The Stillwater Times Dr. Patrauchan’s work with Cystic Fibrosis Stillwater, Oklahoma — Friday, May 10, 2019 — 1 page five cents Dr. Patrauchan’s work with Cystic Fibrosis Corinne Washington Dr. Marianna Patrauchan is a professor at Oklahoma State University in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics. She obtained her Ph.D. in Microbiology at the Institute of Microbiology and Virology, National Academy of Sciences in 1995. For the last twenty years, Dr. Patrauchan has dedicated her life to the field of microbiology. She is currently researching the role that calcium plays in causing diseases associated with bacterial infections. Dr. Patrauchan’s work focuses on the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This bacteria is the leading cause of death in cystic fibrosis patients. A human pathogen is a type of bacteria that causes a disease that is harmful to the human body. In this case, Dr. Patrauchan is studying Pseudomonas aeruginosa because research has shown that it is the bacteria which is associated with cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease which effects the digestive system and lungs. It often causes lung infections and limits a persons ability to breathe overtime. Cystic fibrosis also causes the body to produce a thick mucus that could potentially obstruct the lungs and pancreas, which can be life threatening. The mucus clogs airways, and traps bacteria causing repeated lung infections, and eventually causing respiratory failure. In the pancreas the mucus builds up and prevents the pancreas from absorbing essential nutrients. The lack of nutrients can cause malnutrition in CF patients. Many people don’t realize that due to a compromised immune system patients diagnosed with CF have to limit their contact with the outside world in an effort to remain free of germs. This takes a large toll on the quality of life for most patients. Dr. Patrauchan’s research focuses on the homeostasis of calcium. As of right now the evidence suggests that a balance of calcium within the cell may be the what triggers the opportunistic pathogen A study was performed to test this hypothesis. The results of this study have shown that maintaining homeostasis within calcium levels is essential to not triggering the human pathogen. The study found that three transporters play a large role in calcium homeostasis, these transporters are the focus of Dr. Patrauchan’s future studies within the effects of calcium homeostasis on patients with cystic fibrosis.   References M. Guragain, D. Lenaburg, S. Moore, I. Reutlinger, and M.A. Patrauchan “Calcium homeostasis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa requires multiple transporters and modulates swarming motility”. 2013, Cell Calcium. 54(5), 350-61.