Jere W. McBride

Jere W. McBride is the David Walker, MD Professor in Infectious Disease Pathogenesis at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), with dual appointments in the Departments of Pathology and Microbiology & Immunology. He serves as Director of the Experimental Pathology Graduate Program and is a Scientist at the Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences. His research focuses on interkingdom molecular interactions between Ehrlichia pathogens and host cells, particularly mechanisms of immune evasion and intracellular survival through effector proteins like TRP120 and Ank200.

Research Highlights:

• Discovered the first type 1 secretion substrates in intracellular bacteria
• Characterized ubiquitin ligase activity of TRP120 and its role in host pathway modulation
• Defined Wnt/Notch signaling exploitation by Ehrlichia to inhibit apoptosis
• Identified nucleomodulins that directly interact with host DNA

Scientific Contributions:

• NIH/NIAID grant recipient (R01 AI158422, R21 AI146637, R21 AI149136, R21 AI137779)
• Patented diagnostic assays and vaccine targets for ehrlichial infections
• Editorial roles at Frontiers in Cell Signaling and Infection and Immunity
• 2023 UTMB Researcher of the Year and Distinguished Faculty Service Award

Publications: Over 131 works focusing on Ehrlichia pathogenesis, host signaling manipulation, and effector protein mechanisms. Recent studies reveal how bacterial effectors exploit Hippo/Wnt pathways and ubiquitin/SUMO systems to regulate infection.