Research Interests Dr. Norris' laboratory is investigating the molecular mechanisms which allow microbial pathogens to successfully evade the host's intrinsic and acquired immune defenses and establish chronic infections. Two pathogens currently under study are Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas' disease, a major health concern in Latin America and Pneumocystis carinii which causes a severe pneumonia in HIV patients and other immunocompromised individuals. Ongoing projects in the laboratory include cloning and sequence analysis of microbial virulence factors, prokaryotic and eukaryotic gene expression systems, molecular modeling of membrane proteins involved in immune evasion, molecular analysis of protein-protein interactions, DNA vaccines and the use of bacterial antigen delivery systems as vaccine vehicles, characterization of the host repsonse to vaccine candidates. Studies of the events that define the immune evasion mechanisms of a pathogen will provide information on a critical step in the establishment of infection and will identify targets for the eventual development of immune intervention strategies and vaccines.   Selected Publications Morris A, Sciurba F, Norris KA. Pneumocystis: A novel pathogen in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease? COPD. 2008 Feb;5(1):43-51. Beucher M, Norris KA. Sequence diversity of the Trypanosoma cruzi complement regulatory protein family. Infect Immun. 2008 Feb;76(2):750-8. Epub 2007 Dec 10. Norris KA, Morris A, Patil S, Fernandes E. Pneumocystis colonization, airway inflammation, and pulmonary function decline in acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome. Immunol Res. 2006;36(1-3):175-87. Review. Zheng M, Ramsay AJ, Robichaux MB, Norris KA, Kliment C, Crowe C, Rapaka RR, Steele C, McAllister F, Shellito JE, Marrero L, Schwarzenberger P, Zhong Q, Kolls JK. CD4+ T cell-independent DNA vaccination against opportunistic infections. J Clin Invest. 2005 Dec;115(12):3536-44. Morris A, Sciurba FC, Lebedeva IP, Githaiga A, Elliott WM, Hogg JC, Huang L, Norris KA. Association of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease severity and Pneumocystis colonization.Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2004 Aug 15;170(4):408-13. Epub 2004 Apr 29. Complete Publication Listing   Grant Support NIH/NIAID: Immune response to Pneumocystis in a simian model of AIDS. Role: Principal Investigator NIH/NHLBI: Pneumocystis and COPD in a simian model of AIDS. Role: Principal Investigator NIH/NIAID: T. cruzi Immune evasion factors and vaccine design. Role: Principal Investigator   Other Links Department of Immunology Center for Vaccine Research University of Pittsburgh

Karen A. Norris, Ph.D. Office:  E1038 BST Lab:E1104, E1105 BST Phone:412-648-8848 Fax: 412/383-8096 kan1@pitt.edu   Academic Affiliations Associate Professor Department of Immunology   Education 1980 B.S. Microbioloyg/Chem. Bowling Green University Bowling Green, OH 1985 Ph.D. Microbiology/Immunology Wright State University Dayton, OH 1985 - 1990 Postdoc Molecular Biology Scripps Clinic & Research Institute La Jolla, CA   Lab Personnel Post-doctoral Fellows: Sangita Patil, Ph.D., Margaret Beucher, Ph.D., Mahesh Netravali, M.D. Graduate Students: Marianne Bryan, Tim Shipley, Heather Kling Research Specialist: Jennifer Roguskie