Alison Scott Laboratory
The Scott Lab at the University of Maryland School of Medicine uses mass spectrometry imaging techniques to study host-pathogen interactions.
Understanding the role of dysregulated phospholipid homeostasis in infection and immunity
One of the major focus areas for the Scott Lab is understanding the role of lipids at the interface of the host-pathogen interaction. We are primarily interested in pulmonary infections and have identified several lipid metabolic pathways that are dysregulated during bacterial infection. Studies are underway comparing and contrasting the host lipid response to pulmonary infection with bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens. Buried within these dysregulated lipid pathways are potentially therapeutic molecular targets. Using advanced mass spectrometry imaging methods we are gaining ground in identifying new host-directed targets to treat lung infections.
Designing engineered lipids to treat or prevent Alzheimer's disease
In this project we are extending the use of structurally engineered bacterial lipids to address the neurological damage from chronic inflammatory buildup. Alzheimer's disease is one of many diseases in which chronic inflammatory buildup is thought to lead to cognitive decline. We aim to address chronic inflammation at the source to prevent long term damage.
Laboratory Personnel
Alison Scott, PhD
Tialfi Bergamin de Castro, PhD
Manita Shakya, PhD
Assistant Professor, Principal Investigator
Dr. Alison Scott is an Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry Department of Microbial Pathogenesis where she focuses on host-directed therapies for infectious diseases. Alison earned her undergraduate degree in Analytical Biochemistry at Eastern Michigan University.
Assistant Professor, Principal Investigator
Dr. Alison Scott is an Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry Department of Microbial Pathogenesis where she focuses on host-directed therapies for infectious diseases. Alison earned her undergraduate degree in Analytical Biochemistry at Eastern Michigan University. Later, she completed her graduate studies in Molecular Microbiology & Immunology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore in the laboratory of Dr. Robert Ernst where she defined new pathological mechanisms of bacterial infection using image-driven methods. Her post-doctoral work in Dr. Dave Goodlett’s laboratory focused on method development and data analysis tools for mass spectrometry imaging of the host-pathogen interface.
Her current work focuses on the dynamic lipid response during inflammation - a poorly understood component of many pathologic states. Using a combination of advanced lipidomic and metabolomic mapping techniques by mass spectrometry imaging her laboratory is working to understanding disease mechanisms to identify novel, host-directed therapeutic targets. Dr. Scott’s previous work defined a lethal role for lipids during infection with a TLR4-stealth pathogen. She is currently working to extend these findings into new model systems including multiple pulmonary infection models and sterile inflammation models. Finally, her laboratory is testing bespoke lipids to modify the innate immune response in a model of neurodegeneration linked to sterile inflammation.
Manita Shakya, PhD
Tialfi Bergamin de Castro, PhD
Manita Shakya, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher
Manita obtained B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Pharmacy from Nepal. In 2013, she moved to USA for higher studies and completed her PhD in Pharmacology in 2018 from University of Louisiana at Monroe. After joining Dr. Alison Scott's lab as a Postdoctoral Researcher in 2022, she has been conducting research using a lipid
Postdoctoral Researcher
Manita obtained B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Pharmacy from Nepal. In 2013, she moved to USA for higher studies and completed her PhD in Pharmacology in 2018 from University of Louisiana at Monroe. After joining Dr. Alison Scott's lab as a Postdoctoral Researcher in 2022, she has been conducting research using a lipid A structural engineering tool called bacterial enzymatic combinatorial chemistry (BECC) to produce novel lipid A structures with unique immunomodulatory properties and examine its effect in amyloid accumulation and associated neuropathology in a vivo mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Outside the lab, Manita loves gardening, going for nature walks, and spending time with family.
Tialfi Bergamin de Castro, PhD
Tialfi Bergamin de Castro, PhD
Tialfi Bergamin de Castro, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher
Tialfi is a Senior Researcher with experience in various Molecular Biology techniques, including Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MSI), focusing on lipidomic and metabolomic analysis of breast and oral cancers. As a Post-Doc Researcher in Alison Scott's lab, he has been developing projects using the MSI approach on infect
Postdoctoral Researcher
Tialfi is a Senior Researcher with experience in various Molecular Biology techniques, including Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MSI), focusing on lipidomic and metabolomic analysis of breast and oral cancers. As a Post-Doc Researcher in Alison Scott's lab, he has been developing projects using the MSI approach on infection mouse models, including SARS-CoV-2, Alzheimer Disease, and many interesting projects. Outside the lab, he enjoys spending time with his wife and their dog, Nutella. He is also a Star Wars fan and appreciates good beer and food.
Shanaliz Natta, MS
Shanaliz Natta, MS
Tialfi Bergamin de Castro, PhD
Graduate Research Assistant
Shanaliz is a Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) with experience in various biological techniques. Shanaliz holds a Master of Science in Biology and is currently pursuing a PhD in the Molecular Medicine program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Outside of her laboratory work, she is actively pursuing skil
Graduate Research Assistant
Shanaliz is a Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) with experience in various biological techniques. Shanaliz holds a Master of Science in Biology and is currently pursuing a PhD in the Molecular Medicine program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Outside of her laboratory work, she is actively pursuing skills in crocheting and learning American Sign Language.
Publications
“Maintenance of deep lung architecture and automated airway segmentation...spectrometry imaging."
Scott AJ, Chandler CE, Ellis SR, Heeren RMA, Ernst RK. “Maintenance of deep lung architecture and automated airway segmentation for 3D mass spectrometry imaging.” 2019 Scientific Reports 9(20160): 1-12. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-56364-4
“Host-based lipid inflammation drives pathogenesis in Francisella infection.”
Scott AJ, Post JM, Lerner R, Ellis SR, Lieberman J, Shirey KA, Heeren RMA, Bindila L, Ernst RK. “Host-based lipid inflammation drives pathogenesis in Francisella infection.” 2017 PNAS 114(47):12596-12601. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1712887114
“Lipid A structural modifications in extreme conditions and...structure-activity relationship."
Scott AJ, Oyler BL, Goodlett DR and Ernst RK. “Lipid A structural modifications in extreme conditions and identification of unique modifying enzymes to define the Toll-like receptor 4 structure-activity relationship.” 2017 BBA Molec Cell Biol Lipids 1862(11): 1439-1450. doi: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2017.01.004
“Norharmane enhances simultaneous mass spectrometry imaging of pathogen, host, and vector lipids.”
Scott AJ, Flinders B, Cappell J, Liang T, Pelc RS, Tran B, Kilgour DPA, Heeren RMA, Goodlett DR, Ernst RK. “Norharmane enhances simultaneous mass spectrometry imaging of pathogen, host, and vector lipids.” 2016 Pathog Dis 74(8): 1-9. doi: 10.1093/femspd/ftw097