Dr. Cameron's research focus is the molecular pathogenesis of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum, the spirochete bacterium that causes syphilis. Dr. Cameron's primary research project investigates the attachment of T. pallidum to host tissues. The critical first step in establishing a T. pallidum infection is attachment to host cells. Following attachment, T. pallidum invades the tissue barrier and enters the circulatory system, resulting in widespread bacterial dissemination. Our lab is studying bacterial adhesins that facilitate attachment to components of the human extracellular matrix (ECM), an ideal microbial adhesion target exploited by many pathogens to initiate infection. We are specifically interested in T. pallidum proteins mediating attachment to the ECM components fibronectin and laminin. The long-term objective of these studies is to further our current knowledge of T. pallidum pathogenesis by providing a more thorough understanding of treponemal attachment to host tissues.

In addition, in collaboration with Dr. Sheila Lukehart and Dr. Wesley Van Voorhis, Dr. Cameron is conducting proteomic studies to complement the wealth of information generated by sequencing of the T. pallidum genome. Specifically, our labs are focusing on putative outer membrane proteins. One putative outer membrane protein, Tp92, has been shown to have homologs throughout gram-negative bacteria and is necessary for bacterial viability. This protein, and other putative outer membrane proteins under study, are likely to be involved in the pathogenesis of T. pallidum and may be potential vaccine candidates for prevention of syphilis.

Van Voorhis WC, Barrett LK, Lukehart SA, Schmidt BL, Schriefer M, Cameron CE. Serodiagnosis of syphilis: antibodies to recombinant Tp0483, Tp92, and Gpd proteins are sensitive and specific indicators of Treponema pallidum infection. J Clin Micro, in press.

Cameron CE. Identification of a Treponema pallidum laminin-binding protein. Infect Immun 71, 2525-33, 2003.

Cameron CE, Lukehart SA, Castro C, Molini B, Godornes C, Van Voorhis WC. Opsonic potential, protective capacity and sequence conservation of the Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum Tp92. J Iinfect Dis 18:1401-13, 2000.

Cameron CE, Castro C, Lukehart SA, Van Voorhis WC. Sequence conservation of glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase among Treponema pallidum strains. Infect Immun 67:3168-70, 1999.

Centurion-Lara A, Castro C, Barrett L, Cameron CE, Mostowfi M, Van Voorhis WC, Lukehart SA. Treponema pallidum major sheath protein homologue TprK is a target of opsonic antibody and the protective immune response. J Exp Med 189:647-56, 1999.

Cameron CE, Castro C, Lukehart SA, Van Voorhis WC. Function and protective capacity of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase. Infect Immun 66:5763-70, 1998.