Dr. David L. Popham

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Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
College of Science
Biological Sciences
Microbiology
ProfessorAppointed: 1996
Professional Headshot of David L. Popham

Mailing Address

LIfe Sciences 1 MC0910
Washington St.
Department of Biological Sciences
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
United States

Contact Information

Phone: (540) 231-2529
dpopham@vt.edu
http://www.biol.vt.edu/faculty/popham/

Qualifications

Ph.D., University of California, Davis, Microbiology, 1989.
B.A., Washington University in St. Louis, Biology, 1983.

Expertise and Research Interests

Research in my laboratory revolves around synthesis of the bacterial peptidoglycan cell wall. One major project utilizes molecular genetic methods to create mutations in genes involved in synthesis of the wall in vegetative cells. The resulting strains are then analyzed for changes in cell morphology, cell wall structure, and changes in formation of protein complexes involved in wall synthesis. Results of these studies have implications for the design of new antibiotics, which target cell wall synthesis. The second major project examines the synthesis, structure, and physiological role of the modified cell wall found in spores of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus anthracis. This structure is involved in determining the resistant of these specialized cells to boiling temperatures and in their ability to remain in a dormant state for centuries and possibly much longer.

Keywords

COS Keywords:

Bacteriology, Biological Sciences, Genetics, Microbiology, Morphology, Mutation.

Additional Terms:

Anthracis, Anthrax, Bacillus, Bacterial Wall Structure, Endospore, Microbiology, Murein, Penicillin, Peptidoglycan, Spore.

Memberships

American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Society for Microbiology
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society

Previous Positions

1991-1996, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Connecticut, Health Center, Biochemistry
1989-1991, Postdoctoral Fellow, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, France

Funding Received

  • Eli Lilly and Company: Infectious Diseases Research Academic Contact Award, $20,000, Sep 1, 1997 to Aug 31, 1999.
  • Thomas F. Jeffress and Kate Miller Jeffress Memorial Trust: Protein Interactions During Peptidoglycan Wall Synthesis in Bacillus subtilis, $30,000, Jul 1, 2000 to Aug 31, 2001.
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH): Studies of spore peptidoglycan synthesis in Bacillus subtilis, $635,000, Jan 1, 1998 to Dec 31, 2003.
  • United States Department of Agriculture (USDA): Factors affecting heat resistance of Clostridium perfringens spores, $347,600, 2005 to 2008.
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH): Spore Peptidoglycan Degradation in Bacillus anthracis, $492,000, 2004 to 2006.
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH): Peptidoglycan Synthesis in Bacillus subtilis, $1,105,000, 2004 to 2009.

Publications

  • Orsburn B, Sucre K, Popham DL, Melville SB (Feb 2009) The SpmA/B and DacF proteins of Clostridium perfringens play important roles in spore heat resistance., FEMS microbiology letters, 291 (2), 188-94 Abstract
  • Heffron JD, Orsburn B, Popham DL (Jan 2009) The Roles of Germination-Specific Lytic Enzymes CwlJ and SleB in Bacillus anthracis., Journal of bacteriology Abstract
  • Lambert EA, Popham DL (Dec 2008) The Bacillus anthracis SleL (YaaH) protein is an N-acetylglucosaminidase involved in spore cortex depolymerization., Journal of bacteriology, 190 (23), 7601-7 Abstract
  • Shah IM, Laaberki MH, Popham DL, Dworkin J (Oct 2008) A eukaryotic-like Ser/Thr kinase signals bacteria to exit dormancy in response to peptidoglycan fragments., Cell, 135 (3), 486-96 Abstract
  • Dowd MM, Orsburn B, Popham DL (Jul 2008) Cortex peptidoglycan lytic activity in germinating Bacillus anthracis spores., Journal of bacteriology, 190 (13), 4541-8 Abstract
  • Orsburn B, Melville SB, Popham DL (Jun 2008) Factors contributing to heat resistance of Clostridium perfringens endospores., Applied and environmental microbiology, 74 (11), 3328-35 Abstract
  • Vasudevan P, Weaver A, Reichert ED, Linnstaedt SD, Popham DL (Sep 2007) Spore cortex formation in Bacillus subtilis is regulated by accumulation of peptidoglycan precursors under the control of sigma K., Molecular Microbiology, 65 (6), 1582-94 Abstract
  • Boyer RR, Sumner SS, Williams RC, Pierson MD, Popham DL, Kniel KE (Jun 2007) Influence of curli expression by Escherichia coli 0157:H7 on the cell's overall hydrophobicity, charge, and ability to attach to lettuce., Journal of food protection, 70 (6), 1339-45 Abstract
  • Hamilton A, Popham DL, Carl DJ, Lauth X, Nizet V, Jones AL (Nov 2006) Penicillin-binding protein 1a promotes resistance of group B streptococcus to antimicrobial peptides., Infection and immunity, 74 (11), 6179-87 Abstract
  • Priyadarshini R, Popham DL, Young KD (Aug 2006) Daughter cell separation by penicillin-binding proteins and peptidoglycan amidases in Escherichia coli., Journal of bacteriology, 188 (15), 5345-55 Abstract
  • Gyaneshwar P, Paliy O, McAuliffe J, Popham DL, Jordan MI, Kustu S (Feb 2005) Sulfur and nitrogen limitation in Escherichia coli K-12: specific homeostatic responses., Journal of bacteriology, 187 (3), 1074-90 Abstract
  • Silvaggi JM, Popham DL, Driks A, Eichenberger P, Losick R, Unmasking novel sporulation genes in Bacillus subtilis, Journal of Bacteriology, 186(23), 8089-95, Dec 2004 Abstract
  • Wei Y, McPherson DC, Popham DL, A mother cell-specific class B penicillin-binding protein, PBP4b, in Bacillus subtilis, Journal of Bacteriology, 186(1), 258-61, 2004 Abstract
  • Gilmore ME, Bandyopadhyay D, Dean AM, Linnstaedt SD, Popham DL, Production of muramic delta-lactam in Bacillus subtilis spore peptidoglycan, Journal of Bacteriology, 186(1), 80-9, 2004 Abstract
  • Popham DL, Young KD, Role of penicillin-binding proteins in bacterial cell morphogenesis, Current Opinion in Microbiology, 6(6), 594-9, 2003 Abstract
  • Wei Y, Havasy T, McPherson DC, Popham DL, Rod shape determination by the Bacillus subtilis class B penicillin-binding proteins encoded by pbpA and pbpH, Journal of Bacteriology, 185(16), 4717-26, August 2003 Abstract
  • McPherson DC, Popham DL, Peptidoglycan synthesis in the absence of class A penicillin-binding proteins in Bacillus subtilis, Journal of Bacteriology, 185(4), 1423-31, February 2003 Abstract
  • Popham DL, Specialized peptidoglycan of the bacterial endospore: the inner wall of the lockbox, Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences: Cmls, 59(3), 426-33, March 2002
  • Melly E, Genest PC, Gilmore ME, Little S, Popham DL, Driks A, Setlow P, Analysis of the properties of spores of Bacillus subtilis prepared at different temperatures, Journal of Applied Microbiology, 92(6), 1105-15, 2002 Abstract
  • Foster, S. J., and D. L. Popham (2002) Structure and synthesis of cell wall, spore cortex, teichoic acids, S-layers, and capsules, , American Society for Microbiology, 21-41 pages, ISBN=1-55581-205-8 (bookchapter)
  • McPherson DC, Driks A, Popham DL, Two class A high-molecular-weight penicillin-binding proteins of Bacillus subtilis play redundant roles in sporulation, Journal of Bacteriology, 183(20), 6046-53, October 2001 Abstract
  • Catalano FA, Meador-Parton J, Popham DL, Driks A, Amino acids in the Bacillus subtilis morphogenetic protein SpoIVA with roles in spore coat and cortex formation, Journal of Bacteriology, 183(5), 1645-54, March 2001 Abstract
  • Meador-Parton J, Popham DL, Structural analysis of Bacillus subtilis spore peptidoglycan during sporulation, Journal of Bacteriology, 182(16), 4491-9, August 2000 Abstract
  • Popham DL, Meador-Parton J, Costello CE, Setlow P, Spore peptidoglycan structure in a cwlD dacB double mutant of Bacillus subtilis, Journal of Bacteriology, 181(19), 6205-9, October 1999 Abstract
  • Popham DL, Gilmore ME, Setlow P, Roles of low-molecular-weight penicillin-binding proteins in Bacillus subtilis spore peptidoglycan synthesis and spore properties, Journal of Bacteriology, 181(1), 126-32, Jan 1999 Abstract
  • Murray T, Popham DL, Pearson CB, Hand AR, Setlow P, Analysis of outgrowth of Bacillus subtilis spores lacking penicillin-binding protein 2a, Journal of Bacteriology, 180(24), 6493-502, December 1998 Abstract
  • Alban PS, Popham DL, Rippere KE, Krieg NR, Identification of a gene for a rubrerythrin/nigerythrin-like protein in Spirillum volutans by using amino acid sequence data from mass spectrometry and NH2-terminal sequencing, Journal of Applied Microbiology, 85(5), 875-82, November 1998 Abstract
  • Murray T, Popham DL, Setlow P, Bacillus subtilis cells lacking penicillin-binding protein 1 require increased levels of divalent cations for growth, Journal of Bacteriology, 180(17), 4555-63, September 1998 Abstract
  • Pedersen LB, Murray T, Popham DL, Setlow P, Characterization of dacC, which encodes a new low-molecular-weight penicillin-binding protein in Bacillus subtilis, Journal of Bacteriology, 180(18), 4967-73, September 1998 Abstract
  • Murray T, Popham DL, Setlow P, Identification and characterization of pbpA encoding Bacillus subtilis penicillin-binding protein 2A, Journal of Bacteriology, 179(9), 3021-9, May 1997 Abstract
  • Popham DL, Helin J, Costello CE, Setlow P, Muramic lactam in peptidoglycan of Bacillus subtilis spores is required for spore outgrowth but not for spore dehydration or heat resistance, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA), 93(26), 15405-10, December 1996 Abstract
  • Popham DL, Helin J, Costello CE, Setlow P, Analysis of the peptidoglycan structure of Bacillus subtilis endospores, Journal of Bacteriology, 178(22), 6451-8, November 1996 Abstract
  • Murray T, Popham DL, Setlow P, Identification and characterization of pbpC, the gene encoding Bacillus subtilis penicillin-binding protein 3, Journal of Bacteriology, 178(20), 6001-5, October 1996 Abstract
  • Popham DL, Sengupta S, Setlow P, Heat, hydrogen peroxide, and UV resistance of Bacillus subtilis spores with increased core water content and with or without major DNA-binding proteins, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 61(10), 3633-8, October 1995 Abstract
  • Popham DL, Illades-Aguiar B, Setlow P, The Bacillus subtilis dacB gene, encoding penicillin-binding protein 5*, is part of a three-gene operon required for proper spore cortex synthesis and spore core dehydration, Journal of Bacteriology, 177(16), 4721-9, August 1995 Abstract
  • Popham DL, Setlow P, Cloning, nucleotide sequence, and mutagenesis of the Bacillus subtilis ponA operon, which codes for penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 1 and a PBP-related factor, Journal of Bacteriology, 177(2), 326-35, January 1995 Abstract
  • Popham DL, Setlow P, Cloning, nucleotide sequence, mutagenesis, and mapping of the Bacillus subtilis pbpD gene, which codes for penicillin-binding protein 4, Journal of Bacteriology, 176(23), 7197-205, December 1994 Abstract
  • Corfe BM, Moir A, Popham D, Setlow P, Analysis of the expression and regulation of the gerB spore germination operon of Bacillus subtilis 168, Microbiology (Reading, England), 140, (Pt 11) 3079-83, November 1994
  • Popham DL, Setlow P, The cortical peptidoglycan from spores of Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus subtilis is not highly cross-linked, Journal of Bacteriology, 175(9), 2767-9, May 1993 Abstract
  • Popham DL, Setlow P, Cloning, nucleotide sequence, and regulation of the Bacillus subtilis pbpE operon, which codes for penicillin-binding protein 4* and an apparent amino acid racemase, Journal of Bacteriology, 175(10), 2917-25, May 1993 Abstract
  • Popham DL, Stragier P, Binding of the Bacillus subtilis spoIVCA product to the recombination sites of the element interrupting the sigma K-encoding gene, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA), 89(13), 5991-5, July 1992 Abstract
  • Popham DL, Stragier P, Cloning, characterization, and expression of the spoVB gene of Bacillus subtilis, Journal of Bacteriology, 173(24), 7942-9, December 1991 Abstract
  • Popham D, Keener J, Kustu S, Purification of the alternative sigma factor, sigma 54, from Salmonella typhimurium and characterization of sigma 54-holoenzyme, Journal of Biological Chemistry, 266(29), 19510-8, October 1991 Abstract
  • Wedel A, Weiss DS, Popham D, Droge P, Kustu S, A bacterial enhancer functions to tether a transcriptional activator near a promoter, Science, 248(4954), 486-90, April 1990 Abstract
  • Kustu S, Santero E, Keener J, Popham D, Weiss D, Expression of sigma 54 (ntrA)-dependent genes is probably united by a common mechanism, Microbiological Reviews, 53(3), 367-76, September 1989 Abstract
  • Popham DL, Szeto D, Keener J, Kustu S, Function of a bacterial activator protein that binds to transcriptional enhancers, Science, 243(4891), 629-35, February 1989 Abstract
  • Wong PK, Popham D, Keener J, Kustu S, In vitro transcription of the nitrogen fixation regulatory operon nifLA of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Journal of Bacteriology, 169(6), 2876-80, June 1987 Abstract

Profile Details

Last Updated: 2/5/2009

COS Expertise ID #844449
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