Dr. CHRISTOPHER HART
 
 
First Name
CHRISTOPHER
Last Name
HART
University/Institution
University of California Davis
Email ID
cjhart@ucdavis.edu
City
Davis
Country
United States
State
California
Zip code
95616
Department
Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
Area of Research
Molecular microbiology
Area of Expertise
Biology of Giardia duodenalis
Brief Description of Research Interest:
 

My research is focused on the biology of the protist Giardia duodenalis. Aside from its role in pathogenic dirrhoeal disease in humans, Giardia is a fascinating organism by its own right. My research interest is in understanding the fundamental biology that allows Giardia to survive, and applying that knowledge to discover new ways to kill it. My postdoctoral work has particularly focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms by which Giardia regulates its transcription. With extremely simple and short promoters Giardia manages to propagate in the harsh and diverse environments of terrestrial animal guts as well survive outside of hosts for months at a time. It manages a complex antigen-switching mechanism to evade its host immune system, as well as deals with diverse local microbiota and establish its own niches in its environment. All of these facets require precise and targeted modifications to gene expression. We currently only know of ~10 canonical transcription factors, and some histone-based epigenetic modification systems. As part of my current project, I'm looking to find and interrogate the function of currently unknown transcription factors. My previous work was focused on anti-Giardia drug discovery, and the development of an automated image-based assay for phenotypic screening. 

 
Representative Publications:
 

Hart C.J.S., Riches A.G., Tiash S., Clapper E., Ramu S., Zuegg J., Ryan J.H., Skinner-Adams T.S. (2022) Submitted for publication. A subset screen of the Compounds Australia Scaffold Library identifies 7- acylaminodibenzoxazepinones as potent and selective hits for anti-Giardia drug discovery

Riches A.G., Hart C.J.S., Schmit M., Debele E., Tiash S., Clapper E., Skinner-Adams T.S., Ryan J.H., (2022) Submitted for publication. Structural reassignment of a dibenz[b,f][1,4]oxazepin-11(10H)-one with potent antigiardial activity.

Hagan, K.D., Hart C. J. S., McInally, S.G., Dawson, S.C. (2021). In press. Harnessing the power of molecular genetic tools to illuminate Giardia biology and pathogenesis. Current Tropical Medicine Reports.

Riches, A. G., Hart C. J. S., Trenholme, K. R., Skinner-Adams, T. S. (2020). Anti-Giardia Drug Discovery: Current Status and Gut Feelings. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00910 Citations: 18

Tiash, S., Saunders, J., Hart, C. J. S., Ryan, J. H., Riches, A. G., Skinner-Adams, T.S. (2020). An image-based Pathogen Box screen identifies new compounds with anti-Giardia activity and highlights the importance of assay choice in phenotypic drug discovery. International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance, 12(2020), 60-67. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2020.03.002. Citations: 3

Hart, C. J. S., Munro, T., Andrews, K. T., Ryan, J. H., Riches, A. G., & Skinner-Adams, T. S. (2017). A novel in vitro image-based assay identifies new drug leads for giardiasis. International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance, 7(1), 83–89. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2017.01.005. Citations: 26

Hart, C. Cock, I.E. (2016). An examination of the antimicrobial and anticancer properties of Garcinia cambogia fruit pericarp extracts. BEMS Reports, 2(2), 55–63. DOI: 10.5530/BEMS.2016.2.10. Citations: 21

Hart, C., Ilanko, P., Sirdaarta, J., Rayan, P., McDonnell, P.A.,  Cock, I.E. (2014). Tasmannia stipitata as a functional food/natural preservative: antimicrobial activity and toxicity. Pharmacognosy communications, 4(4), 33–47. DOI: 10.5530/pc.2014.4.4. Citations: 56