Dr. Adam Nock

Biography

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a potentially deadly tickborne disease historically associated with mortality rates exceeding 65%. The disease is caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, an obligate intracellular bacterium vectored by multiple tick species that are significant to human health. This disease is endemic in parts of Western Montana, Idaho, and Brazil, but it has a higher prevalence in the American Southwest where R. rickettsii is primarily vectored by the brown dog tick. Following a tick bite, R. rickettsii invades host cells, escapes the cytosol quickly, and establishes a replicative niche through modification of host cell metabolism by using secreted effectors. The Rickettsia spotted fever group is famously known for its ability to co-opt host-cell actin for motility, a critical virulence feature. During postdoctoral training in Ted Hackstadt’s lab, Adam discovered the rickettsial protein RoaM, which negatively regulates the production of actin tails contributed by hypothetical secreted proteins. Adam's research focus includes the mechanisms of actin-based motility regulation, the genomic adaptability of R. rickettsii, and developing genetic tools to study these obligate intracellular bacteria which were long considered genetically intractable. Adam aims to fine-tune the construction of reliable systems to significantly enhance research in rickettsial biology.

Research Interests

Experience