-377 August 2009. Brucella is an important zoonotic pathogen for which no human vaccine exists. In an infected host, Brucella resides in macrophages but must coordinate expression of multiple virulence factors for successful cell entry and trafficking to acquire this replicative niche.

  • "DNA recognition properties of the cell-to-cell movement protein (MP) of soybean isolate of Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV-Sb)"

Radhakrishnan GK, Splitter GA, Usha R, Virus Research 131 (2): 152-159 Feb 2008. To investigate the nucleic acid recognition properties of MP of MYMIV-Sb, the protein was expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein with maltose-binding protein (MBP) and purified in native condition. Gel mobility shift assay was employed for analyzing the DNA recognition properties of purified MBP-MP fusion protein.

Recent Artistic Works

 

Collaboration

 

Research Tools

 

Research Facilities

 

E-mail Address

gas@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu 

Phone Number

(608) 262-1837 

Current University

UW- Madison 

Department

Animal Health and Biomedical Sciences / Pathobiological Sciences 

Title

Professor 

Other Appointments

 

Address Line 1

203 Animal Health & Biomedical Sciences Building 

Address Line 2

1656 Linden Drive 

City

Madison 

State

WI 

Zip Code

53706 

Bachelor's Degree

 

Master's Degree

 

PhD

 

Other Degrees

 

Technologies Available for Licensing

Attachments
Created at 6/12/2007 2:06 PM  by Mindy Dawson 
Last modified at 7/26/2010 8:16 AM  by EXTWEB\jkolberg