Alexia Belperron, PhD
Director of STEM Fellowships; Research Scientist, Rheumatology; Instructor Mol Biophys & Biochem; Lecturer MCDB
Research & Publications
Biography
News
Research Summary
My research is focused on infections transmitted by ticks, in particular Lyme Disease, Babesia, and relapsing fever. I am interested in understanding the diseases caused by these infections, in particular those mediated by the immune system. I am also interested in developing better diagnostics for these infections.
Specialized Terms: Vector-borne diseases; Lyme disease; Babesia; Relapsing fever spirochetes; Immunology; Diagnostics; Ticks; Intra-vital imaging; Optical tweezers
Extensive Research Description
My current research is primarily focused on understanding the immune responses and disease pathogenesis during B. burgdorferi infections. I am particularly interested in early immune responses during infection, and the role of marginal zone B cells. We are using several novel technologies to study the spirochetes including intra-vital microscopy and optical tweezers. With intra-vital microscopy we are studying both the motility and location of spirochetes in infected mice. We are also using intra-vital microscopy to analyze the joints of the mice in the hopes of better understanding the development of Lyme arthritis. In collaboration with the Dufresne lab in the Engineering and Physics departments, we are using optical tweezers to better understand the biomechanics of spirochete movement. Spirochete movement is crucial for the bacteria's ability to invade different tissues, and also plays a role in their ability to escape immune destruction.
In addition to studying immune responses to infection, we are also working to develop better diagnostic tests for Lyme disease based on our deeper understanding of the types of immune responses that are generated. We are collaborating with L2 diagnostics on several different projects.
In addition to Lyme disease, Ixodes ticks carry several other pathogens and we are also interested in studying the Babesia parasite, as well as the newly identified human pathogen Borrelia miyamotoi.
Coauthors
Research Interests
Babesia; Lyme Disease; Relapsing Fever; Ticks; Global Health; Disease Transmission, Infectious; Borrelia burgdorferi
Public Health Interests
Infectious Diseases; Tick-borne Diseases
Selected Publications
- The Role of B Cells in Skin InflammationFrank A, Belperron A, Bockenstedt L. The Role of B Cells in Skin Inflammation Journal Of Student Research 2023, 11 DOI: 10.47611/jsr.v11i3.1684.
- Longitudinal serum proteomics analyses identify unique and overlapping host response pathways in Lyme disease and West Nile virus infectionBoada P, Fatou B, Belperron A, Sigdel T, Smolen K, Wurie Z, Levy O, Ronca S, Murray K, Liberto J, Rashmi P, Kerwin M, Montgomery R, Bockenstedt L, Steen H, Sarwal M. Longitudinal serum proteomics analyses identify unique and overlapping host response pathways in Lyme disease and West Nile virus infection Frontiers In Immunology 2022, 13: 1012824. PMID: 36569838, PMCID: PMC9784464, DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1012824.
- Single cell immunophenotyping of the skin lesion erythema migrans Identifies IgM memory B cellsJiang R, Meng H, Raddassi K, Fleming I, Hoehn KB, Dardick KR, Belperron AA, Montgomery RR, Shalek AK, Hafler DA, Kleinstein SH, Bockenstedt LK. Single cell immunophenotyping of the skin lesion erythema migrans Identifies IgM memory B cells JCI Insight 2021, 6: e148035. PMID: 34061047, PMCID: PMC8262471, DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.148035.
- The RpoS Gatekeeper in Borrelia burgdorferi: An Invariant Regulatory Scheme That Promotes Spirochete Persistence in Reservoir Hosts and Niche DiversityCaimano MJ, Groshong AM, Belperron A, Mao J, Hawley KL, Luthra A, Graham DE, Earnhart CG, Marconi RT, Bockenstedt LK, Blevins JS, Radolf JD. The RpoS Gatekeeper in Borrelia burgdorferi: An Invariant Regulatory Scheme That Promotes Spirochete Persistence in Reservoir Hosts and Niche Diversity Frontiers In Microbiology 2019, 10: 1923. PMID: 31507550, PMCID: PMC6719511, DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01923.
- Corrigendum to “Vertical transmission rates of Borrelia miyamotoi in Ixodes scapularis collected from white-tailed deer” [Ticks Tick-Borne Dis. 10 (2019) 682–689]Han S, Lubelczyk C, Hickling GJ, Belperron AA, Bockenstedt LK, Tsao JI. Corrigendum to “Vertical transmission rates of Borrelia miyamotoi in Ixodes scapularis collected from white-tailed deer” [Ticks Tick-Borne Dis. 10 (2019) 682–689] Ticks And Tick-borne Diseases 2019, 10: 1173. PMID: 31129067, DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.05.003.
- Vertical transmission rates of Borrelia miyamotoi in Ixodes scapularis collected from white-tailed deerHan S, Lubelczyk C, Hickling GJ, Belperron AA, Bockenstedt LK, Tsao JI. Vertical transmission rates of Borrelia miyamotoi in Ixodes scapularis collected from white-tailed deer Ticks And Tick-borne Diseases 2019, 10: 682-689. PMID: 30846418, PMCID: PMC6551370, DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.02.014.
- Two Photon Intravital Microscopy of Lyme Borrelia in MiceBelperron AA, Mao J, Bockenstedt LK. Two Photon Intravital Microscopy of Lyme Borrelia in Mice 2017, 1690: 279-290. PMID: 29032551, DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7383-5_20.
- Vancomycin Reduces Cell Wall Stiffness and Slows Swim Speed of the Lyme Disease BacteriumHarman MW, Hamby AE, Boltyanskiy R, Belperron AA, Bockenstedt LK, Kress H, Dufresne ER, Wolgemuth CW. Vancomycin Reduces Cell Wall Stiffness and Slows Swim Speed of the Lyme Disease Bacterium Biophysical Journal 2017, 112: 746-754. PMID: 28256234, PMCID: PMC5340155, DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2016.12.039.
- Radical cure of experimental babesiosis in immunodeficient mice using a combination of an endochin-like quinolone and atovaquoneLawres LA, Garg A, Kumar V, Bruzual I, Forquer IP, Renard I, Virji AZ, Boulard P, Rodriguez EX, Allen AJ, Pou S, Wegmann KW, Winter RW, Nilsen A, Mao J, Preston DA, Belperron AA, Bockenstedt LK, Hinrichs DJ, Riscoe MK, Doggett JS, Mamoun C. Radical cure of experimental babesiosis in immunodeficient mice using a combination of an endochin-like quinolone and atovaquone Journal Of Experimental Medicine 2016, 213: 1307-1318. PMID: 27270894, PMCID: PMC4925016, DOI: 10.1084/jem.20151519.
- Borrelia burgdorferi Promotes the Establishment of Babesia microti in the Northeastern United StatesDunn JM, Krause PJ, Davis S, Vannier EG, Fitzpatrick MC, Rollend L, Belperron AA, States SL, Stacey A, Bockenstedt LK, Fish D, Diuk-Wasser MA. Borrelia burgdorferi Promotes the Establishment of Babesia microti in the Northeastern United States PLOS ONE 2014, 9: e115494. PMID: 25545393, PMCID: PMC4278703, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0115494.
- Dual role for Fcγ receptors in host defense and disease in Borrelia burgdorferi-infected miceBelperron AA, Liu N, Booth CJ, Bockenstedt LK. Dual role for Fcγ receptors in host defense and disease in Borrelia burgdorferi-infected mice Frontiers In Cellular And Infection Microbiology 2014, 4: 75. PMID: 24967215, PMCID: PMC4052197, DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2014.00075.
- What ticks do under your skin: two-photon intravital imaging of Ixodes scapularis feeding in the presence of the lyme disease spirochete.Bockenstedt LK, Gonzalez D, Mao J, Li M, Belperron AA, Haberman A. What ticks do under your skin: two-photon intravital imaging of Ixodes scapularis feeding in the presence of the lyme disease spirochete. The Yale Journal Of Biology And Medicine 2014, 87: 3-13. PMID: 24600332, PMCID: PMC3941458.
- Spirochete antigens persist near cartilage after murine Lyme borreliosis therapyBockenstedt LK, Gonzalez DG, Haberman AM, Belperron AA. Spirochete antigens persist near cartilage after murine Lyme borreliosis therapy Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2012, 122: 2652-2660. PMID: 22728937, PMCID: PMC3386809, DOI: 10.1172/jci58813.
- The heterogeneous motility of the Lyme disease spirochete in gelatin mimics dissemination through tissueHarman MW, Dunham-Ems SM, Caimano MJ, Belperron AA, Bockenstedt LK, Fu HC, Radolf JD, Wolgemuth CW. The heterogeneous motility of the Lyme disease spirochete in gelatin mimics dissemination through tissue Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2012, 109: 3059-3064. PMID: 22315410, PMCID: PMC3286914, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1114362109.
- Ballistic Motion of Spirochete Membrane ProteinsKress H, Boltyanskiy R, Belperron A, Mejean C, Wolgemuth C, Bockenstedt L, Dufresne E. Ballistic Motion of Spirochete Membrane Proteins Biophysical Journal 2011, 100: 515a. DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2010.12.3013.
- The Caspase 1 Inflammasome Is Not Required for Control of Murine Lyme Borreliosis ▿Liu N, Belperron AA, Booth CJ, Bockenstedt LK. The Caspase 1 Inflammasome Is Not Required for Control of Murine Lyme Borreliosis ▿ Infection And Immunity 2009, 77: 3320-3327. PMID: 19487481, PMCID: PMC2715671, DOI: 10.1128/iai.00100-09.
- Marginal Zone B-Cell Depletion Impairs Murine Host Defense against Borrelia burgdorferi Infection▿Belperron AA, Dailey CM, Booth CJ, Bockenstedt LK. Marginal Zone B-Cell Depletion Impairs Murine Host Defense against Borrelia burgdorferi Infection▿ Infection And Immunity 2007, 75: 3354-3360. PMID: 17470546, PMCID: PMC1932939, DOI: 10.1128/iai.00422-07.
- Infection-Induced Marginal Zone B Cell Production of Borrelia hermsii-Specific Antibody Is Impaired in the Absence of CD1dBelperron AA, Dailey CM, Bockenstedt LK. Infection-Induced Marginal Zone B Cell Production of Borrelia hermsii-Specific Antibody Is Impaired in the Absence of CD1d The Journal Of Immunology 2005, 174: 5681-5686. PMID: 15843569, DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.174.9.5681.
- Toxoplasma gondii: generation of novel truncation mutations in the linker domain of dihydrofolate reductase–thymidylate synthaseBelperron AA, Fox BA, O’Neil R, Peaslee KA, Horii T, Anderson AC, Bzik DJ. Toxoplasma gondii: generation of novel truncation mutations in the linker domain of dihydrofolate reductase–thymidylate synthase Experimental Parasitology 2004, 106: 179-182. PMID: 15172226, DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2004.03.002.
- Humoral Immunity Reflects Altered T Helper Cell Bias in Borrelia burgdorferi-Infected γδ T-Cell-Deficient MiceBockenstedt LK, Shanafelt MC, Belperron A, Mao J, Barthold SW. Humoral Immunity Reflects Altered T Helper Cell Bias in Borrelia burgdorferi-Infected γδ T-Cell-Deficient Mice Infection And Immunity 2003, 71: 2938-2940. PMID: 12704174, PMCID: PMC153287, DOI: 10.1128/iai.71.5.2938-2940.2003.
- Natural Antibody Affects Survival of the SpirocheteBorrelia burgdorferi within Feeding TicksBelperron A, Bockenstedt L. Natural Antibody Affects Survival of the SpirocheteBorrelia burgdorferi within Feeding Ticks Infection And Immunity 2001, 69: 6456-6462. PMID: 11553590, PMCID: PMC98781, DOI: 10.1128/iai.69.10.6456-6462.2001.
- Negative selection of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase in Toxoplasma gondiiFox B, Belperron A, Bzik D. Negative selection of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase in Toxoplasma gondii Molecular And Biochemical Parasitology 2001, 116: 85-88. PMID: 11463470, DOI: 10.1016/s0166-6851(01)00302-4.
- Toxoplasma gondii: Genetic Selection of Tethered Dihydrofolate Reductase-Thymidylate Synthase Fusion ProteinsBelperron A, Fox B, Horii T, Bzik D. Toxoplasma gondii: Genetic Selection of Tethered Dihydrofolate Reductase-Thymidylate Synthase Fusion Proteins Experimental Parasitology 2001, 98: 167-170. PMID: 11527440, DOI: 10.1006/expr.2001.4631.
- Cutting Edge: CD1d Deficiency Impairs Murine Host Defense Against the Spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferiKumar H, Belperron A, Barthold S, Bockenstedt L. Cutting Edge: CD1d Deficiency Impairs Murine Host Defense Against the Spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi The Journal Of Immunology 2000, 165: 4797-4801. PMID: 11046002, DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.165.9.4797.
- Immune responses induced by gene gun or intramuscular injection of DNA vaccines that express immunogenic regions of the serine repeat antigen from Plasmodium falciparum.Belperron A, Feltquate D, Fox B, Horii T, Bzik D. Immune responses induced by gene gun or intramuscular injection of DNA vaccines that express immunogenic regions of the serine repeat antigen from Plasmodium falciparum. Infection And Immunity 1999, 67: 5163-9. PMID: 10496891, PMCID: PMC96866, DOI: 10.1128/iai.67.10.5163-5169.1999.
- Stable transformation of Toxoplasma gondii based on a pyrimethamine resistant trifunctional dihydrofolate reductase-cytosine deaminase-thymidylate synthase gene that confers sensitivity to 5-fluorocytosine.Fox BA, Belperron AA, Bzik DJ. Stable transformation of Toxoplasma gondii based on a pyrimethamine resistant trifunctional dihydrofolate reductase-cytosine deaminase-thymidylate synthase gene that confers sensitivity to 5-fluorocytosine. Molecular And Biochemical Parasitology 1999, 98: 93-103. PMID: 10029312, DOI: 10.1016/s0166-6851(98)00154-6.
- Two mechanisms of soluble CD4 (sCD4)-mediated inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infectivity and their relation to primary HIV-1 isolates with reduced sensitivity to sCD4.Orloff SL, Kennedy MS, Belperron AA, Maddon PJ, McDougal JS. Two mechanisms of soluble CD4 (sCD4)-mediated inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infectivity and their relation to primary HIV-1 isolates with reduced sensitivity to sCD4. Journal Of Virology 1993, 67: 1461-71. PMID: 8437224, PMCID: PMC237516.