Public Health Research Institute Center and
at the International Center for Public Health
UMDNJ - New Jersey Medical School
225 Warren Street
Newark, New Jersey 07103, USA

Phone: (973) 854-3212
e-mail: shila@umdnj.edu



Research Summary

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) has the ability to persist in a state of non-growing or very slow growth in the host for decades, and only to resume growth and cause active disease when the host’s immune system weakens. Entering into a persistent state with low metabolic activity is regarded as a defense mechanism for the tubercle bacilli to survive under the immunosurveillance of the host. Accumulating evidences indicate that establishment of the persistent state is coupled with a bacterial metabolic transformation. This transformation is associated with a carbon flux rerouting from central metabolic pathways that generate biosynthetic precursors and energy associated with bacterial growth to pathways that divert carbon flow towards the formation of storage compounds. Formation of storage compounds such as triacylglycerols (TAGs) in the form of lipid bodies has been postulated as a survival strategy for M. tb during infection. These TAG-containing lipid bodies are probably involved in the life cycle of M. tb, as they can serve as both carbon and energy source during persistence and reactivation phase of the disease. Lanbo Shi’s major interest is to elucidate the mechanisms of metabolic and physiological adaptation of M. tb during infection, with a focus on defining the roles of TAG metabolism in bacterial survival and regrowth.




Selected Publications


Datta P, Shi L, Bibi N, Balazsi G, Gennaro ML (2011) Regulation of central metabolism genes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by parallel feed-forward loops controlled by sigma factor E (sigma(E)). J Bacteriol 193: 1154-1160. PMI: 21193605

Shi L, Sohaskey CD, Pfeiffer C, Datta P, Parks M, McFadden J, North RJ, Gennaro ML (2010) Carbon flux rerouting during Mycobacterium tuberculosis growth arrest. Mol Microbiol 78: 1199-1215. PMI: 21091505

Hussain S, Malik M, Shi L, Gennaro ML, Drlica K (2009) In vitro model of mycobacterial growth arrest using nitric oxide with limited air. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 53: 157-161. PMI: 18955516

Shi L, Sohaskey CD, North RJ, Gennaro ML (2008) Transcriptional characterization of the antioxidant response of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vivo and during adaptation to hypoxia in vitro. Tuberculosis (Edinb) 88: 1-6. PMI: 17928268

Balazsi G, Heath AP, Shi L, Gennaro ML (2008) The temporal response of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis gene regulatory network during growth arrest. Mol Syst Biol 4: 225. PMI: 18985025

Singh A, Singh Y, Pine R, Shi L, Chandra R, Drlica K (2006) Protein kinase I of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: cellular localization and expression during infection of macrophage-like cells. Tuberculosis (Edinb) 86: 28-33. PMI: 16256441

Shi L, Sohaskey CD, Kana BD, Dawes S, North RJ, Mizrahi V, Gennaro ML (2005) Changes in energy metabolism of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in mouse lung and under in vitro conditions affecting aerobic respiration. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 102: 15629-15634. PMI: 16227431

Davidow A, Kanaujia GV, Shi L, Kaviar J, Guo X, Sung N, Kaplan G, Menzies D, Gennaro ML (2005) Antibody profiles characteristic of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection state. Infect Immun 73: 6846-6851. PMI: 16177363

Shi L, North R, Gennaro ML (2004) Effect of growth state on transcription levels of genes encoding major secreted antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the mouse lung. Infect Immun 72: 2420-2424. PMI: 15039373

Shi L, Jung YJ, Tyagi S, Gennaro ML, North RJ (2003) Expression of Th1-mediated immunity in mouse lungs induces a Mycobacterium tuberculosis transcription pattern characteristic of nonreplicating persistence. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 100: 241-246. PMI: 12506197

Shi L, Guttenberger M, Kottke I, Hampp R (2002) The effect of drought on mycorrhizas of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.): changes in community structure, and the content of carbohydrates and nitrogen storage bodies of the fungi. Mycorrhiza 12: 303-311. PMI: 12466918

Lowe A, Einig W, Shi L, Hampp R (2000) Mycorrhiza Formation and Elevated CO2 Both Increase the Capacity for Sucrose Synthesis in Source Leaves of Spruce and Aspen. New Phytologist 145: 565-574. PMI: 0

Wiese C, Shi L, Heber U (1998) Oxygen Reduction in the Mealer Reaction Is Insufficient to Protect Photosystems I and II of Leaves against Photoinactivation. Physiologia Plantarum 102: 437-446. PMI: 0




Grant Support


NIH 1R21AI090328-01A1 (06/01/11 – 05/31/13) Triacylglycerol metabolism and Mycobacterium tuberculosis virulence

NIH 1R21AI083855-01 (06/06/09 – 05/31/12) Dissection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis metabolic and regulatory pathways to persistence.

CFAR at New York University (05/01/07 – 04/30/08) Metabolic Adaptation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis during Infection and its Regulation.






C.V.


Education

University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany, Ph.D. 2000 (Plant Physiology);
Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China, M. Sc., 1988 (Plant Physiology) and B. Sc., 1985 (Biology).

Professional experience

Assistant Professor of Medicine, 2007 - Present, Public Health Research Institute, New Jersey Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey; Research Associate, 2002 – 2007, Public Health Research Institute, New Jersey; Post Doc. 2000 – 2002, Public Health Research Institute, New York; Visiting Research Scientist, 1996, Institute of Botany, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg Germany; Instructor,1991 – 1995, Teaching Assistant, 1988 – 1991, Biology Department, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China.