Edward M. Hoffmann

Retired Chair, Professor Emeritus

Department of Microbiology and Cell Science University of Florida 
Ph.D. (1968) Department of Microbiology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute 
University of Miami College of Medicine 
Postdoctoral: (1968) Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology,
University of Miami College of Medicine 

Teaching Interest

PCB 5235 Immunology

Description of Research

General areas: mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis; invertebrate immunity.

Dr. Hoffmann coordinated a research program dealing with microbial pathogenesis. One project dealt with mechanisms of Brucella abortus invasion of nonphagocytic cells. Brucella abortus are facultative-intracellular pathogens capable of causing chronic disease in most mammalian species. These bacteria survive within both phagocytic and nonphagocytic cells. In cattle, B. abortus are found within chorionic epithelial cells of the placenta of infected animals that have aborted.

The research utilized a tissue culture model to determine: (1) adherence to susceptible cells, (2) mechanism of cellular entry, (3) interaction of bacterial peptides with host-cell MHC molecules, and (4) surface display of B. abortus epitopes on infected cells.

A second area of interest was nonvertebrate immunity. The model under study utilized Vibrio vulnificus and Crassostrea virginica (eastern oyster) hemocytes. The group was interested in self-nonself recognition, binding and uptake mechanisms, intracellular survival, and surface presentation of bacterial epitopes.

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Selected Publications

Eisenschenk, F.C., Houle, J.J. and Hoffmann, E.M. (1995) Serum sensitivity of field isolates and laboratory strains of Brucella abortus. AM. J. Vet. Res. 56: 1592-1598.

Hoffmann, E.M. and Houle, J.J. (1995) Contradictory roles for antibody and complement in the interaction of Brucella abortus with its host. Crit. Rev. in Microbiol. 21: 153-163.

Houle, J.J. and Hoffmann, E.M. (1994) Blocking antibodies specific for human albumin interfere with the hemolytic activity of the membrane attack complex of complement. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 200: 135-141.

Hoffmann, E.M., Kellogg, W.L. and Houle, J.J. (1994) Inhibition of complement-mediated killing of Brucella abortus by fluid-phase immunoglobulins. Am. J. Vet. Res. 55: 810-814.

Houle, J.J. and Hoffmann, E. M. (1993) Antibodies specific for human albumin function as blocking antibodies when attached to erythrocyte-bound albumin. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 194 1161-1166.

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