Travis J. Chiarelli

Transformation and allelic exchange in Orientia tsutsugamushi

This paper develops a genetic transformation and allelic exchange protocol for Orientia tsutsugamushi, enabling genetic manipulation of this pathogen to study its biology and interactions with host cells.

Small-molecule inhibition of the Orientia tsutsugamushi deubiquitylating enzyme OtDUB impairs bacterial reproduction

This study identifies small-molecule inhibitors of the bacterial deubiquitylating enzyme OtDUB, showing they reduce O. tsutsugamushi infection in cells.

The T3SS structural and effector genes of Chlamydia trachomatis are expressed in distinct phenotypic cell forms.

This study identifies distinct gene expression patterns in Chlamydia trachomatis developmental stages and shows T3SS genes are cell type restricted.

The chlamydial transcriptional regulator Euo is a key switch in cell form developmental progression but is not involved in the committed step to the formation of the infectious form.

This study shows that ectopic expression of the chlamydial transcriptional regulator Euo arrests developmental progression at an early Intermediate Body stage but does not affect the formation of the infectious Elementary Body.

Novel exc Genes Involved in Formation of the Tubular Excretory Canals of C. elegans

The paper identifies 24 genes affecting luminal diameter in C. elegans excretory canals through a reverse genetic screen, revealing roles in cytoskeletal regulation and vesicle transport.