In recognition of her research into bacterial infections, University Asst. Prof. Alison Criss was chosen to receive a 2011 ICAAC Young Investigator Award by the American Society for Microbiology.
The research she started as a postdoctoral fellow at Northwestern University, and has continued at the University, focuses on finding a more effective way to treat the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Criss said.
"Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which is the cause of the STD Gonorrhoea, is a huge public health problem," Criss said. "There's a potent inflammatory response to the bacteria, characterized by specific white blood cells that go to the site of the infection. Normally these cells are very good at engulfing and killing bacteria, but the gonorrhoeae bacteria flourish when this happens."
Criss was nominated for the award by her postdoctoral advisor H. Steven Seifert, who said he nominated her not only because of the exceptional quality of her research, but also because "she's extremely dedicated to her work, very smart [and] a good mentor."
Criss will receive the award during ASM's Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, held Sept. 17-20.
Criss, along with the help of two graduate students and two undergraduates, has continued to research the bacteria's behavior at the University.
"If we can figure out what the genes are that these bacteria use to survive in what should be a hostile environment, we can potentially use that as a way to target the infection," Criss said.
Understanding the N. gonorrhoeae bacteria's relationship to the white blood cells is crucial to solving the public health problems associated with the infection, Criss said.
"Right now, the bacteria are really highly antibiotic resistant," Criss said. "We're running out of approaches to treat this disease. So if we can come up with new ways to target the infection by targeting the way they interact with the immune system, that puts us on the right side of the balance to be able to clear the infection."
Criss said she plans to continue her research at the University and will continue to teach classes for graduate and Medical students in addition to her work.
"We plan to continue in this area, as there are a lot of big unanswered questions," Criss said. "I hope to be at U.Va. for a long, long time"
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