Carol Pickett, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Selected publications

Research statement: My laboratory is interested in how pathogenic bacteria cause disease in humans. Our current interests are centered on the bacterium Campylobacter jejuni, a leading cause of diarrheal disease in the United States and around the world. In particular, we are studying a novel protein toxin produced by C. jejuni. This toxin, cytolethal distending toxin, causes cultured eucaryotic cells to become blocked in their cell cycle. We are currently studying the interaction of the toxin with eucaryotic cells as well as the molecular genetics and regulation of the production of the toxin by C. jejuni and related Campylobacter species.

We have additional projects designed to explore other potentially important aspects of C. jejuni pathogenesis, in particular, adherence and invasion of eucaryotic cells.