Paige E. Allen

This paper develops a genetic transformation and allelic exchange protocol for Orientia tsutsugamushi, enabling genetic manipulation of this pathogen to study its biology and interactions with host cells.

This study identifies cyclophilin A as a host factor critical for the maturation and function of a virulence factor in obligate intracellular bacteria, with implications for therapeutic targeting.

This study shows that Orientia tsutsugamushi downregulates TP53 to block DNA damage-induced apoptosis and promote bacterial replication.

This study identifies Ank5 as a bacterial effector that degrades NLRC5 to inhibit MHC class I expression, revealing a mechanism for immune evasion by Orientia tsutsugamushi.