Faculty Pages - UF College of Dentistry

Robert A. Burne

Oral Biology

Professor & Chair
(352) 392-4370
rburne@dental.ufl.edu

Ph.D., University of Rochester,
    Microbiology and Immunology, 1987

B.S., Pennsylvania State University,
    Microbiology, 1981

Main Interests:

The primary interests in my laboratory are in the molecular mechanisms governing the ability of bacteria that are capable of causing diseases in humans to modulate their virulence in response to environmental influences. To accomplish this, a variety of microbiological, biochemical, and recombinant DNA technologies are employed. These include the use of continuous culture techniques to tightly control growth parameters of bacteria, coupled with the use of genetically-engineered bacteria and gene fusion technology, which allows for a detailed molecular analysis of gene expression in response to specific stimuli. These systems are also being utilized for identifying and characterizing signal transduction systems and cis- and trans- acting factors controlling bacterial virulence expression. In addition, there is a major commitment to studying bacterial biofilms grown in custom-fabricated bioreactors using gene fusion techniques and confocal laser microscopy. The specific projects in the lab are focused in four major areas. The first is a detailed study of the genetics and physiology of polysaccharide metabolism and its relationship to virulence and biofilm formation by oral streptococci. The second project is a molecular genetic analysis of the role of the major molecular chaperones in gene regulation and responses to environmental stresses. The third project is a broad based approach to understanding the genetics and physiology of ureases and arginine metabolism by streptococci and actinomycetes. The final project utilizes a multi-species biofilm model system coupled with the use of genetically engineered bacteria to explore microbial ecology and the pathogenesis of oral infectious diseases.

Publications:

Lemos, J.A., Brown T.A. Jr, Abranches J., & Burne, R.A. (2005). Characteristics of Streptococcus mutans strains lacking the MazEF and RelBE toxin-antitoxin modules. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 253(2), 251-257.

Brown, T. A. Jr, Ahn, S. J., Frank R. N., Chen Y. Y., Lemos J. A., & Burne R. A. (2005). A hypothetical protein of Streptococcus mutans is critical for biofilm formation. Infect Immun, 73(5), 3147-51.

Ahn, S.J., Lemos, J.A., & Burne, R.A. (2005). Role of HtrA in growth and competence of Streptococcus mutans UA159. J Bacteriol, 187(9), 3028-38.

Wen, Z.T., Suntharaligham, P., Cvitkovitch, D.G., & Burne, R.A. (2005). Trigger factor in Streptococcus mutans is involved in stress tolerance, competence development, and biofilm formation. Infect Immun, 73(1), 219-25.

Lemos, J.A., Abranches, J., & Burne, R.A. (2005). Responses of cariogenic streptococci to environmental stresses. Curr Issues Mol Biol, 7(1), 95-107.

Antonelli, P.J., Lee, J.C., & Burne, R.A. (2004). Bacterial biofilms may contribute to persistent cochlear implant infection. Otol Neurotol, 25(6), 953-7.

Browngardt, C.M., Wen, Z.T., & Burne, R.A. (2004). RegM is required for optimal fructosyltransferase and glucosyltransferase gene expression in Streptococcus mutans. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 240(1), 75-9.

Abranches, J., Chen, Y.Y., & Burne, R.A. (2004). Galactose metabolism by Streptococcus mutans. Appl Environ Microbiol, 70(10), 6047-52.

Nascimento, M.M., Lemos, J.A., Abranches, J., Goncalves, R.B., & Burne, R.A. (2004). Adaptive acid tolerance response of Streptococcus sobrinus. J Bacteriol, 186(19), 6383-90.

Laport, M.S., Lemos, J.A., Bastos, M.F., Burne, R.A., & de Marval, M.G. (2004). Transcriptional analysis of the groE and dnaK heat-shock operons of Enterococcus faecalis. Res Microbiol, 155(4), 252-8.

Wen, Z.T., & Burne, R.A. (2004). LuxS-mediated signaling in Streptococcus mutans is involved in regulation of acid and oxidative stress tolerance and biofilm formation. J Bacteriol, 186(9), 2682-91.

Dong, Y., Chen, Y.Y., & Burne, R.A. (2004). Control of expression of the arginine deiminase operon of Streptococcus gordonii by CcpA and Flp. J Bacteriol, 186(8), 2511-4.

Griswold, A., Chen, Y.Y., Snyder, J.A., & Burne, R.A. (2004). Characterization of the arginine deiminase operon of Streptococcus rattus FA-1. Appl Environ Microbiol, 70(3), 1321-7.

Griswold, A.R., Chen, Y.Y., & Burne, R.A. (2004). Analysis of an agmatine deiminase gene cluster in Streptococcus mutans UA159. J Bacteriol, 186(6), 1902-4.

Lemos, J.A., Brown, T.A. Jr, & Burne, R.A. (2004). Effects of RelA on key virulence properties of planktonic and biofilm populations of Streptococcus mutans. Infect Immun, 72(3), 1431-40.