Lipke, Peter N.

Academic Appointments:

Professor of Biology, Brooklyn College CUNY
Professor of Biology and Biochemistry, the Graduate Center CUNY

Degrees:

BS Chemistry, U. Chicago; PhD Biochemistry, U. California Berkeley

Research Focus:

The Lipke has lab long been involved in research that is related to candidiasis and other fungal diseases, which are a cause of morbidity and mortality in a large number of cancer victims. His research interests include structure and function of cell adhesion proteins that mediate pathogen-host interactions and biofilm formation. His extensive work with collaborators in biophysics and medicine, highlights functional amyloids at the cell surface activating cell adhesion, and are potential targets for antifungal drugs. Biofilm formation has been shown to be a factor in the hosting of cancer-causing vectors linked to colon cancer and prostate cancer. Our recent work shows that fungal surface amyloids bind the innate Pattern Recognition Receptor SAP, and this binding leads to induction of an anti-inflammatory response, potentially dampening immune responses to tumors as well. In addition, Dr. Saxena’s recent work shows centrality of fungal infections in pancreatic cancers. Thus, fungal dysbiosis has a key role in cancer development and co-morbidity, so every cancer center therefore has the infectious disease unit that operates to manage fungal pathogenesis in cancer patients.

Selected Publications (up to 5), h value = 41

    • Behrens, N.E., P.N. Lipke, D. Pilling, R.H. Gomer and S.A. Klotz. Serum Amyloid P Component Binds Fungal Surface Amyloid and Decreases Human Macrophage Phagocytosis and Secretion of Inflammatory Cytokines. 2019. mBio 10:e00218-19. https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.00218-19. PMC6414697
    • Lipke, P.N., S.A. Klotz, Y.F. Dufrene, D.N. Jackson, and M.C. Garcia-Sherman. 2018. Amyloid-like β-Aggregates as Force-sensitive Switches in Fungal Biofilms and Infections. Microbiol. Molec. Biol. Reviews, 82:e00035-17. https://doi.org/10.1128/MMBR.00035-17. PMID:29187516 PMC5813885 [Cover illustration].
    • Garcia-Sherman, M.C., T. Lundberg, R Sobonya, P.N. Lipke, and S.A. Klotz. 2015. A Unique Biofilm in Human Deep Mycoses: Fungal Amyloid is bound by Host Serum Amyloid P Component. NPJ Biofilms and Microbiomes. npj Biofilms and Microbiomes1, Article number: 15009 (2015)
    • Chan, C.X-J. and P.N. Lipke. 2014. Role of force-sensitive amyloid-like interactions in fungal catch-bonding and biofilms. Eukaryot. Cell 13:1136-1142 [Cover Illustration]. doi: 10.1128/EC.00068-14. PMC4187618
    • Lipke, P.N. and R. Ovalle. 1998. Yeast Cell Walls: New Structures, New Challenges. J. Bacteriol. 180: 3735-3740 PMC107352 (>700 citations)

Patents:

Jackson, D.N., Kennelly, E., and P.N. Lipke. Method of preventing biofilm formation.
U.S. Patent #9.9648,876 B2 issued 5/16/17

Lipke, P. and U. Edupuganthi. Process for increased yeast biomass.
Patent Application 15/856,667: Licensed to Biothera, Inc.

Grants over the last 5 years

NIH R01 GM098616 A Role for Amyloids in Force-Dependent Activation Of Cell Adhesion (PI/PD Lipke) 6/1/2012-3/31/2017 $1,390,000
2 Diversity Supplements and Cell culture facility supplement

Biothera, Inc. Proprietary Strain Production (PI/PD Lipke) 5/16/2011 – 11/30/2015 $775,000