Melissa J. Caimano

The paper analyzes sequence variability of BamA and FadL outer membrane proteins in 186 Treponema pallidum strains to identify evolutionary patterns and vaccine targets.

This paper introduces WRAPs, designed proteins that solubilize membrane proteins without detergents, enabling structural studies and vaccine development.

The paper identifies immunodominant extracellular loops (ECLs) from Treponema pallidum FadL proteins that elicit antibodies with opsonic and growth-inhibitory activities against syphilis-causing spirochetes.

The paper develops a fluorescent Treponema pallidum strain to study spirochete-host interactions and antibody-mediated clearance, showing greater OM disruption with sera from rabbits infected with the Nichols strain.

The paper sequences Treponema pallidum from Chinese syphilis chancres using improved whole-genome sequencing methods without rabbit passage, revealing genetic diversity in China.