Nicholas Cianciotto, PhD

Professor of Microbiology-Immunology
Feinberg School of Medicine

Research Interests:
Legionella pneumophila is the bacterial etiologic agent of Legionnaires' disease, a common and potentially fatal form of pneumonia in humans. Legionella infections occur within both community and hospital settings, and they may exist as sporadic cases or as outbreaks. L. pneumophila is a natural inhabitant of fresh water that can also flourish within man-made water systems. Infection follows the inhalation of contaminated water droplets generated by devices such as air-conditioners and misters. Within both the natural environment and the mammalian lung, the Legionella organism multiplies as an intracellular parasite of either aquatic protozoans or alveolar macrophages.

Dr. Cianciotto’s laboratory employs genetic approaches toward identifying the bacterial factors that promote intracellular infection and disease. At present, they are characterizing the genes that encode the bacterium's iron acquisition systems, attachment organelles, toxins, protein secretion systems, and membrane lipids.