Kalai Mathee

Last updated
Kalai Mathee
Born30 August 1959
NationalityAmerican Malaysian
EducationMPH, Health Policy and Management, Florida International University (2018)

PhD, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Tennessee, Memphis (1992)

Contents

MSc, Microbial Genetics, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (1986)

BSc, Genetics, University of Malaya. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (1984)
SpouseGiri Narasimhan
Parent(s) Ka. Kaliaperumal
Rugmani Loganayaki
Scientific career
Thesis Function and regulation of the bacteriophage Mu middle operon  (1992)

Kalai Mathee is a professor at Florida International University, joint editor-in-chief of the Journal of Medical Microbiology , and an elected fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology. She is known for her research on bacterial infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Early life and education

Kalai Mathee was born into a working-class family in Malaysia to Kuyilar Kaliaperumal and Loganayaki. She is of Tamil heritage and got her early education in a vernacular school SJKT Kerajaan in Ipoh. [1] She has a Bachelor of Science in Genetics from the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, graduating in 1984, and completed her master's in molecular genetics focusing on Neisseria gonorrhoeae in 1986 under the tutelage of Chong-Lek Koh. [2] Mathee did her Ph.D. (1992) at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center at Memphis under Martha Howe's guidance specializing in transcription. [3] Mathee did two post-doctorate fellowships, one at Tufts University focusing on Helicobacter pylori pathogenesis in the year 1993; the other at University of Tennessee Health Science Center working on Pseudomonas aeruginosa pathogenesis from 1993-1999. In 2018, she received her master's degree in Public Health in Health Policy and Management from Florida International University.

Career

In 1999, Mathee moved to Florida International University where she was promoted to professor in 2013. She did a sabbatical at Harvard Medical School in Stephen Lory’s lab from 2006-2007. [1] In 2007 she was the founding chair of the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at Florida International University. [2]

In 2017, Mathee and Norman Fry were named co-editors-in-cChief of the Journal of Medical Microbiology. [4] [5]

Research

Since 1993, the major focus of Mathee’s research has been the pathobiology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa chronic infections with specific emphasis on β-lactam resistance, alginate overproduction, comparative genomics, alternative therapies, and cystic fibrosis lung ecology. Her early research identified the function and regulatory mechanisms of the bacteriophage Mu. [6] [7] Her postdoctoral research focused on alginate gene regulation with a focus on the alginate-specific sigma factor, AlgT/U, and she was the first to show MucA is an inner membrane protein. [8] Mathee also showed that polymorphonuclear leukocytes and oxygen radicals can contribute to mucoid conversion by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. [9] Mathee has examined the role of quorum sensing molecules in Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, [10] [11] [12] and demonstrated that alginate is not required for biofilm formation. [13] Her work has used comparative genomics [14] and transcriptomics [15] to define variability across strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A portion of Mathee's research is on β-lactam resistance, [16] particularly the amp pathway where she showed the presence of a β-lactamase PoxB, two permeases, and coregulation of antibiotic resistance and other virulence factors mediated by AmpR. [17] [18] Current ongoing research focuses on exploring various microbiomes, including lung, irritable bowel syndrome, vaginal, and gut. [19]

Selected publications

Awards and honors

In 2011, she was awarded the President’s Council Worlds Ahead Faculty Award from Florida International University. [20] Mathee was named a distinguished fellow of the Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre in 2013. [21] In 2014, she was one of the inaugural recipients of the New England Biolabs Passion in Science Award. [22] In 2020, Mathee was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology. [23] Mathee is the first Florida International University faculty member to receive this honor, and the first Malaysian woman to receive this honor. [24] In 2022 she was awarded the Microbiology Society's Microbiology Outreach Prize. [25]

Personal life

In 1993, she married a computer science professor, Giri Narasimhan, in Nashville, Tennessee.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

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A biofilm comprises any syntrophic consortium of microorganisms in which cells stick to each other and often also to a surface. These adherent cells become embedded within a slimy extracellular matrix that is composed of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs). The cells within the biofilm produce the EPS components, which are typically a polymeric conglomeration of extracellular polysaccharides, proteins, lipids and DNA. Because they have three-dimensional structure and represent a community lifestyle for microorganisms, they have been metaphorically described as "cities for microbes".

In biology, quorum sensing or quorum signaling (QS) is the ability to detect and respond to cell population density by gene regulation. Quorum sensing is a type of cellular signaling, and more specifically can be considered a type of paracrine signaling. However, it also contains traits of both autocrine signaling: a cell produces both the autoinducer molecule and the receptor for the autoinducer. As one example, QS enables bacteria to restrict the expression of specific genes to the high cell densities at which the resulting phenotypes will be most beneficial, especially for phenotypes that would be ineffective at low cell densities and therefore too energetically costly to express. Many species of bacteria use quorum sensing to coordinate gene expression according to the density of their local population. In a similar fashion, some social insects use quorum sensing to determine where to nest. Quorum sensing in pathogenic bacteria activates host immune signaling and prolongs host survival, by limiting the bacterial intake of nutrients, such as tryptophan, which further is converted to serotonin. As such, quorum sensing allows a commensal interaction between host and pathogenic bacteria. Quorum sensing may also be useful for cancer cell communications.

<i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> Species of bacterium

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common encapsulated, gram-negative, aerobic–facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacterium that can cause disease in plants and animals, including humans. A species of considerable medical importance, P. aeruginosa is a multidrug resistant pathogen recognized for its ubiquity, its intrinsically advanced antibiotic resistance mechanisms, and its association with serious illnesses – hospital-acquired infections such as ventilator-associated pneumonia and various sepsis syndromes.

β-Lactamase inhibitor Family of enzymes

Beta-lactamases are a family of enzymes involved in bacterial resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics. In bacterial resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics, the bacteria have beta-lactamase which degrade the beta-lactam rings, rendering the antibiotic ineffective. However, with beta-lactamase inhibitors, these enzymes on the bacteria are inhibited, thus allowing the antibiotic to take effect. Strategies for combating this form of resistance have included the development of new beta-lactam antibiotics that are more resistant to cleavage and the development of the class of enzyme inhibitors called beta-lactamase inhibitors. Although β-lactamase inhibitors have little antibiotic activity of their own, they prevent bacterial degradation of beta-lactam antibiotics and thus extend the range of bacteria the drugs are effective against.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swarming motility</span>

Swarming motility is a rapid and coordinated translocation of a bacterial population across solid or semi-solid surfaces, and is an example of bacterial multicellularity and swarm behaviour. Swarming motility was first reported by Jorgen Henrichsen and has been mostly studied in genus Serratia, Salmonella, Aeromonas, Bacillus, Yersinia, Pseudomonas, Proteus, Vibrio and Escherichia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lactonase</span>

Lactonase (EC 3.1.1.81, acyl-homoserine lactonase; systematic name N-acyl-L-homoserine-lactone lactonohydrolase) is a metalloenzyme, produced by certain species of bacteria, which targets and inactivates acylated homoserine lactones (AHLs). It catalyzes the reaction

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pyocyanin</span> Chemical compound

Pyocyanin (PCN−) is one of the many toxic compounds produced and secreted by the Gram negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Pyocyanin is a blue secondary metabolite, turning red below pH 4.9, with the ability to oxidise and reduce other molecules and therefore kill microbes competing against P. aeruginosa as well as mammalian cells of the lungs which P. aeruginosa has infected during cystic fibrosis. Since pyocyanin is a zwitterion at blood pH, it is easily able to cross the cell membrane. There are three different states in which pyocyanin can exist: oxidized (blue), monovalently reduced (colourless) or divalently reduced (red). Mitochondria play an important role in the cycling of pyocyanin between its redox states. Due to its redox-active properties, pyocyanin generates reactive oxygen species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pyoverdine</span> Chemical compound

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhamnolipid</span> Chemical compound

Rhamnolipids are a class of glycolipid produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, amongst other organisms, frequently cited as bacterial surfactants. They have a glycosyl head group, in this case a rhamnose moiety, and a 3-(hydroxyalkanoyloxy)alkanoic acid (HAA) fatty acid tail, such as 3-hydroxydecanoic acid.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crc (protein)</span>

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References

  1. 1 2 "Prof Dr Kalai Mathee; A Trailblazing Malaysian Scientist Exceptional Discoveries Makes Waves in The US". Varnam MY. 2021-05-05. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  2. 1 2 "ORCID page for Kalai Mathee". orcid.org. Retrieved 2021-12-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ↑ Mathee, Kalai (1992). Function and regulation of the bacteriophage Mu middle operon (Thesis). OCLC   28138881.
  4. ↑ Kalai, Mathee; K.Fry, Norman (1 July 2017). "Welcome from Norman Fry and Kalai Mathee, new co-Editors-in-Chief for the Journal of Medical Microbiology". Journal of Medical Microbiology. 66 (7): 846. doi:10.1099/jmm.0.000520. PMID   28759351.
  5. ↑ Kalai, Mathee. "Journal of Medical Microbiology". Journal of Medical Microbiology . eISSN   1473-5644. ISSN   0022-2615.
  6. ↑ Mathee, K; Howe, M M (1990-12-01). "Identification of a positive regulator of the Mu middle operon". Journal of Bacteriology. 172 (12): 6641–6650. doi:10.1128/jb.172.12.6641-6650.1990. PMC   210775 . PMID   2147678.
  7. ↑ Mathee, K; Howe, M M (1993-09-01). "Bacteriophage Mu Mor protein requires sigma 70 to activate the Mu middle promoter". Journal of Bacteriology. 175 (17): 5314–5323. doi:10.1128/jb.175.17.5314-5323.1993. PMC   206584 . PMID   8366019.
  8. ↑ Mathee, K; McPherson, C J; Ohman, D E (1997-06-01). "Posttranslational control of the algT (algU)-encoded sigma22 for expression of the alginate regulon in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and localization of its antagonist proteins MucA and MucB (AlgN)". Journal of Bacteriology. 179 (11): 3711–3720. doi:10.1128/jb.179.11.3711-3720.1997. PMC   179169 . PMID   9171421.
  9. ↑ Mathee, Kalai; Ciofu, Oana; Sternberg, Claus; Lindum, Peter W.; Campbell, Joan I. A.; Jensen, Per; Johnsen, Anders H.; Givskov, Michael; Ohman, Dennis E.; Søren, Molin; Høiby, Niels (1999-06-01). "Mucoid conversion of Pseudomonas aeruginos by hydrogen peroxide: a mechanism for virulence activation in the cystic fibrosis lung". Microbiology. 145 (6): 1349–1357. doi: 10.1099/13500872-145-6-1349 . ISSN   1350-0872. PMID   10411261.
  10. ↑ Wu, Hong; Song, Zhijun; Hentzer, Morten; Andersen, Jens Bo; Heydorn, Arne; Mathee, Kalai; Moser, Claus; Eberl, Leo; Molin, Søren; Høiby, Niels; Givskov, Michael YR 2000 (2000). "Detection of N-acylhomoserine lactones in lung tissues of mice infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa". Microbiology. 146 (10): 2481–2493. doi: 10.1099/00221287-146-10-2481 . ISSN   1465-2080. PMID   11021924.
  11. ↑ Wu, Hong; Song, Zhijun; Givskov, Michael; Doring, Gerd; Worlitzsch, Dieter; Mathee, Kalai; Rygaard, Jørgen; Høiby, Niels YR 2001 (2001). "Pseudomonas aeruginosa mutations in lasI and rhlI quorum sensing systems result in milder chronic lung infection". Microbiology. 147 (5): 1105–1113. doi: 10.1099/00221287-147-5-1105 . ISSN   1465-2080. PMID   11320114.
  12. ↑ Adonizio, Allison; Kong, Kok-Fai; Mathee, Kalai (2008). "Inhibition of Quorum Sensing-Controlled Virulence Factor Production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa by South Florida Plant Extracts". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 52 (1): 198–203. doi:10.1128/AAC.00612-07. ISSN   0066-4804. PMC   2223872 . PMID   17938186.
  13. ↑ Stapper, Andres Plata; Narasimhan, Giri; Ohman, Dennis E.; Barakat, Johnny; Hentzer, Morten; Molin, Søren; Kharazmi, Arsalan; Høiby, Niels; Mathee, KalaiYR 2004 (2004). "Alginate production affects Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm development and architecture, but is not essential for biofilm formation". Journal of Medical Microbiology. 53 (7): 679–690. doi: 10.1099/jmm.0.45539-0 . ISSN   1473-5644. PMID   15184541.
  14. ↑ Mathee, Kalai; Narasimhan, Giri; Valdes, Camilo; Qiu, Xiaoyun; Matewish, Jody M.; Koehrsen, Michael; Rokas, Antonis; Yandava, Chandri N.; Engels, Reinhard; Zeng, Erliang; Olavarietta, Raquel (2008-02-26). "Dynamics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa genome evolution". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 105 (8): 3100–3105. Bibcode:2008PNAS..105.3100M. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0711982105 . ISSN   0027-8424. PMC   2268591 . PMID   18287045.
  15. ↑ Balasubramanian, Deepak; Mathee, Kalai (2009). "Comparative transcriptome analyses of Pseudomonas aeruginosa". Human Genomics. 3 (4): 349–361. doi:10.1186/1479-7364-3-4-361. ISSN   1479-7364. PMC   2897818 . PMID   19706365.
  16. ↑ Kong, Kok-Fai; Schneper, Lisa; Mathee, Kalai (2010). "Beta-lactam antibiotics: from antibiosis to resistance and bacteriology". APMIS. 118 (1): 1–36. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0463.2009.02563.x. ISSN   1600-0463. PMC   2894812 . PMID   20041868.
  17. ↑ Kong, Kok-Fai; Jayawardena, Suriya Ravi; Indulkar, Shalaka Dayaram; del Puerto, Aimee; Koh, Chong-Lek; Høiby, Niels; Mathee, Kalai (2005-11-01). "Pseudomonas aeruginosa AmpR Is a Global Transcriptional Factor That Regulates Expression of AmpC and PoxB β-Lactamases, Proteases, Quorum Sensing, and Other Virulence Factors". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 49 (11): 4567–4575. doi:10.1128/AAC.49.11.4567-4575.2005. PMC   1280116 . PMID   16251297.
  18. ↑ Balasubramanian, Deepak; Schneper, Lisa; Merighi, Massimo; Smith, Roger; Narasimhan, Giri; Lory, Stephen; Mathee, Kalai (2012-03-29). "The Regulatory Repertoire of Pseudomonas aeruginosa AmpC β-Lactamase Regulator AmpR Includes Virulence Genes". PLOS ONE. 7 (3): e34067. Bibcode:2012PLoSO...734067B. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0034067 . ISSN   1932-6203. PMC   3315558 . PMID   22479525.
  19. ↑ Mathee, Kalai; Cickovski, Trevor; Deoraj, Alok; Stollstorff, Melanie; Narasimhan, GiriYR 2020 (2020). "The gut microbiome and neuropsychiatric disorders: implications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)". Journal of Medical Microbiology. 69 (1): 14–24. doi:10.1099/jmm.0.001112. ISSN   1473-5644. PMC   7440676 . PMID   31821133.
  20. ↑ "President's Council Worlds Ahead Faculty Award". Florida International University .{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ↑ "Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre (MABIC) | Distinguished Fellows" . Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  22. ↑ "New England Biolabs, Inc. Release: 15 Inspiring Scientists Receive Passion In Science Awards™". 13 November 2014.
  23. ↑ "73 Fellows Elected into the American Academy of Microbiology". ASM.org. February 19, 2020. Retrieved 2021-12-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ↑ "Mathee elected to American Academy of Microbiology". CASE News. March 17, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ↑ "Prize winners 2023". Microbiology Society. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
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