Update Your ProfileAcademic Title:
Assistant Professor
Primary Appointment:
Microbiology and Immunology
Location:
HSFII, 431
Phone (Primary):
410-706-3815
Phone (Secondary):
410-706-3337
Fax:
410-706-0282
Education and Training
- Widener University, BS, Biology, 1998
- University of Delaware, MS, Entomology/Applied Ecology, 2001
- Texas A&M University, PhD, Entomology, 2005
- Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (Virginia Tech), Post-Doctoral Fellow, 2006-2008
- Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (Virginia Tech), Senior Research Associate, 2009-2013
Biosketch
Dr. Gillespie is an evolutionary biologist with broad interests in organismal and molecular evolution. The major focus of his current research is deciphering the mechanisms by which obligate intracellular species of Rickettsiales (Alphaproteobacteria) invade, survive and replicate within eukaryotic cells.
In research funded by the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Gillespie utilizes phylogenetics, comparative genomics and bioinformatics to guide experimental studies on various pathogenic species of Rickettsia and their associated arthropod vectors. His early research resulted in the reclassification of Rickettsia species and the identification of many lineage-specific pathogenicity factors. Through years of intense scrutinization of dozens of diverse rickettsial genomes, Dr. Gillespie and colleagues have described a large, dynamic mobilome for Rickettsia species, resulting in the identification of integrative conjugative elements as the vehicles for seeding Rickettsia genomes with many of the factors underlying obligate intracellular biology and pathogenesis. Via an iterative process of genome sequencing, phylogenomics, bioinformatics, and classical molecular biology and microbiology, Dr. Gillespie continues to lead and assist research projects on the characterization of rickettsial gene and protein function.
A particular focal area of Dr. Gillespie’s research is the Rickettsia secretome, which includes the secretion systems and their cognate substrates, many of which directly engage arthropod and vertebrate molecules throughout the rickettsial infection process. Dr. Gillespie led a study that identified across all genera of Rickettsiales the composition of an enigmatic type IV secretion system (T4SS), termed rvh (Rickettsiales vir homolog). Several collaborative efforts have begun elucidating the odd architecture of the rvh T4SS, as well as the protein substrates (e.g., RalF and RARP-2) it translocates into host cells during infection.
Research/Clinical Keywords
Evolutionary Biology, Rickettsiology, Rickettsia, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Bioinformatics, Phylogenetics, Phylogenomics, Metabolomics, Structural Biology, Lateral Gene Transfer, Type IV Secretion Systems, Secretome, Pathogenesis, Genome Sequencing, Arthropods, Ticks, Fleas, Body Lice, Epidemic Typhus, Murine Typhus, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Transitional Group rickettsiae
Highlighted Publications
Gillespie, J.J., Beier, M.S., Rahman, M.S., Ammerman, N.C., Purkayastha, A., Shallom, J.M., Sobral, B.S., Azad, A.F. (2007) Plasmids and rickettsial evolution: insight from Rickettsia felis. PLoS ONE 2: e266.
Gillespie, J.J., Joardar, V., Williams, K.P., Driscoll, T., Hostetler, J.B., Nordberg, E.K., Shukla, M., Walenz, B., Hill, C.A., Nene, V.M., Azad, A.F., Sobral, B.W. & Caler, E. (2012) A Rickettsia genome overrun by mobile genetic elements provides insight into the acquisition of genes characteristic of an obligate intracellular lifestyle. Journal of Bacteriology 194: 376-394.
Gillespie, J.J., Kaur, S.J., Rahman, M.S., Rennoll-Bankert, K., Sears, K.T., Beier-Sexton, M. & Azad, A.F. (2015) Secretome of obligate intracellular Rickettsia. FEMS Microbiology Reviews 39: 47-80.
Rennoll-Bankert, K., Rahman, M.S., Gillespie, J.J., Guillotte, M.L., Kaur, S.J., Lehman, S.S., Beier-Sexton, M., Azad, A.F. (2015) Which Way In? The RalF Arf-GEF Orchestrates Rickettsia Host Cell Invasion. PLoS Pathogens 11: e1005115.
Gillespie, J.J., Phan IQ, Scheib H, Subramanian, S., Edwards, T.E., Lehman, S.S., Piitulainen, H., Rahman, M.S., Rennoll-Bankert, K., Staker, B.L., Taira, S., Stacy, R., Myler, P.J., Azad, A.F., & Pulliainen, A.T. (2015) Structural Insight into How Bacteria Prevent Interference between Multiple Divergent Type IV Secretion Systems. MBio 6: e01867-15.
Gillespie, J.J., Phan, I.Q., Driscoll, T., Guillotte, M.L., Lehman, S.S., Rennoll-Bankert, K.E., Subramanian, S., Beier-Sexton, M., Myler, P.J., Rahman, M.S., Azad, A.F. (2016) The Rickettsia type IV secretion system: unrealized complexity mired by gene family expansion. Pathogens and Disease 74: ftw058 [Editor’s Choice].
Driscoll, T.P., Verhoevea, V.I., Guillotte, M.L., Lehman, S.S., Rennoll, S.A., Beier, M.S., Rahman, M.S., Azad, A.F., Gillespie, J.J. (2017) Wholly Rickettsia! Reconstructed Metabolic Profile of the Quintessential Bacterial Parasite of Eukaryotic Cells. MBio 8: e00859-17.
Gillespie, J.J., Driscoll, T.P., Verhoeve, V.I., Rahman, M.S., Macaluso, K.R., Azad, A.F. (2018) A tangled web: origins of reproductive parasitism. Genome Biology and Evolution 10: 2292-2309.
Additional Publication Citations
Dr. Gillespie's publications and related information can be found on the following web sites:
Research Interests
Sequencing of the deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) genome revealed the nature of a Rickettsia endosymbiont that is frequently found in deer tick populations. Genomic analysis of this species, now called Rickettsia buchneri, unearthed a large and diverse cache of mobile genetic elements. Prominent among these is a distinct integrative and conjugative element named RAGE (Rickettsiales Amplified Genetic Element). Dr. Gillespie and colleagues determined that RAGEs are the vehicles for seeding Rickettsia genomes with many of the factors underlying obligate intracellular biology and pathogenesis. Recent analyses discovered substantial diversity among R. buchneri RAGEs, both within individual ticks as well as in the I. scapularis population at large, indicating that RAGEs are actively mobilizing across Rickettsia species.
This RAGE-mediated lateral gene transfer has steered research and discovery in three main focal areas:
1. Virulence Factors
The search for Rickettsia secreted effectors that target host cell molecules begins with detecting probable products of lateral gene transfer (e.g., piggybacking on RAGEs, phylogenetic signal discordant with “housekeeping” genes) that may contain eukaryotic-like characteristics (e.g., ankyrin repeats, Sec7-like domains, phosphatidylinositol kinase motifs). Dr. Gillespie and colleagues then aim to identify the rickettsial secretion pathway involved in translocating such effectors. A major focus is the rvh T4SS, wherein effectors must bind the rvh coupling protein (RvhD4) prior to secretion. Several approaches are used to capture RvhD4-effector interactions, with subsequent characterization of effectors using in vitro and in vivo experiments. The effectors RalF and RARP-2 have been shown to be translocated into host cells by Rickettsia typhi during infection, and other candidate effectors are currently being characterized.
2. Metabolism
Many of the RAGE cargo genes encode for proteins that are seemingly important for intracellular survival (e.g., osmoregulatory transporters, lipopolysaccharide-modifying enzymes, peptidoglycan recycling factors) and host-dependent metabolism (stringent response components, metabolite transporters, metabolic enzymes). As rickettsiae are subject to reductive genome evolution, the RAGEs appear to offset this deleterious process by shuttling across the rickettsial mobilome genes that are critical for intracellular parasitism. The importance for maintaining genes underpinning metabolism was realized through reconstructing the Rickettsia-host metabolic network, which revealed 51 host cell metabolites required to compensate the patchwork rickettsial metabolism. Dr. Gillespie and colleagues are studying the novel mechanisms utilized by rickettsiae to pilfer host metabolites from the eukaryotic cytoplasm. A major focus entails solving how rickettsiae steal amino sugars to supply building blocks for cell envelope synthesis (rickettsiae lack glycolysis and have quite a sweet tooth!).
3. Reproductive Parasitism
RAGEs have also been shown to shuttle genes implicated in reproductive parasitism (RP), which is the ability of microbial parasites to influence the sexual reproduction of their hosts (via processes such as male-killing, feminization, parthenogenesis, and cytoplasmic incompatibility). Parasites induce RP to drive their retention in host populations via the female germline. RP, particularly cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), is well-studied for Wolbachia parasites, which are close cousins to Rickettsia species and infect over half the world’s described arthropod species, as well as many nematode species. While the molecular basis for Wolbachia-mediated CI was discovered by Wolbachia researchers (classical toxin-antidote operons), Dr. Gillespie and colleagues identified divergent orthologs to these factors in a range of different intracellular parasites, including human pathogens (i.e., Rickettsia felis, Rickettsia gravesii and Orientia tsutsugamushi). Current studies are focused on elucidating the mechanisms of RP induction by these diverse toxin-antidote operons, as well as identifying novel reproductive parasites of the cat flea, a vector that transmits pathogenic rickettsiae that scourge the homeless population.
Awards and Affiliations
- 1998-2005: Member, Entomological Society of America
- 2000-present: Member, American Association for the Advancement of Science
- 2000-present: Member, Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution
- 2000-2003: Member, Society for the Study of Evolution
- 2000-present: Member, Society of Systematic Biologists
- 2004-2005: Member, European Society for Evolutionary Biology
- 2006-present: Member, American Society for Microbiology
- 2006-present: Member, American Society for Rickettsiology
Grants and Contracts
R21 AI126108
NIH/NIAID
Gillespie (PI), Rahman (PI)
5/23/16 - 4/30/19
Characterizing gene family expansion in an atypical bacterial secretion system
R21 AI146773
NIH/NIAID
Gillespie (PI), Rahman (PI)
5/23/19 - 4/30/21
Rickettsia cell envelope glycoconjugates are derived from the host cell amino sugar biosynthesis pathway
Community Service
Dr. Gillespie an ardent supporter of youth athletics, realizing the importance for introducing exercise and sports to children in a healthy and fun atmosphere. He coaches annually in various baseball, basketball and soccer programs in the Lutherville-Timonium area. He serves the community as the In-House Recreation Coordinator of the Lutherville-Timonium Soccer Club, and is a board member and commissioner in the Lutherville-Timonium Basketball Association. Dr. Gillespie is also a certified referee and judge for the Central Maryland Dive League.
Professional Activity
- 2017-present: Editorial Board, PeerJ
- 2019-present: Reviewer, ZRG1 IDM-B 80 Study Section (Topics in Bacterial Pathogenesis), NIH
- 2019: Site Visit Team Member for the review of Intramural Research Programs in the Tumor Vaccines and Biotechnology Branch (TVBB), Division of Cellular and Gene Therapies (DCGT), Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies (OTAT), Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), U.S. Food and Drug Administration, DHHS
- 2017-present: Scientific Review Committee, American Society for Rickettsiology
Links of Interest
PATRIC, the Pathosystems Resource Integration Center, provides integrated data and analysis tools to support biomedical research on bacterial infectious diseases. Dr. Gillespie was a team member and contributor to PATRIC from 2006 to 2013.
Dr. Tim Driscoll and his Microbial Metagenomics Laboratory at West Virginia University collaborate with Dr. Gillespie on many different projects, but especially those involving arthropod and bacteria genome sequencing, phylogenomics, and arthropod-bacteria interactions.
Dr. John Beckmann and his laboratory at Auburn University collaborate with Dr. Gillespie on several projects involving reproductive parasitism. Check out John's very inspiring art work.
Dr. Bob Ernst and Dr. Dave Goodlett collaborate with Dr. Gillespie on determining Rickettsia cell envelope glycoconjugate composition.
Dr. Kevin Macaluso and his laboratory at the University of Southern Alabama collaborate with Dr. Gillespie on projects involving fleas and flea-associated Rickettsia species.
Dr. Jeanne Salje and her laboratories at Rutgers University and Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) in Bangkok, Thailand collaborate with Dr. Gillespie on projects analyzing rickettsial cell envelope biology and overall rickettsial phylogenomcis.
Luke J. Tallon, Scientific Director of the Genomics Resource Center, Institute for Genome Sciences, collaborates with Dr. Gillespie on the genome sequencing of the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) and its Wolbachia parasites.
Dr. Gillespie acknowledges other rickettsiologists (mentors, friends and collaborators) in the University of Maryland system: Dr. Abdu Azad, Dr. Sayeed Rahman, Dr. Joao Pedra, Dr. Sean Riley, and Dr. Utpal Pal.
Video
Dr. Gillespie shares the dangers posed by Chigoe Flea infestations in this video segment from the Netflix series, "72 Dangerous Animals: Latin America" (Season 2, Episode 7)