A5020252368- Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
- Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus
- Biochemical and Structural Characterization
- Gut microbiota and health
- Urinary Tract Infections Management
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Antifungal resistance and susceptibility
- Antibiotic Use and Resistance
- Pelvic floor disorders treatments
- Urinary Bladder and Prostate Research
- Respiratory and Cough-Related Research
- Pediatric health and respiratory diseases
- Bacterial Infections and Vaccines
- Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- Infective Endocarditis Diagnosis and Management
- Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
- Microbial infections and disease research
Washington University in St. Louis
2017-2022
University of Iowa
2014-2017
Biofilm formation is the primary virulence factor of Staphylococcus epidermidis. S. epidermidis biofilms preferentially form on abiotic surfaces and may contain multiple matrix components, including proteins such as accumulation-associated protein (Aap). Following proteolytic cleavage A domain, which has been shown to enhance binding host cells, B domain homotypic interactions support cell accumulation biofilm formation. To further define contribution Aap infection, we constructed an aap...
ABSTRACT Staphylococcus epidermidis is an opportunistic pathogen that one of the leading causes medical device infections. Global regulators like agr quorum-sensing system in this have received a limited amount attention, leaving important questions unanswered. There are three types S. strains, but only autoinducing peptide (AIP) signals has been identified (AIP-I), and cross talk between systems not tested. We structurally characterized all AIP using mass spectrometry discovered AIP-II...
The Spl proteases are a group of six serine that encoded on the νSaβ pathogenicity island and unique to Staphylococcus aureus. Despite their interesting biochemistry, biological substrates functions in virulence have been difficult elucidate. We found an spl operon mutant community-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus USA300 strain LAC induced localized lung damage rabbit model pneumonia, characterized by bronchopneumonia observed histologically. Disease mutant-infected rabbits was...
Summary The otherwise harmless skin inhabitant Staphylococcus epidermidis is a major cause of healthcare‐associated medical device infections. species' selective pathogenic potential depends on its production surface adherent biofilms. Cell wall‐anchored protein Aap promotes biofilm formation in S. , independently from the polysaccharide intercellular adhesin PIA. requires proteolytic cleavage to act as an adhesin. Whether and which staphylococcal proteases account for processing yet...
Staphylococcus epidermidis is frequently implicated in human infections associated with indwelling medical devices due to its ubiquity the skin flora and formation of robust biofilms. The accessory gene regulator (agr) quorum sensing (QS) system plays a prominent role establishment biofilms infection by this bacterium. Agr activation mediated binding peptide signal (or autoinducing peptide, AIP) cognate AgrC receptor. Many questions remain about QS S. infections, as well mixed-microbial...
Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterial pathogen responsible for wide range of diseases and also human commensal colonizing the upper respiratory tract. Strains belonging to clonal complex group CC30 are associated with colonization, although colonization state itself not clearly defined. In this work, we developed co-culture model S. apical surface polarized airway epithelial cells. The grown at air–liquid interface allow an in-depth evaluation simulated state. Exposure wild-type, bacteria or...
Bordetella bronchiseptica is pervasive in swine populations and plays multiple roles respiratory disease. Additionally, B. capable of establishing long-term or chronic infections swine. Bacterial biofilms are increasingly recognized as important contributors to bacterial infections. Recently the polysaccharide locus bpsABCD has been demonstrated serve a critical role development mature formed by sequenced laboratory strain We hypothesized that isolates would also have ability form key this...
Abstract Recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs) are a major health burden worldwide, with history of infection being significant risk factor. While the gut is known reservoir for uropathogenic bacteria, role microbiota in rUTI remains unclear. We conducted year-long study women and without rUTIs, from whom we collected urine, blood monthly fecal samples multi-omic interrogation. The microbiome was significantly depleted microbial richness butyrate-producing bacteria compared to controls,...