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Research Interests of Magnus Höök,
Ph.D. -- Biology of the extracellular matrix using
a combination
of structural, biochemical, molecular and cell biological,
immunological and genetic approaches.
Our laboratory is studying the biology of the extracellular
matrix (ECM). Current projects include studies of the
structural organization of the ECM and the molecular
mechanisms of microbial adhesion to ECM molecules of
the host. It is now well established that microorganisms
causing disease in animals must first adhere to the
host tissue. We have developed this area of research
at a molecular level and found that many different microorganisms
use ECM molecules as substrates for their adherence.
In our study of the structural organization of the
ECM, we focus on the role of a family of extracellular
matrix proteoglycans containing leucine-rich core proteins.
These molecules seem to function primarily through interaction
with other proteins in the ECM and may affect the structural
organization of the ECM as well as the biological activity
of matrix proteins.
Representative Publications
Johnson, H. J., Rosenberg, L., Choi, Garza, S., Höök,
M., and Neame, P. J. (1997) Characterization of Epiphycan,
a small proteoglycan with a leucine-rich repeat core
protein. J. Biol. Chem. 272, 18709-18717.
Symersky, J., Patti, J.M., Carson, M., House-Pompeo,
K, Teale, M., Moore, D. Jin, L., Schneider, A., DeLucas,
L.J., Höök, M., and Sthanam, V.L.N. (1997)
Structure of the collagen-binding domain from a Staphylococcus
aureus adhesin. Nature Struct. Biol., 4, 833-838.
O'Connell, D.P., Nanavaty, T., McDevitt, D., Gurusiddappa,
S., Höök, M., and Foster, T.J. (1998) The
fibrinogen-binding MSCRAMM (clumping factor) of Staphylococcus
aureus has a Ca2+-dependent inhibitory site. J. Biol.
Chem. 273, 6821-6829.
Hanson, M.S., Cassatt, D.R., Guo, B.P., Patel, NK.,
McCarthy, M.P., Dorward, D.W. and Höök, M.
(1998) Active and passive immunity against Borrelia
burgdorferi decorin binding protein A (DbpA) protects
against infection. Infect. & Immun. 66, 2143-2153.
Nilsson, I.M., Patti, J.M., Bremell, T., Höök,
M., and Tarkowski, A. (1998) Vaccination with a recombinant
fragment of collagen adhesin provides protection against
Staphylococcus aureus - mediated septic death. J. Clin.
Invest. 101, 2640-2649
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