Tao's Lab
The world leading lab in animal model for septic arthritis
Our Research Interests
Septic arthritis remains one of the most dangerous joint diseases with total joint destruction in few days if without treatments. Despite advances in the use of antibiotics, permanent reductions in joint function occur in up to 50% of patients, requiring joint replacement surgery in many cases. We want to:
1. Understand at molecular and cellular levels why this disease is so devastating
2. Design the new therapeutic modality leading to a better outcome for patients.
The experimental settings, epidemiological studies, and patient cohorts will be used to answer those questions.
Our Expertise
Tao’s lab is considered as a world-leading expert on murine models of S. aureus septic arthritis. Now we are expanding the research area with epidemiological studies in collaboration with the epidemiologists. Also, a clinical trial is at the planning phase together with several experts in infectious diseases.
Our ambition is that in 5–10 years Tao’s lab will become one of the best labs in the world specializing in bone and joint infections and we will be able to bridge our pre-clinical research with population studies and clinical settings.
Selected Publications
- Staphylococcus aureus lipoproteins promote abscess formation in mice, shielding bacteria from immune killing. Mohammad M, Na M, Hu Z, Nguyen MT, Kopparapu PK, Jarneborn A, Karlsson A, Ali A, Pullerits R, Götz F, Jin T. Commun Biol. 2021 Mar 30;4(1):432. doi: 10.1038/s42003-021-01947-z.
- The Expression of von Willebrand Factor-Binding Protein Determines Joint-Invading Capacity of Staphylococcus aureus, a Core Mechanism of Septic Arthritis. Na M, Hu Z, Mohammad M, Stroparo MDN, Ali A, Fei Y, Jarneborn A, Verhamme P, Schneewind O, Missiakas D, Jin T. mBio. 2020 Nov 17;11(6):e02472-20. doi: 10.1128/mBio.02472-20.
- Mohammad M, Nguyen MT, Engdahl C, Na M, Jarneborn A, Hu Z, Karlsson A, Pullerits R, Ali A, Götz F, Jin T. The YIN and YANG of lipoproteins in developing and preventing infectious arthritis by Staphylococcus aureus. PLoS Pathogens. 2019.
- Na M, Jarneborn A, Ali A, Welin A, Magnusson M, Stokowska A, Pekna M, Jin T. Deficiency of the complement component 3 but not factor B aggravates Staphylococcus aureus septic arthritis in mice. Infection and Immunity. 2016
- Kwiecinski J, Peetermans M, Liesenborghs L, Bjornsdottir H, Zhu XF, Jacobsson G, Johansson BR, Geoghegan J, Foster TJ, Josefsson E, Bylund J, Verhamme P, Jin T. Staphylokinase controls Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation through host plasminogen activation. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2015
- Ali A, Welin A, Schwarze JC, Svensson MN, Na M, Jarneborn A, Magnusson M, Mohammad M, Kwiecinski J, Josefsson E, Bylund J, Pullerits R, Jin T. CTLA4-Ig but not anti-TNF therapy promotes staphylococcal septic arthritis in mice. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2015.
- Kwiecinski J, Jacobsson G, Karlsson M, Zhu X, Wang W, Bremell T, Josefsson E, Jin T. Staphylokinase promotes the establishment of Staphylococcus aureus skin infections while decreasing disease severity. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2014.
- Ali A, Zhu X, Kwiecinski J, Gjertsson I, Lindholm C, Iwakura Y, Wang X, Lycke N, Josefsson E, Pullerits R, Jin T. Antibiotic-killed Staphylococcus aureus induces destructive arthritis in mice. Arthritis & Rheumatology. 2014.
- Fei Y, Wang W, Kwiecinski J, Josefsson E, Pullerits R, Jonsson IM, Magnusson M, Jin T. Combination of Tumour Necrosis Factor inhibitor and antibiotics alleviates staphylococcal arthritis and sepsis in mice. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2011.
- Kwiecinski J, Klak M, Trysberg E, Blennow K, Tarkowski A, Jin T. Elevated levels of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 in Cerebrospinal Fluid relate to neuronal destruction in Patients with CNS Lupus. Arthritis & Rheumatism. 2009.
Full Publication List