mli4@email.uky.edu

Periodontitis is a multifactoral disease that results from interactions between chronic microbial infections and host immune responses. My research interest is to study pathogenic roles of viruses in periodontal disease. Recent studies show that many viruses, especially herpes viruses, are associated with severe forms of periodontitis probably due to virally induced local immune suppression against bacterial infection. On the other hand, bacteria in periodontal lesions play roles in stimulating the reactivation of virus from its latency, such as HIV.

Our lab has two major research focuses:

1). To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of local immune suppression induced by herpes viruses in periodontal diseases. We study effects of virus-encoded cytokines and virus-induced cellular cytokines on the function of macrophages against bacterial infection.

2). To investigate pathways used by oral microbial pathogens in stimulating the reactivation of latently infected HIV.  Our focus is to identify cellular factors that contribute to HIV reactivation. We use the latest technologies of molecular and cellular biology in our research and the lab provides an opportunity of interacting and collaborating with other labs at UK College of Dentistry.

Nakamura H, Li M, Zarycki J, Jung JU. Inhibition of p53 Tumor Suppressor by Viral Interferon Regulatory Factor. J Virol. 2001 Aug;75(16):7572-82.

Li M, Damania B, Alvarez X, Ogryzko V, Ozato K, Jung JU. Inhibition of p300 histone acetyltransferase by viral interferon regulatory factor. Mol Cell Biol. 2000 Nov;20(21):8254-63.

Li M, MacKey J, Czajak SC, Desrosiers RC, Lackner AA, Jung JU. Identification and characterization of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus K8.1 virion glycoprotein. J Virol. 1999 Feb;73(2):1341-9.

Li M, Lee H, Guo J, Neipel F, Fleckenstein B, Ozato K, Jung JU. Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus viral interferon regulatory factor. J Virol. 1998 Jul;72(7):5433-40.

Li M, Lee H, Yoon DW, Albrecht JC, Fleckenstein B, Neipel F, Jung JU. Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus encodes a functional cyclin. J Virol. 1997 Mar;71(3):1984-91.