Dr. Hui Wu
Hui Wu, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Pediatric Dentistry
SDB 802
Birmingham
,
Phone: (205) 996-2392
FAX: (205) 975-6251
Research Focus: Bacterial genetics and pathogenesis; and small molecule inhibitors of bacterial biofilms..
Research Interests:
Biofilm formation is crucial for bacterial persistence and chronic infections. We are interested in investigating the underlying molecular mechanisms by pursuing three specific areas of research.
1) Bacterial protein glycosylation and secretion. We are using an oral streptococcus as a model to study glycosylation and secretion of a family of serine-rich repeat adhesins. This family of adhesins is highly conserved in pathogens and important for biofilm formation and bacterial virulence. We attempt to uncover new targets that are amenable to therapeutic drug discovery.
2) Small molecule inhibitors of pathogenic biofilms. We are interested in developing small molecule inhibitors that can be used to probe biofilm development and signaling cascades, and have the ability to block biofilm formation and disperse preformed biofilms which may have therapeutic potentials.
3) Interactions between bacterial biofilms and hosts. We are interested in understanding how the biofilm formation modulates bone remodeling dynamics in periodontal disease and host responses in infective endocarditis
Selected publications: (PubMed for Dr. Hui Wu)
[1] Chen J, Yuan K, Mao X, Miano JM, Wu H., Chen Y (2012). Serum response factor regulates bone formation via IGF-1 and Runx2 signals. J Bone Miner Res. 27(8):1659-68.
[2] Zhou M, Zhu F, Li, Y., Zhang H, Wu H.(2012). Gap1 functions as a molecular chaperone to stabilize its interaction partner Gap3 during biogenesis of serine-rich bacterial adhesins. Mol. Microbiol. 83(4):866-78.
[3] Zhu F, Erlandsen H, Ding L, Li J, Huang Y, Zhou M, Liang X, Ma J, Wu H. (2011). Structural and functional analysis of a new subfamily of glycosyltransferases required for glycosylation of serine-rich streptococcal adhesins. J Biol Chem. 286(30):27048-57.
[4] Liang, X, Ruiz, T. Wu, H. (2011). New streptococcal surface involved in biofilm formation by Streptococcus parasanguinis. Infect Immun. 79(8):3239-48.
[5] Wu R., and Wu H.(2011). A molecular chaperone mediates a two-protein enzymatic complex and glycosylation of serine-rich streptococcal adhesins. J Biol Chem. 286(40):34923-31.
[6] Liu C, Worthington RJ, Melander C, Wu H. (2011). A new small molecule specifically inhibits the cariogenic Streptococcus mutans in multispecies biofilms. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 55(6):2679-87.
[7] Chen J, Sun Y, Mao X, Liu Q, Wu H*, Chen Y*. (2010) RANKL up-regulates brain-type creatine kinase via poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 during osteoclastogenesis. J Biol Chem. (47):36315-21. (*co-corresponding authors)
[8] Ramboarina S, Garnett JA, Zhou M, Li Y, Peng Z, ……Wu H*, Matthews S*.(2010) Structural insights into serine-rich fimbriae from gram-positive bacteria. J Biol Chem. 285 (42):32446-57. (*co-corresponding authors)
[9] Zhou M, Zhu F, Dong S, Pritchard DG, Wu H. (2010) A novel glucosyltransferase is required for glycosylation of a serine-rich adhesin and biofilm formation by Streptococcus parasanguinis. J Biol Chem. 285(16):12140-8
[10] Li Y, Chen Y, Huang X, Zhou M, Wu R, Dong S, Pritchard DG, Fives-Taylor P, Wu H. (2008) A conserved domain of previously unknown function in Gap1 mediates protein-protein interaction and is required for biogenesis of a serine-rich streptococcal adhesin. Mol Microbiol. 70(5):1094-104.