Medical Scientist Training Program  http://www.mstp.uab.edu    Back to Main

Faculty Detail    
Name JANNET KATZ
 
Campus Address BBRB 713 Zip 2170
Phone  (205) 934-2878
E-mail  meow@uab.edu
Other websites
     


Faculty Appointment(s)
Appointment Type Department Division Rank
Primary  Pediatric Dentistry  Pediatric Dentistry Professor Emeritus
Center  UAB Immunology Institute  UAB Immunology Institute Professor Emeritus

Graduate Biomedical Sciences Affiliations
Cellular and Molecular Biology Program 
Medical Scientist Training Program 

Biographical Sketch 
Dr. Katz received her D.D.S. degree in 1980 from the Technological University of Mexico in Mexico City in 1980. She then completed her Periodontics certificate from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in 1984 and received her Ph.D in Pathology and Immunology from UAB in 1992. She became a Professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry in 2003, is an Associate Professor in Microbiology, and is a Senior Scientist in the Nephrology Research and Training Center at UAB. Dr. Katz is the Co-Coursemaster and Co-Section Head of the Oral Immunology Section of the Sophomore Dental Microbiology course.

Society Memberships
Organization Name Position Held Org Link
American Association of Immunologists     
American Society for Microbiology     
International and American Association for Dental Research     
Society for Mucosal Immunology     



Research/Clinical Interest
Title
Vaccine delivery systems; inflammation; innate immunity
Description
Dr. Katz’ laboratory is involved in studies to understand the host immune responses to specific antigens derived from the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis and from the pathogen Francisella tularensis. Specifically, the studies involve investigations that elucidate the pathways (i.e. TLRs, CD80/CD86, MAP Kinases and transcription factors) involved in the host-microbial interactions that lead to the development of periodontitis or tularemia. By understanding these interactions it is hoped that novel therapeutic methods can be developed. Lastly, our investigations also involve the development of potential protective mucosal vaccines against periodontitis and tularemia by the specific utilization of mucosal routes.

Selected Publications 
Publication PUBMEDID
Martin, M., Michalek, S.M., and Katz, J. 2003. Role of innate immune factors in the adjuvant activity of monophosphoryl lipid A. Infect. Immun. 71: 2498-2507.   
Zhang, P., Yang, Q-B., Marciani, D.J., Martin, M., Clements, J.D., Michalek, S.M., and Katz, J. 2003. Effectiveness of the quillaja saponin semi-synthetic analog GPI-0100 in potentiating mucosal and systemic responses to recombinant HagB from Porphyromonas gingivalis. Vaccine 21:4459-4471.   
Martin, M., Schifferle, R.E., Cuetsa, N., Vogel, S.N., Katz, J., and Michalek, S.M. 2003. Role of the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinases-Akt pathway in the regulation of IL-10 and IL-12 by Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide. J. Immunol. 171:717-725.   
Zhang, P., Martin, M., Yang, Q-B., Michalek, S.M., and Katz, J. 2004. Role of B7 costimulatory molecules in immune responses and T-helper cell differentiation in responses to recombinant HagB from Prophyromonas gingivalis. Infect. Immun. 72:637-644.   
Zhang, P., Martin, M., Michalek, S.M., and Katz, J. 2005. Role of mitogen-activated protein kinases and NF-κB in the regulation of pro- and anti- inflammatory cytokines by Porphyromonas gingivalis hemagglutinin B. Infect. Immun. 73:3990-3998.   
Zhang, P., Yang, Q-B., Balkovetz, D., Lewis, J.P., Clements, J.D., Michalek, S.M., and Katz, J. 2005. Effectiveness of the B subunit of cholera toxin in potentiating immune responses to the recombinant hemagglutinin/adhesin domain of the gingipain Kgp from Porphyromonas gingivalis. Vaccine 23:4734-4744.   
Katz, J., Zhang, P., Martin, M., Vogel, S.N., and Michalek, S.M. 2006. Toll-like receptor 2 is required for inflammatory responses to Francisella tularensis LVS. Infect. Immun. 74:2809-2816.   
Salam, M.A., Katz, J., Zhang, P., Hajishengallis, G., and Michalek, S.M. 2006. Immunogenicity of Salmonella vector vaccines expressing SBR of Streptococcus mutans under the control of T7-nirB (dual) promoter system. Vaccine 24:5003-5015.   
Zhang, P., Lewis, J.P., Michalek, S.M., and Katz, J. 2007. Role of CD80 and CD86 in host immune responses to the recombinant hemagglutinin domain of Porphyromonas gingivalis gingipain and in the adjuvanticity of cholera toxin B and monophosphoryl lipid A. Vaccine 25: 6201-6210.   

Keywords
Periodontal disease, gingivalis, immune responses, mucosal vaccines