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Margaret K. Hostetter

 

Microbiology

Jean McLean Wallace Professor and Chair of Pediatrics
Professor of Microbial Pathogenesis

Education

B.A. Denison University 1970
M.D. Baylor College of Medicine 1975

Research Interests

Among the fungi, the yeast Candida albicans is the leading cause of death in susceptible hosts including premature newborns, patients with cancer, and other immunocompromised hosts. Expanding upon our prior characterization of functions of the Int1 protein in adhesion and filamentous growth (Science 279:1355-8, 1998), we have defined new functions for this protein in superantigen-mediated injury and in biofilm formation. Other projects in the laboratory focus on the role of the mitochondrial proteome in C. albicans morphogenesis and the mechanisms whereby this yeast invades the human gastrointestinal tract. In vitro models of gastrointestinal invasion are particularly interesting because of the novel linkage between C. albicans proteases, epithelial E-cadherin, and signaling via the gamma-secretase pathway.

Recent Publications

• Frank, C.F. and Hostetter, M.K. (2007). Cleavage of E-cadherin: a mechanism for disruption of the intestinal epithelial barrier by Candida albicans. Transl. Res. 149(4):211-22.
• Vellucci, V.F., Gygax, S.E., and Hostetter, M.K. (2006). Involvement of Candida albicans pyruvate dehydrogenase complex protein X (Pdx1) in filamentation. Fungal Genet. Biol. Dec 16.

Contact

E-mail
margaret.hostetter@yale.edu