Dr. Caroline Cameron

 

Research of Dr. Caroline E. Cameron
PhD Victoria

1996 Ph.D., University of Victoria, Victoria, BC

1996-2006 University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Senior Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Assistant Professor
Research Associate Professor

2006-present University of Victoria, Victoria, BC

Associate Professor
The laboratory of Dr. Caroline Cameron focuses upon spirochetal bacteria, with a specific focus on Treponema pallidum and Leptospira. The overall objective of the research is to identify and characterize molecules that are central to the pathogenesis of these important human pathogens.

The first main project investigates the extremely invasive nature of T. pallidum. Within our laboratory we have discovered several adhesins that contribute to T. pallidum attachment and a protease that is central to dissemination within the host. We are currently developing methods to target these proteins, with the ultimate goal of developing a prophylactic intervention to prevent the establishment of chronic infection.

The second major project within the laboratory involves the identification of novel diagnostic antigens, and the translation of this research into an improved syphilis diagnostic test.

The third major project uses proteomic analyses to identify proteins from Leptospira sp. that are essential for infection with this important zoonotic pathogen. These studies have led to the identification of novel virulence factors that are anticipated to be key to the infection process. We also perform proteomic analyses of Treponema pallidum to identify potential surface-exposed proteins within this unculturable pathogen.

The long-term objective of the research performed within the laboratory is to expand our knowledge of spirochete pathogenesis, which will in turn allow for the development of novel therapeutic reagents and/or preventative measures to combat infection. Future research will investigate the role of identified virulence factors in the pathogenesis of T. pallidum and Leptospira.

Lab Personnel

Research Staff

• Rebecca Hof, BSc
• Charmaine Wetherell, MSc
• Julia Hassler, BSc

Postdoctoral Fellows

• Simon Houston, PhD

Graduate Students

• Azad Eshghi, Bsc
• Brenden Smith, Bsc

Lab Alumni

• Janelle Kuroiwa, BSc
• Lisa Tisch, BSc
• Nathan Brouwer, BSc
• Paul Cullen, PhD
• Marcus Barron, BSc
• Shannon Russell, BSc
• Candace Marsters, BSc
• Anna von Rossum, BSc
• Dana Lightburn, BSc
• Susanne Hyraniuk, BSc
• Brendan Snarr, BSc
• Brett Baumann, BSc
• Alex Camenzind, BSc
• Teresa Francescutti, MSc
• Aaron Hawkes, BSc
• Alanna Roberts
• Lisa Honeyman

Selected Publications

1. Cameron, C.E., Castro, C., Lukehart, S.A., and Van Voorhis, W.C. 1998. Function and protective capacity of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum glycerophosphodiesterase phosphodiesterase. Infect. Immun. 66, 5763-5770.

2. Centurion-Lara, A., Castro, C., Barrett, L., Cameron, C., Mostowfi, M., Van Voorhis, W.C. and Lukehart, S.A. 1999. Treponema pallidum major sheath protein homologue Tpr K is a target of opsonic antibody and the protective immune response. J. Exp. Med. 189, 647-656.

3. Cameron, C.E., Castro, C., Lukehart, S.A. and Van Voorhis, W.C. 1999. Sequence conservation of glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase among Treponema pallidum strains. Infect. Immun. 67, 3168-3170.

4. Cameron, C.E., Lukehart, S.A., Castro, C., Molini, B., Godornes, C. and Van Voorhis, W.C. 2000. Opsonic potential, protective capacity and sequence conservation of the Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum Tp92. J. Infect. Dis. 18, 1401-1413.

5. Cameron C.E., B.J. Molini, S.A. Lukehart, and W.C. Van Voorhis. 2001. GPD DNA immunization appears less efficacious than recombinant GPD as a syphilis vaccine. In: Sexually Transmitted Infections, ed. Kohl, P.K., Jodl, S.J. Monduzzi Editore, Bologna, Italy. Pp 307-311.

6. Cameron, C.E. 2003. Identification of a Treponema pallidum laminin-binding protein. Infect. Immun. 71, 2525-2533.

7. Van Voorhis, W.C., Barrett, L.K., Lukehart, S.A., Schmidt, B.L., Schriefer, M., and Cameron, C.E. 2003. Serodiagnosis of Syphilis: Antibodies to recombinant Tp0483, Tp92, and Gpd proteins are sensitive and specific indicators of Treponema pallidum infection. J. Clin. Micro.41:3668-3674.

8. Cameron, C.E., Brown, E.L., Kuroiwa, J.M.Y., Schnapp, L.M., and Brouwer, N.L. 2004. Treponema pallidum fibronectin-binding proteins. J. Bacteriol. 186:7019-7022.

9. Cameron, C.E., Brouwer, N.L., Tisch, L.M., and Kuroiwa, J.M.Y. 2005. Defining the interaction of the Treponema pallidum adhesin Tp0751 with laminin. Infect. Immun. 73:7485-7494.

10. Cameron, C.E. 2006. The T. pallidum outer membrane and outer membrane proteins. In: Pathogenic Treponema: Molecular and Cellular Biology, ed. Lukehart, S.A., Radolf, J.D. Horizon Scientific Press, Norfolk, UK.

11. Cullen, P.A. and Cameron, C.E. 2006. Progress toward an effective syphilis vaccine: the past, present, and future. Expert Review of Vaccines. 5:67-80.

12. Kuramitsu, H.K. and Cameron, C.E. 2006. Development of treponeme genetic systems. In Molecular Biology of Spirochetes (F.C. Cabello, D. Hulinska, and H.P. Godfrey,eds). IOS Press, Washington, D.C. pp. 71-76.

13. Cameron, C.E., J.M.Y. Kuroiwa, M. Yamada, T. Francescutti, B. Chi and H.K. Kuramitsu, 2008. Heterologous expression of the Treponema pallidum laminin-binding adhesin Tp0751 in the non-pathogenic spirochete Treponema phagedenis. J. Bacteriol. 190, 2565-2571.

14. Cameron, C.E., R.L. Zuerner, S. Raverty, K.M. Colegrove, S. Norman, D.M. Lambourn, S.J. Jeffries and F.M. Gulland, 2008. Detection of Pathogenic Leptospira in Pinniped Populations via PCR Identifies a Source of Transmission for Zoonotic Leptospirosis in the Marine Environment. J. Clin. Micro. 46, 1728-1733.

15. Zuerner, R.L., C.E. Cameron, S. Raverty, J. Robinson, K.M. Colegrove, S.A. Norman, D.M. Lambourn, S.J. Jeffries and F.M. Gulland, 2009. Geographical dissemination of Leptospira interrogans serovar Pomona during seasonal migration of California sea lions. Vet. Microbiol. 137, 105-110.

16. Eshghi, A., L. Cowen, P.A. Cullen, R.L. Zuerner and C.E. Cameron, 2009. Global proteome analysis of Leptospira interrogans. J. Proteome Res. 8, 4564-4578.

17. Bamford, C.V., T. Francescutti, C.E. Cameron, H.F. Jenkinson and D. Dymock. 2010. Characterisation of a novel family of fibronectin binding proteins with M23 peptidase domains from Treponema denticola. Mol. Oral Microbiol. 25:369-383.

18. Houston, S., R. Hof, T. Francescutti, A. Hawkes, M.J. Boulanger, and C.E. Cameron. Bifunctional role of the Treponema pallidum extracellular matrix binding adhesion Tp0751. Infect. Immun. In press.