Philips Institute

Assistant Professor
Philips Institute of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology
Member Scientist, The Philips Institute
 

Education

• 1984-1990: MS Biology, Universystet Gdanski, Gdansk, Poland   
• 1994-1997: Ph.D. Microbiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia

Professional Experience

• 1987-1990: Research project with Dr. Elzbieta Szczepkowska at Wydzial Biologii, Geografii i Oceanologii, Gdansk, Poland.
• 1994-1997: Graduate research assistant in the laboratory of Dr. Francis L. Macrina at the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.
• 1997-2002: Postdoctoral fellow (1997-1999) and Research Assistant (1999-2002) in the laboratory of Dr. Francis L. Macrina at Philips Institute of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.
• 2002-present: Assistant Professor, Philips Institute of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University

Honors

• Finalist John C. Forbes Day Competition, Research in Progress Category (VCU, 1997)
• NIH Research Career Development Award (2001-2006)

Funded Research

• K22DE14180-02:Virulence Factors of Porphyromonas gingivalis
• R03DE015241-01A1:Prevotella intermedia: iron and virulence

Scientific Society Memberships

• American Society for Microbiology 
• International Association for Dental Research
• American Association for the Advancement of Science
• International Proteolysis Society

Research Interests

My research centers on the molecular approaches to elucidate the virulence factors of anaerobic bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia.

Publications:

1. Fan Yu and Janina P. Lewis. 2005. Identification and characterization of adhesin from Prevotella intermedia 17. Manuscript in preparation.
2. Jia He, Hiroshi Miyazaki, Cecilia Anaya, Fan Yu, Andrew Yeudall and Janina P. Lewis. 2005. Role of Porphyromonas gingivalis FeoB in metal uptake and oxidative stress protection. Manuscript submitted.
3. Ping Zhang, Qui-Bo Yang, Daniel F. Balkovetz, Janina P. Lewis, John D. Clements, Suzanne M. Michalek, Jannet Katz. 2005. Effectiveness of the B subunit of cholera toxin in potentiating immune responses to the recombinant hemagglutinin/adhesion domain of the gingipain Kgp from Porphyromonas gingivalis. Vaccine. Manuscript accepted.
4. Janina P. Lewis, Fan Yu, Adriana Rosato, and Cecilia Anaya. 2005. Transcriptional organization and regulation of the Porphyromonas gingivalis W83 hemin uptake (hmu) locus. Revised manuscript ready for submission to the Journal of Infection and Immunity.
5. Janina P. Lewis, Konrad Plata, and Cecilia Anaya. 2005. "The HmuQR receptor is required for growth of  Porphyromonas gingivalis with hemoglobin-haptoglobin compleses as hemin source." Submitted to the Journal of Infection and Immunity January 13, 2005.
6. Califano JV, Chou D, Lewis JP, Rogers JD, Best AM, Schenkein HA. 2004. "Antibody reactive with Porphyromonas gingivalis hemagglutinin in chronic and generalized aggressive periodontitis". J Periodontal Res. 2004 Aug;39(4):263-8.
7. Joseph V. Califano, Todd Kitten, Janina P. Lewis, Francis L. Macrina, Robert D. Fleischmann, Claire M Frazer, Margaret J. Duncan, and Floyd E. Dewhirst. 2000. "Characterization of the Porphyromonas gingivalis Insertion-Like Element, ISPg5". Infection and Immunity. Vol. 68. No. 9. p. 5247-5253.
8. Janina P. Lewis, Janet A. Dawson, James C. Hannis, David Muddiman, and Francis L. Macrina. 1999. "Hemoglobinase Activity of the Lysine Gingipain Protease (Kgp) of Porphyromonas gingivalis W83". Journal of Bacteriology. Vol. 181, No. 16, p. 4905-4913.
9. Janina P. Lewis and Francis L. Macrina. 1999. "Localization of HArep-Containing Genes on the Chromosome of Porphyromonas gingivalis W83". Infection and Immunity. Vol. 67, No. 5, p. 2619-2623.
10. Janina P. Lewis and Francis L. Macrina. 1998. "IS195, an Insertion-Like Element Associated with Protease Genes in Porphyromonas gingivalis". Infection and Immunity. Vol. 66, No. 7, p. 3035-3042.
11. Janina Pawlowska Lewis. 1997. Molecular Genetics of Proteases of Porphyromonas gingivalis W83. Doctoral dissertation.
12. Janina Pawlowska. 1990. Growth of Selected Algae from Cyanophyta and Chlorophyta on Nonspecific Media. Master's thesis. 

Lab Members

   Current:

• Cecilia Anaya
  M.S., National University of San Luis, Argentina
  Research Scientist 
• Jia He
  B.S., Microbiology, Sichuan University
  Graduate Student, Department of Microbiology and Immunology
• Fan Yu
  D.D.S., Wuhan University
  M.S., Hubei Medical University
  Research Scientist

    Previous:   

• Konrad Plata
  M.S.,Universytet Gdanski, Gdansk, Poland
  Research Scientist (February 2003-May 2004)

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Date last modified: 06/14/05