Graciela Liliana Lorca

Assistant Professor

Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Genetics Institute,  University of Florida. 
Ph.D. (2001) National University of Tucuman, Argentina.
Postdoctoral: (2004-2006) University of Toronto. Canada, (2001-2004) University of California San Diego (UCSD) USA.

Teaching Interest

 

Description of Research

General areas: transcriptional regulation, comparative genomics.

We are interested in the chemical biology of one-component transcriptional regulators (TF). They are involved in the regulation of the gene expression in response to a wide variety of intracellular and environmental signals. My lab is particularly interested in the identification of those small signal molecules using high throughput screening of small molecule libraries, and in how the small molecule/TF interactions can be modified/optimized. We are exploring the possibility of using new regulatory networks for the in vivo delivery of bioactive molecules using Lactobacillus as live vector.

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Awards and Distinctions

• Pew Latin American Fellowship in the Biomedical Sciences, USA (2001-2003).
• Fellowship awarded by the National Center of Science and Technology (CONICET – Argentine) for the realization of the Ph. D. Thesis (1996-2001).

Selected Publications

Original papers

1. Lorca, G.L.,, J.R. Walker, A. Ezersky, S. Altamentova, E. Evdokimova, M.Vedadi, V. Lunin, A. Bochkarev, and A. Savchenko.
   Identification of effector molecule for E. coli IclR transcriptional factor. Journal of Biological Chemistry. In Press.
   
2. Lorca, G. L, R. D. Barabote, B. Winnen, R. N. Hvorup, V. Zlotopolski, E. Nguyen, L.W. Huang, C. Phan, and M. Saier, Jr. 2007.  Comparative analysis of the transport capabilities encoded within the genome of eleven gram-positive bacteria.BBA - Biochimica et Biophysica Acta In Press.
3. Makarova, K., A. Slesarev, Y. Wolf, A. Sorokin, B. Mirkin, E. Koonin, A. Pavlov, N. Pavlova, V. Karamychev, N. Polouchine, V. Shakhova, I. Grigoriev, Y. Lou, D. Rohksar, S. Lucas, K. Huang, D. M. Goodstein, T. Hawkins, V. Plengvidhya, D. Welker, J. Hughes, Y. Goh, A. Benson, K. Baldwin, J.-H. Lee, I. Díaz-Muñiz, B. Dosti, V. Smeianov, W. Wechter, R. Barabote, G. Lorca, E. Altermann, R. Barrangou, B. Ganesan, Y. Xie, H. Rawsthorne, D. Tamir, C. Parker, F. Breidt, J. Broadbent, R. Hutkins, D. O'Sullivan, J. Steele, G. Unlu, M. Saier, T. Klaenhammer, P. Richardson, S. Kozyavkin, B. Weimer, and D. Mills. 2006. Comparative genomics of the lactic acid bacteria. Proceedings  of the National Academy of Sciences 103:15611-15616
4. Walker, J. W., S. Altamentova, A. Ezersky, G. Lorca, T. Skarina, M. Kudritska, A. Bochkarev and A. Savchenko. 2006. Structural and biochemical analysis of transcriptional repression mechanism mediated by E. coli glyoxylate and allantoin utilization regulatory protein AllR. Journal of Molecular Biology 358:810-828.
5. Lorca, G. L., Y. J. Chung, R. D. Barabote, W. Weyler, C. H. Schilling , and Milton H. Saier, Jr.2005. Catabolite repression/activation in Bacillus subtilis: dependency on CcpA, HPr and HprK. Journal of Bacteriology, 187:7826-7839.
6. Gonzalez, C.F., A. Stonestrom, G.L. Lorca, and Saier Jr., M.H. 2005. Biochemical characterization of phosphoryl transfer involving Hpr of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system in Treponema denticola, an organism lacks PTS permeases. Biochemistry, 44:598-608.
7. Lorca, G., B. Winnen, and M. Saier. 2003. Identification of the L-aspartate transporter in Bacillus subtilis. Journal of Bacteriology 185:3218-3222.
8. Taranto M.P., M. L. Fernandez Murga, G. Lorca, G. F. de Valdez. 2003. Bile salts and cholesterol induce changes in the lipid cell membrane of Lactobacillus reuteri. Journal of Applied Microbiology 95: 86-91.
9. Rollan, G., G. L. Lorca, and G. Font de Valdez. 2003. Arginine catabolism and acid tolerance response in Lactobacillus reuteri isolated from sourdough. Food Microbiology 20:313-319.
10. Kruszewska D., J. Lan, G. Lorca, N. Yanagisawa , I. Marklinder and Å. Ljungh. 2002.  Selection of lactic acid bacteria as probiotic strains by in vitro tests. Microecology and Therapy 29:37-49.
11. Lorca, G. L., G. Font de Valdez, and Å. Ljungh. 2002. Characterization of the protein-synthesis dependent adaptive acid tolerance response in Lactobacillus acidophilus. Journal of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology 4:525-532.
12. Lorca, G. L., M. I. Torino, G. Font de Valdez, and Å. Ljungh. 2002. Lactobacilli express cell surface proteins which mediate binding of immobilized collagen and fibronectin. FEMS Microbiology Letters 206: 31-37.
13. Lorca, G. L., T. Wädstrom, G. Font de Valdez, and Å. Ljungh. 2001. Lactobacillus acidophilus autolysins inhibit Helicobacter pylori In vitro.  Current Microbiology 42:39-44.
14. Lorca, G. L., and G. Font de Valdez. 2001. A-low-pH-inducible stationary-phase acid tolerance response in Lactobacillus acidophilus CRL 639. Current Microbiology 42:21-25.
15. Lorca, G. L., and G. Font de Valdez. 2001. Acid tolerance mediated by membrane ATPases in Lactobacillus acidophilus. Biotechnology Letters 23:777-780.
16. Lorca, G. L. and G. Font de Valdez. 1999. Effect of suboptimal growth temperature and growth phase on resistance of Lactobacillus acidophilus to environmental stress. Cryobiology 39:144-149
17. Lorca, G. L. and G. F. de Valdez. 1998. Temperature adaptation and cryotolerance in Lactobacillus acidophilus. Biotechnology Letters 20 (9): 847-849.
18. Lorca, G. L., R. R. Raya, M. P. Taranto, and G. F. de Valdez. 1998. Adaptative acid tolerance response in Lactobacillus acidophilus. Biotechnology Letters 20 (3):239-241.

18. Font de Valdez, G., G. Martos, M. P. Taranto, G. L. Lorca, G. Oliver, and A. P. de Ruiz Holgado. 1997. Influence of bile on Lactobacillus reuteri subjected to freeze-drying. Journal of Dairy Science 80:1955-1958.

Chapters in Books

1. Font de Valdez, G. M., G. Lorca, and M. P. Taranto. 1999. Conductimetric method for evaluating inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes. Food Microbiology Protocols. Series Methods in Biotechnology. Humana Press Inc.
2. Lorca, G. L. and G. M. Font de Valdez. 2007. Lactobacillus stress responses. In Lactobacillus Molecular Biology. Humana Press Inc. In Press

University publications

1. Lorca, G. L. (1996) Graduate Thesis. Genetic aspects of the bile salt deconjugation by lactic acid bacteria. National University of Misiones (Argentine)
2. Lorca G. L. (2001) Ph. D. Thesis. Survival strategies of Lactobacillus acidophilus under stress conditions. National University of Tucuman (Argentine)

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