We study the molecular pathogenesis of Ixodes tick-transmitted Borrelia burgdorferi which causes Lyme disease, sexually and mother-to-child transmitted Treponema pallidum, and ubiquitously present opportunist Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is transmitted through ventilation or direct contact with the contaminated objects. Lyme disease cases in New Jersey remain 3rd-4th highest in the Unites States. We also study the effects of by tick-borne B. burgdorferi and protozoan parasite Babesia microti coinfections on pathogens and hosts. These coinfections are now a serious problem in New Jersey.
Lyme disease affects joints, heart, nervous system and skin. If untreated, it may result in chronic arthritis, acrodermatitis or neuroborreliosis. Adherence of this extracellular pathogen has been shown to be important for tissue tropism of B. burgdorferi. Our objective is to understand whether different B. burgdorferi adhesins show differential affinity to bind to different host cells. We use genetics, biochemistry and tissue culture system to characterize B. burgdorferi and host molecules interactions. We have identified two types of glycosaminoglycan receptors on mammalian cells recognized by several B. burgdorferi proteins. Susceptible C3H mouse strain exhibits several manifestations of Lyme disease and of babesiosis observed in humans making examination of specific B. burgdorferi mutants possible in mice. Firefly luciferase-based detection of B. burgdorferi N40 strain we generated allows us to follow spirochetes during acute to persistent infection by live imaging using IVIS. We have demonstrated that B. microti presence suppresses adaptive immune responses against both pathogens and exacerbates colonization by B. burgdorferi, resulting in more severe Lyme disease. Interestingly, B. microti parasitemia is reduced during coinfection. These studies have been supported by various NIH and Foundation grants.
We are interested in identifying factors responsible for vertical transmission of T. pallidum spirochetes from infected mothers to fetuses resulting in devastating outcomes: the loss of fetus by miscarriage or stillbirth or child born with congenital syphilis exhibiting brain and skeletal development defects. Our highly competitive Challenge grant and International Collaboration on Infectious Disease Research U01 grant and funds from other federal grants have led us for the first time to determine function of several proteins of T. pallidum. We have now started analyzing syphilitic mothers samples obtained from Peru under ICIDR study. Importantly, we have established mouse model of congenital syphilis to study T. pallidum-GFP transmission that could help us test new protective vaccine candidates in the future.
P. aeruginosa produces a wide range of virulence factors, results in variety of illnesses and causes high morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised and elderly patients. Due to a highly adaptable nature and its ability to survive even in detergents, it is a major contributor to infections in the hospital environment. We have been studying the quorum-sensing mediated induction of several virulence factors in this organism both as free-living organism and during its association with different hosts. Investigation of regulatory mechanisms and production of secreted toxic molecules of P. aeruginosa will help determine their roles in competitiveness and in corneal, wounds and in the cystic fibrosis patient tissues destruction in the future.
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Zafar, K., Azuama O. C., Xu, L. H., Giacani, L., Parveen, N. 2026. Treponema pallidum TprD and TprK are adhesins and their surface expression promotes spirochetal opsonophagocytosis. Frontiers in Immunology. 17:1783902. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2026.1783902
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Parker D. S., Azuama, O. C., Zafar, K., Goguen, J. D., Leong, J. M., and N. Parveen.* 2026. Retrospective Analysis of Secreted PrpL Protease Activity in Clinical Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Its Association with Corneal Tissue Damage. Frontiers in Microbiology. 17: 1824817. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2026.1824817
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González J, Hinger L, Parveen N, Toledo A. 2025. Hypercholesterolemia enhances early dissemination and Borrelia burgdorferi burden in a mouse model. Microbial pathogenesis. 209:108083. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108083
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Moustafa, M. A. M., Rocha, S. C., Velasquez, C. V., and N. Parveen.* 2025. Temporal dynamic interplay of mouse proteome during protozoan Babesia microti infection alone or with Borrelia burgdorferi co-infection. Journal of Proteome Research. 24(7):3286-3299. doi: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.5c00015.
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Rocha, S. C., Moustafa, M. A. M., Velásquez, C. V., Azuama, O. C., Zafar, K., Meyer, C., Araujo, M., Taylor, K., and N. Parveen.* 2025. Long-term survival of Babesia microti and Borrelia burgdorferi in C3H/HeJ mice and their effect on Lyme arthritis and babesiosis manifestations. Microbiology Spectrum. Aug 12:e0025225. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.00252-25
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Carcamo, C. P., Velasquez, C., Rocha, S. C., Centurion-Lara, A., Lopez-Torres, L., and N. Parveen.* 2024. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics associated with maternal and congenital syphilis - A prospective study in Peru. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 143:107041. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107041
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Moustafa, M. A. M., Schlachter, S., , and N. Parveen.* 2024. Innovative strategies to study pathogenesis of elusive spirochetes and difficulties in management of chronic infections they cause. Annual Reviews of Microbiology. 78:17.1–17.24
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Velasquez, C. V., Moustafa, M. A. M., Rocha, S. C., and N. Parveen.* 2024. Borrelia burgdorferi colonize mammary glands of C3H mice; does not cause congenital Lyme disease. Microbes and Infection. 26: 105241.
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Akoolo, L., Djokic, V., Rocha, S.C., and N. Parveen.* 2022. Sciatic-Vagal nerve stimulation by electroacupuncture alleviates inflammatory arthritis in Lyme Disease-susceptible C3H mice. Frontiers in Immunology. 13:930287. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.930287
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Akoolo, L., Djokic, V., Rocha, S.C., and N. Parveen.* 2021. Pathogenesis of Borrelia burgdorferi and Babesia microti in TLR4-Competent and TLR4-Deficient C3H Mice. Cellular Microbiology. 2;e13350.doi: 10.1111/cmi.13350.
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Primus, S., Rocha, S.C., Giacani, L., and N. Parveen.* 2020. Identification and functional assessment of the first placental adhesin of Treponema pallidum that may play critical role in congenital syphilis. Frontiers in Microbiology. 11:621654. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.621654
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Lefeuvre, B., Cantero, P., Ehret-Sabatier, L., Lenormand, C., Barthel, C., Po, C., Parveen, N., Grillon, A., Jaulhac, B., Boulanger, B.*. 2020. Effects of topical corticosteroids and lidocaine on Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in mouse skin: potential impact to human clinical trials Scientific Reports. 10(1):10552. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-67440-5
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Djokic, V., Akoolo, L., Primus, S., Schlachter, S., Kelly, K., Bhanot, P., and N. Parveen.* 2019. Protozoan parasite Babesia microti subverts adaptive immunity and enhances Lyme disease severity. Frontiers in Microbiology. 10:1596. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01596. (Ranked views >81% of all Frontiers articles, Altimetric score 31)
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Parveen, N., Fernandez, M.C., Haynes, A.M., Zhang, R.L., Godornes, B.C., Centurion-Lara, A., Giacani L.* 2019. Non-pathogenic Borrelia burgdorferi expressing Treponema pallidum TprK and Tp0435 antigens as a novel approach to evaluate syphilis vaccine candidates. Vaccine. 37(13):1807-1818. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.02.022
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Djokic, V., Primus, S., Akoolo, L., Chakraborti, M. and N. Parveen.* 2018. Age-related differential stimulation of immune response by Babesia microti and Borrelia burgdorferi during acute phase of infection affect diseases severity. Frontiers in Immunology. 7;9:2891. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02891
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Djokic, V., Akoolo, L., and N. Parveen.* 2018. Babesia microti Infection Changes Host Spleen Architecture and Is Cleared by a Th1 Immune Response. Frontiers in Microbiology. 9:85. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00085. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5797759 (Ranked views >69% of all Frontiers articles).
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Primus, S., Akoolo, L., Schlachter, S., N. Parveen.* 2018. Efficient detection of symptomatic and asymptomatic patient samples for Babesia microti and Borrelia burgdorferi infection by multiplex qPCR. PLoS One. 10;13(5):e0196748. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196748
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Schlachter, S., Seshu, J., Lin, T., Norris, S., N. Parveen.* 2018. Borrelia burgdorferi glycosaminoglycan binding protein, Bgp in the B31 strain is not essential for infectivity despite facilitating adherence and tissue colonization. Infection and Immunity. 22;86(2). pii: e00667-17. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00667-17
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Chan, K., Nasereddin, T., Alter, L., Centurion-Lara, A., Giacani, G., and N. Parveen.* 2016. “Treponema pallidum Lipoprotein TP0435 Expressed in Borrelia burgdorferi Produces Multiple Surface/Periplasmic Isoforms and mediates Adherence”. Nature Scientific Reports 6:25593. doi:10.1038/srep25593
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Chan, K., Alter, L., Barthold, S. W., and N. Parveen.* 2015. Disruption of bbe02 by insertion of a luciferase gene increases transformation efficiency of Borrelia burgdorferi and allows live imaging in Lyme disease susceptible C3H mice. PLoS ONE 10(6): e0129532. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129532
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Chan, K., Marras, S. A. E., and N. Parveen.* 2013. Sensitive multiplex PCR assay to differentiate Lyme spirochetes and emerging pathogens Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia microti. BioMed Central Microbiology.13(1):295. (Highly Accessed)
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Cornell KA, S. Primus, J.A. Martinez, and N. Parveen.* 2009. Assessment of methylthioadenosine/S-adenosylhomocysteine nucleosidases of Borrelia burgdorferi as targets for novel antimicrobials using a novel high-throughput method. J. Antimicrobials and Chemotherapy. 63(6):1163-1172.
PCT/US2014/054972 (SEPTEMBER 10, 2014) Applicant’s Ref. No. 096747.00260. Date of receipt of Priority document (September 25, 2014)
1. Parveen, N. and S. A. E. Marras. Multiplex diagnostic assay for Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases. Priority date for US201361877479P September 13, 2013. US20160289746A1 filed September 10, 2014 and issued on November 19, 2019.
2. Parveen, N. and S. A. E. Marras. Multiplex diagnostic assay for Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases. Filed on September 10, 2014 and EP3044337A2 issued on March 18, 2020.
3. Parveen, N. and S. A. E. Marras. Multiplex diagnostic assay for Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases. Filed September 10, 2014, Patent No. 12146197, Issue date 11/19/2024.
1988-1991 Scientist at IARI, New Delhi and Investigator in Indo-US Bilateral Program
1991-1995 Ph.D. in Microbiology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI
1996-Nov.2000 Postdoctoral Fellow, mentor: John Leong, Univ. Mass. Med. School, MA
2000-May 2005 Research Assistant Professor, Univ. Mass. Med. School, MA
