A5011142331- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Bacillus and Francisella bacterial research
- Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing
- Plant Pathogenic Bacteria Studies
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
- Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Salmonella and Campylobacter epidemiology
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Infective Endocarditis Diagnosis and Management
- Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus
- Vector-Borne Animal Diseases
- Plant-based Medicinal Research
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Enzyme Structure and Function
United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases
2015-2024
United States Army Medical Research and Development Command
2022
CS Diagnostics
2021
National Center for Communicable Diseases
2018
Ministry of Health
2018
United States Department of the Army
2014-2015
National Institutes of Health
2015
Liberian Institute for Biomedical Research
2015
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
2015
Institut Mérieux (United States)
2015
Abstract FDA proactively invests in tools to support innovation of emerging technologies, such as infectious disease next generation sequencing (ID-NGS). Here, we introduce FDA-ARGOS quality-controlled reference genomes a public database for diagnostic purposes and demonstrate its utility on the example two use cases. We provide quality control metrics genomic resource outline need genome gap filling domain. In first case, show more accurate microbial identification Enterococcus avium from...
Staphylococcus aureus infections can be difficult to treat due both multidrug resistance and the organism's remarkable ability persist in host. Persistence evolution of may related several complex regulatory networks, such as SOS response, which modifies transcription response environmental stress. To understand how S. persists during antibiotic therapy eventually emerges resistant, we characterized its global transcriptional ciprofloxacin. We found that ciprofloxacin induces prophage...
The phytopathogenic bacterium Pantoea stewartii subsp. synthesizes stewartan exo/capsular polysaccharide (EPS) in a cell density-dependent manner governed by the EsaI/EsaR quorum-sensing (QS) system. This study analyzes biofilm development and host colonization of WT QS regulatory mutant strains P. stewartii. First, we show that synthesis EPS, system, is required for proper bacterial adhesion spatially defined, 3D biofilms. Second, nonvirulent lacking esaI gene adheres strongly to surfaces...
A new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in the winter of 2019 Wuhan, China, and rapidly spread around world. The extent efficiency SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is far greater than previous coronaviruses that 21 st Century. Here, we modeled stability on skin, paper currency, clothing to determine if these surfaces may factor fomite transmission dynamics SARS-CoV-2. Skin, samples were exposed under laboratory conditions incubated at three different temperatures (4°C± 2°C, 22°C± 37°C ± 2°C). We evaluated...
Airborne transmission is predicted to be a prevalent route of human exposure with SARS-CoV-2. Aside from African green monkeys, nonhuman primate models that replicate airborne SARS-CoV-2 have not been investigated. A comparative evaluation COVID-19 in rhesus macaques, and cynomolgus macaques following was performed determine critical disease parameters associated progression, establish correlations between COVID-19. Respiratory abnormalities viral shedding were noted for all animals,...
Summary Capsular polysaccharide synthesis and virulence in the plant pathogenic bacterium Pantoea stewartii ssp. requires quorum‐sensing regulatory proteins, EsaR EsaI, diffusible inducer N ‐(3‐oxo‐hexanoyl)‐ L ‐homoserine lactone. Prior mu‐tational studies suggested that might function as a repressor of quorum sensing control capsular synthesis. Further, lux box‐like palindromic sequence coinciding with putative –10 element esaR promoter possible negative autoregulatory role for EsaR. This...
To support Liberia's response to the ongoing Ebola virus (EBOV) disease epidemic in Western Africa, we established in-country advanced genomic capabilities monitor EBOV evolution. Twenty-five genomes were sequenced at Liberian Institute for Biomedical Research, which provided an in-depth view of diversity Liberia during September 2014-February 2015. These sequences consistent with a single introduction Liberia; however, shared ancestry isolates from Mali indicated least 1 additional instance...
ABSTRACT The genus Burkholderia encompasses both pathogenic (including mallei and pseudomallei , U.S. Centers for Disease Control Prevention Category B listed), nonpathogenic Gram-negative bacilli. Here we present full genome sequences a panel of 59 strains, selected to aid in detection assay development.
We present the complete genome assembly of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 as submitted to NCBI under accession no. CP009072. This strain was originally isolated from a clinical sample in Seattle, Washington (1946), and is often used quality control testing. The assembled 5.20 Mb (50.4% G+C content) includes two plasmids.
Abstract Early detection of Ebola virus (EBOV) infection is essential to halting transmission and adjudicating appropriate treatment. However, current methods rely on viral identification, this approach can misdiagnose presymptomatic asymptomatic individuals. In contrast, disease-driven alterations in the host transcriptome be exploited for pathogen-specific diagnostic biomarkers. Here, we present first time EBOV-induced changes circulating miRNA populations nonhuman primates (NHPs) humans....
ABSTRACT In 2011, the Association of Analytical Communities (AOAC) International released a list Bacillus strains relevant to biothreat molecular detection assays. We present complete and annotated genome assemblies for 15 listed on inclusivity panel, as well 20 exclusivity panel.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent new and potentially informative diagnostic targets for disease detection prognosis. However, little work exists documenting the effect of TRIzol, a common viral inactivation nucleic acid extraction reagent, on miRNA purification. Here, we developed an optimized protocol from plasma samples by evaluating five different RNA kits, TRIzol phase separation, purification additives, initial sample volume. This method was then used downstream profiling miRNAs found in...
Abstract Antibiotic resistance (AR) is an epidemic of increasing magnitude requiring rapid identification and profiling for appropriate timely therapeutic measures containment strategies. In this context, ciprofloxacin part the first-line countermeasures against numerous high consequence bacteria. Significant can occur via single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) deletions within targeted genes. Ideally, use would be prefaced with AR determination to avoid overuse or misuse antibiotic. Here, we...
Most LuxR homologues function as activators of transcription during the process quorum sensing, but a few, including EsaR and ExpR(Ecc), negatively impact gene expression. The LuxR-activated luxI promoter binding site, lux box, were used in artificial contexts to assess potential for transcriptional activation DNA by ExpR(Ecc). Although acyl-homoserine lactone responsiveness both proteins is opposite that shown most family members, ExpR(Ecc) have preserved ability interact with RNA...
Summary The LuxR‐type quorum‐sensing transcription factor EsaR functions as a repressor of exopolysaccharide (EPS) synthesis in the phytopathogenic bacterium Pantoea stewartii ssp. . cell density‐dependent expression EPS is critical for Stewart's wilt disease development. Strains deficient diffusible acyl‐homoserine lactone inducer remain repressed and are consequently avirulent. In contrast, disruption esaR gene leads to hypermucoidy attenuated Ligand‐free negative autoregulator responds...
Antibiotic resistant bacterial infections are a significant problem in the healthcare setting, many cases requiring rapid administration of appropriate and effective antibiotic therapy. Diagnostic assays capable quickly accurately determining pathogen resistance profile therefore crucial to initiate or modify care. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) is standard method for species identification clinical microbiology laboratories well...
An animal model of Ebola virus infection with variable disease onset identifies host markers that precede symptoms by 4 days.
Ebola virus (EBOV) is a negative-strand RNA that replicates in the cytoplasm and causes an often-fatal hemorrhagic fever. EBOV, like other viruses, can reportedly encode its own microRNAs (miRNAs) to subvert host immune defenses. miRNAs are short noncoding RNAs regulate gene expression by hybridizing multiple mRNAs, viral enhance replication infectivity regulating or genes. To date, only one EBOV miRNA has been examined human infection. Here, we assayed mouse, rhesus macaque, cynomolgus...
Abstract A new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in the winter of 2019 Wuhan, China, and rapidly spread around world. The extent efficiency SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is far greater than previous coronaviruses that 21 st Century. Here, we modeled stability on skin, paper currency, clothing to determine if these surfaces may factor fomite transmission dynamics SARS-CoV-2. Skin, samples were exposed under laboratory conditions incubated at three different temperatures (4°C± 2°C, 22°C± 37°C ± 2°C)....
Next-generation sequencing is rapidly finding footholds in numerous microbiological fields, including infectious disease diagnostics. Here, we describe a molecular inversion probe panel for the identification of bacterial, viral, and parasitic pathogens. We ability Illumina Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) to sequence small amplicons originating from this pathogens complex matrices. The correctly classified 31 bacterial directly positive blood culture bottles with genus-level concordance...
A detailed understanding of the circulating pathogens in a particular geographic location aids effectively utilizing targeted, rapid diagnostic assays, thus allowing for appropriate therapeutic and containment procedures. This is especially important regions prevalent highly pathogenic viruses co-circulating with other endemic such as malaria parasite. The importance biosurveillance highlighted by ongoing Ebola virus disease outbreak West Africa. For example, more comprehensive assessment...
Burkholderia is a genus of betaproteobacteria that includes three notable human pathogens: B. cepacia, pseudomallei, and mallei. While pseudomallei mallei are considered potential biowarfare agents, cepacia infections largely limited to cystic fibrosis patients. Here, we present 56 genomes from 8 distinct species.