Elizabeth Adams, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Adams
Phone: (302) 831-1691
Fax: (302) 831-4841
Email: liz@dbi.udel.edu
Office: 121 DBI
Lab: 117 DBI
Address:
Delaware Biotechnology Institute
University of Delaware
15 Innovation Way
Newark, DE 19711
Education
- B.S. - Anglia Ruskin University (United Kingdom)
- Ph.D. - University of East Anglia (United Kingdom)
- Postdoctoral - East Tennessee State University
- Postdoctoral - University of Oxford (United Kingdom)
Research Interests
The innate immune system is the first line of defence against microbial pathogens, that provides protection through the use of evolutionarily conserved pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) expressed primarily by phagocytic cells. This immediate recognition of microbial pathogens is based on the ability of the innate immune response to be able to recognise conserved pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) expressed by a wide range of microbial pathogens. Examples of conserved microbial structures that are recognised include; proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids. Glucans are glucose polymers that are major components of the cell wall of fungi and certain bacteria that, as conserved structures, are considered to be PAMPs. Glucans have been shown to stimulate innate immunity and therefore are considered to be biological response modifiers.
The first step in immune modulation by fungal cell wall components including glucans is the binding of the carbohydrate to membrane receptors. Specific receptors that have been shown to play a significant role in fungal pathogen recognition include, toll-like receptors (TLRs), lectin receptors (e.g. Dectin-1), and scavenger receptors (SCs). These receptors also influence the outcome of the infections, as they are able to influence the subsequent cellular and immunological responses mounted. Our research aims to understand and characterise the role of these receptors in the innate immunological response to fungal pathogens, for which the molecular and cellular responses are not well understood. To achieve this we use a number of different techniques including, AFM (atomic force microscopy), LSCM (laser scanning confocal microscopy) and electron microscopy.
Selected Publications
- Adams EL, Rice PJ, Ha T, et al. Candida albicans glucans are differentially recognized by human monocytes and neutrophil membrane receptors.. 2009:in preparation.
- Adams EL, Rice PJ, Graves B, et al. Differential high-affinity interaction of dectin-1 with natural or synthetic glucans is dependent upon primary structure and is influenced by polymer chain length and side-chain branching. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2008;325(1):115–123.
- Adams EL, Czymmek K. The combined application of AFM and LSCM: Changing the way we look at innate immunity. In: Méndez-Vilas A, Díaz J, eds. Modern Research and Education Topics in Microscopy. Vol. 1. Spain: Formatex; 2007:68–76.
- Adams EL, Morris VJ. Characterising heterogeneity of plant polysaccharides using atomic force microscopy. In: Williams PA, Phillips GO, eds. Proceedings of the Gums and Stabilisers Conference for the Food Industry. Vol. 13. RSC Publishing; 2005:98–104.
- Adams EL, Kroon PA, Williamson G, Morris VJ. AFM studies of water-soluble wheat arabinoxylans--effects of esterase treatment. Carbohydr Res. 2005;340(11):1841–1845.
- Rice PJ, Adams EL, Ozment-Skelton T, et al. Oral delivery and gastrointestinal absorption of soluble glucans stimulate increased resistance to infectious challenge. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2005;314(3):1079–1086.
- Adams EL, Kroon PA, Williamson G, Gilbert HJ, Morris VJ. Inactivated enzymes as probes of the structure of arabinoxylans as observed by atomic force microscopy. Carbohydr Res. 2004;339(3):579–590.
- Rice PJ, Lockhart BE, Barker LA, Adams EL, Ensley HE, Williams DL. Pharmacokinetics of fungal (1-3)-beta-D-glucans following intravenous administration in rats. Int Immunopharmacol. 2004;4(9):1209–1215.
- Adams EL, Kroon PA, Williamson G, Morris VJ. Characterisation of heterogeneous arabinoxylans by direct imaging of individual molecules by atomic force microscopy. Carbohydr Res. 2003;338(8):771–780.
