Dr. Pamela A. Sokol

Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
University of Calgary

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common, fatal genetic disease affecting young Canadians. CF is caused by a mutation in the Cftr gene, resulting in defects in the CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) protein. CFTR is a chloride anion channel situated in the apical membranes of mucosal epithelium. CF affects mainly the lungs and the digestive system and nearly all morbidity and mortality results from the chronic infection and tissue destruction occurring within the airways.

Dr. Pamela Sokol's research focuses on the molecular analysis of virulence mechanisms of pathogenic bacteria, particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia complex. These organisms are important respiratory pathogens in individuals with cystic fibrosis. Dr. Sokol's studies are focussed in two major areas: bacterial transport systems and zinc metalloproteases.

Dr. Sokol's research on siderophore-mediated iron transport focuses on the identification and characterization of specific siderophores, the characterization of their receptors and of other membrane and periplasmic proteins required for iron internalization. She has identified a pathogenicity island in B. cepacia complex and is characterizing the virulence genes associated with this pathogenicity island.

Dr. Sokol is also exploring which virulence factors contribute to the differential virulence of B. cepacia complex, and the mechanisms regulating these virulence factors. She is studying the role of quorum sensing in regulation of B. cepacia complex virulence genes. Quorum sensing is the manner in which bacteria communicate information about antibiotic resistance, community size, and population density to one another using chemical signals. Since extracellular zinc metalloproteases are major virulence factors in these pathogens, she is developing metalloprotease-based therapeutics for the treatment of lung infections caused by P. aeruginosa and B. cepacia complex. A linear synthetic peptide epitope conserved among bacterial zinc metalloproteases has been identified and Dr. Sokol is assessing the efficacy of a synthetic peptide conjugate vaccine based on this peptide sequence.

Dr. Sokol's goal is to develop therapeutic interventions, such as a broad-host-range component vaccine, that target virulence factors for the prevention and treatment of infections due to these bacteria and similar pathogens.

Dr. Sokol is a professor in the department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary. She received her PhD in 1981 from Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, Oregon.

Dr. Sokol is currently Vice-Dean in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary and has held several senior administrative positions in the Faculty, including Associate Dean, Graduate Sciences Education, Assistant Dean, Graduate Education & Research, Chair of the Infectious Diseases Research Group. She also previously served as Associate Vice President Research & International at the University of Calgary. Dr. Sokol has also served on a number of national and international grant review committees, was a member of the Science and Budget Committee of the Canadian Bacterial Diseases Network and is currently Chair of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Research Subcommittee.

For further information, please contact Dr. Pamela A. Sokol using the Email contact form or by phone at 403 220-6037