Research Interests:
Virus/host cell surface interactions. Dr. McConnell studies the virus known as bacteriophage Epsilon 15, which infects Group E1 Salmonellae bacteria. He uses genetic and biochemical approaches to analyze the interactions that occur between the tail protein of the virus and the lipopolysaccharide that is in the cell wall of the bacterium during the initial infection process. He is also interested in the mechansm used by Epsilon 15 to modify the lipopolysaccharide structure of its Salmonella host cell shortly after infection, a phenomenon known as "cell surface conversion". Dr. McConnell's research is presently funded by the National Institutes of Health. He has also received research support over the years from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the National Science Foundation and Research Corporation.
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