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About Florence M Rollwagen
Expertise
I can answer questions in biology, microbiology and immunology on the undergraduate or graduate level. I can also address medical and health concerns regarding alternative medicine, autoimmune diseases (lupus, MS) liver disease and intestinal problems.

Experience
I have over 20 years experience in research and teaching at the medical/graduate level, and 5 years teaching college biology and microbiology. My expertise is in microbiology and immunology, specifically the biology of cytokines and soluble immune response modifiers. I also carried out original research in blood substitutes and shock/trauma.

Organizations
American Association of Immunologists (AAI) American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Publications
Journal of Experimental Medicine, Journal of Immunology, Cytokine, Shock, Experimental Hematology

Education/Credentials
BS biology 1966 MS biology 1968 PhD immunology 1979

 
   

You are here:  Experts > Science > Biology > Biology > bacteria - pilus & plasmids

Biology - bacteria - pilus & plasmids


Expert: Florence M Rollwagen - 6/11/2009

Question
Hello, I was wondering if there would be a way to develop some sort of vaccine or treatment that would stay permanently in our bodies that would shrink or clog a bacteria pilus so plasmids could not be transferred? Then antibody resistance and disease evolution would cease? Thanks

Answer
Hi Bryan:  Thanks for your question.

Alas, bacteria also transfer genetic material via transduction (transfer via bacteriophage) and transformation (taking up naked DNA).

Here are a few references:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformation_(genetics)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transduction_(genetics)

It might also be a problem getting your the antibodies generated by your vaccine into place to interfere with the sex pilus.

Keep thinking, though!

FM Rollwagen, PhD

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