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LSU Health New Orleans
Li Shen, MD, PhD
Professor of Microbiology
Professor of Microbiology
533 Bolivar St.,
CSRB 359
New Orleans, LA 70112
lshen@lsuhsc.edu
Degrees
MD - 1984
Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, China
PhD - 1994
Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, China
Postdoctoral Training: Boston University School of Medicine
Bio
Dr. Shen obtained her MD and Ph.D in Chongqing University of Medical Sciences in China. After completing her residency in Chongqing Children’s Hospital, she joined the faculty at the Department of Pediatrics in Chongqing Children’s Hospital. Later, she had postdoctoral training in molecular biology of Chlamydia with Dr. You-xun Zhang in the Maxwell Finland Laboratory for Infectious Diseases, Boston University School of Medicine. She then became Research Assistant Professor of Medicine with independent NIH-funded grant in Boston University. In 2008, she joined LSUHSC as Assistant Professor.
Research Interests
Research in Dr. Shen's lab is focused on molecular biology and pathogenesis of human pathogen, Chlamydia trachomatis. Molecular, genetic, biochemical, cell biology, next generation sequencing, and computational approaches are utilized in combination.
Regulation of the chlamydial pathogenicity-associated developmental program. As a well eukaryotic-adapted bacterial pathogen, Chlamydia has a small, AT-rich genome (≈1Mbp) and undergoes an unusual developmental cycle. This developmental cycle is coupled to spatial - temporal gene expression and variations in DNA supercoiling state, which is controlled by DNA topoisomerases. We are interested in how well-balanced DNA topoisomerase activities regulate chlamydial developmental and transcriptional dynamics. This may lead to the development of novel antibacterial therapies.
Control of the type III secretion system (T3SS) in Chlamydia. Like numerous Gram-negative bacteria, Chlamydia uses its T3SS to deliver anti-host effector proteins into host cells to subvert host immunity and modulate host signaling. By defining common and Chlamydia-specific T3SS controls at the levels of transcription and post-transcription, we seek to more completely understand the “secretion regulation” mechanism that is utilized by bacteria to adapt to and survive in intracellular niche. Insights obtained will pave the way for the future development of novel therapies targeting the T3SS.
Mechanisms of persistent C. trachomatis infection. In this project, in collaboration with Dr. Alison Quayle's lab, we focus on contribution of microbiome and their metabolites in the female genital tract to Chlamydia intracellular survival and become persistence in patients.