Mecaila McClune

Kendall W. King Memorial Scholarship Award, 2022

Award of Excellence – Poster Presentation at the 2022 CeZAP Infectious Disease Symposium, Virginia Tech, October 7, 2022

VT Dean Scholar Award, 2019

• Guest Lecture for BCHM 3114 Biochemistry for Biotechnology at VT – Fall 2020
• Teaching Assistant for BCHM 3114 Biochemistry for Biotechnology at VT – Fall 2019, Fall 2020
• Teaching Assistant for CHML 351 and 352 Laboratories at Elon University – Fall 2014, Spring 2015

Lyme disease is a vector borne illness that has greatly increased in geographical distribution since its initial discovery in the early 1980s. This disease is caused by the atypical Gram-negative bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. Since B. burgdorferi lack classical virulence factors, it is largely unknown how they cause symptoms such as Lyme arthritis —the most common late-stage symptom of Lyme disease. To try to better understand the symptoms associated with this disease, our lab focuses on the peptidoglycan (PG) of this bacteria. PG helps provide stability to bacteria and is usually recycled as bacteria grow and divide. Not only does B. burgdorferi lack the enzymes and transporters necessary for this to happen, but it also has Ornithine in its PG which is very uncommon. The lack of a functional PG recycling pathway results in the release of ~50% of the total PG into its environment each generation. My graduate studies focus on the immunological properties of B. burgdorferi PG and its potential involvement in Lyme arthritis. 

As an undergraduate I had the opportunity to intern as a laboratory technician at the USDA. The group I worked in focused on the molecular characterization of foodborne pathogens (MCFP) and the development of rapid detection methods for pathogens such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella.

Reviewed Journals

1. Davis, M., Brock, A., DeHart, T., Boribong, B., Lee, K., McClune, M., Chang, Y., Cramer, N., Liu, J., Jones, C., Jutras, B., The peptidoglycan-associated protein NapA plays an important role in the envelope integrity and in the pathogenesis of the Lyme disease spirochete. (PLOS pathogens, 2021)
2. Bobe, J., Jutras, B., Horn, E., Embers, M., Bailey, A., Morits, R., Zhang, Y., Soloski, M., Ostfeld, R., Marconi, R., Aucott, J., Ma’ayan, A., Keesing, F., Lewis, K., Mamoun, C., Rebman, A., McClune, M., Breitschwerdt, E., Reddy, P., Maggi, R., Yang, F., Nemser, B., Ozcan, A., Garner, O., Di Carlo, D., Ballard, Z., Joung, H., Garcia-Romeu, A., Griffiths, R., Baumgarth, N., Fallon, B., Recent Progress in Lyme Disease and Remaining Challenges. (Frontiers in Medicine, 2021)

Oral Presentations

1. McClune, M., Dressler, J., Davis, M., Jutras, B., Uncovering the relationship between Borrelia burgdorferi peptidoglycan and Lyme disease pathogenesis. “Work in Progress Collaborative (WiPC)” Steger Hall. September 2022
2. McClune, M., Dressler, J., Davis, M., Jutras, B., Uncovering the relationship between Borrelia burgdorferi peptidoglycan and Lyme disease pathogenesis. Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) Biology of Spirochetes. May 2022
3. McClune, M., Jutras, B., Using Borrelia burgdorferi peptidoglycan to improve diagnostics, therapeutics, and for vaccine development. Biochemistry Recruitment Event. February 2022
4. McClune, M., Jutras, B., Understanding the role of a Borrelia burgdorferi specific biomolecule in the pathogenesis and potential diagnosis of Lyme disease. Virginia Tech Undergraduate Student Research Program. October 2020

Poster Presentations

1. McClune, M., Dressler, J., Tupik, J., Jutras, B., Uncovering the relationship between Borrelia burgdorferi peptidoglycan and Lyme disease pathogenesis. Virginia Tech Undergraduate Student Research Program (Engelpalooza). October 2022.
2. McClune, M., Dressler, J., Tupik, J., Jutras, B., Uncovering the relationship between Borrelia burgdorferi peptidoglycan and Lyme disease pathogenesis. Virginia Tech Center for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-borne Pathogens (CeZAP) Infectious Disease Symposium. October 2022.
3. Dressler, J., McClune M., Davis M., Jutras, B., Elucidating the Interactions Between NapA Peptidoglycan and Implications for the Immune Response. International Conference on Lyme Borreliosis and other Tick-Borne Diseases. Amsterdam, Netherlands, September 2022.
4. McClune, M., Dressler, J., Davis, M., Jutras, B., Uncovering the relationship between Borrelia burgdorferi peptidoglycan and Lyme disease pathogenesis. Gordon Research Conference (GRC) Biology of Spirochetes. June 2022
5. McClune, M., Dressler, J., Davis, M., Jutras, B., Uncovering the relationship between Borrelia burgdorferi peptidoglycan and Lyme disease pathogenesis. Gordon Research Conference (GRC) Biology of Spirochetes. May 2022
6. McClune, M., Dressler, J., Davis, M., Jutras, B., Uncovering the relationship between Borrelia burgdorferi peptidoglycan and Lyme disease pathogenesis. Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) Biology of Spirochetes. May 2022
7. McClune, M., Dressler, J., Davis, M., Jutras, B., The unusual peptidoglycan cell wall of Borrelia burgdorferi and it’s role in Lyme disease pathogenesis. American Association of Immunologists (AAI). May 2022
8. McClune, M., Dressler, J., Davis, M., Jutras, B., Understanding the role of peptidoglycan in Lyme disease pathogenesis. Virginia Tech Undergraduate Student Research Program. October 2021
9. McClune, M., Davis, M., Jones, C., Jutras, B., Understanding the role of peptidoglycan and associated protein NapA in Lyme disease pathogenesis American Association of Immunology (AAI). May 2021 (Virtual Poster)
10. McClune, M., Davis, M., Jutras, B., How to escape a membrane: Mechanisms of peptidoglycan release. Biology of Spirochetes Gordon Research Conference (GRC). March 2020. (Poster*) *Meeting cancelled due to COVID-19