Nosocomial infections are an emerging public health threat and frequently occur as a result of patient contact with bacteria persisting on hospital surfaces in a desiccated state. We are interested in discovering novel mechanisms by which bacterial pathogens sense and adapt to long-term desiccation stress, as well as the regulatory mechanisms involved in mediating the transition between environmental reservoirs and mammalian hosts, with a particular focus on the emerging multidrug resistant pathogen, Acinetobacter baumannii. Additionally, we are interested in studying mechanisms by which A. baumannii controls turnover of its protein content in response to changing environmental conditions via regulated proteolysis by AAA+ family proteases.
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
Postdoctoral Fellow
2023
Tufts University
Boston, MA
Postdoctoral Fellow
2017
Tufts University
Boston, MA
Ph.D.
2016
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
B.S.
2009
The zinc metalloprotein MigC impacts cell wall biogenesis through interactions with an essential Mur ligase in Acinetobacter baumannii.
The zinc metalloprotein MigC impacts cell wall biogenesis through interactions with an essential Mur ligase in Acinetobacter baumannii. PLoS Pathog. 2025 Jun; 21(6):e1013209.
PMID: 40523033
The interplay between Acinetobacter baumannii ZigA and SltB promotes zinc homeostasis and cell envelope integrity.
The interplay between Acinetobacter baumannii ZigA and SltB promotes zinc homeostasis and cell envelope integrity. Infect Immun. 2025 Feb 18; 93(2):e0042224.
PMID: 39846731
Restriction of arginine induces antibiotic tolerance in Staphylococcus aureus.
Restriction of arginine induces antibiotic tolerance in Staphylococcus aureus. Nat Commun. 2024 Aug 07; 15(1):6734.
PMID: 39112491
Coordinated adaptation of Staphylococcus aureus to calprotectin-dependent metal sequestration.
Coordinated adaptation of Staphylococcus aureus to calprotectin-dependent metal sequestration. mBio. 2024 Jul 17; 15(7):e0138924.
PMID: 38920392
Restriction of Arginine Induces Antibiotic Tolerance in Staphylococcus aureus.
Restriction of Arginine Induces Antibiotic Tolerance in Staphylococcus aureus. bioRxiv. 2023 Oct 12.
PMID: 37873095
Hyperglycemia Increases Severity of Staphylococcus aureus Osteomyelitis and Influences Bacterial Genes Required for Survival in Bone.
Hyperglycemia Increases Severity of Staphylococcus aureus Osteomyelitis and Influences Bacterial Genes Required for Survival in Bone. Infect Immun. 2023 04 18; 91(4):e0052922.
PMID: 36877063
Bacterial hydrophilins promote pathogen desiccation tolerance.
Bacterial hydrophilins promote pathogen desiccation tolerance. Cell Host Microbe. 2022 07 13; 30(7):975-987.e7.
PMID: 35413266
The Manganese-Responsive Transcriptional Regulator MumR Protects Acinetobacter baumannii from Oxidative Stress.
The Manganese-Responsive Transcriptional Regulator MumR Protects Acinetobacter baumannii from Oxidative Stress. Infect Immun. 2020 02 20; 88(3).
PMID: 31792075
Targeting Mobilization of Ferrous Iron in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection with an Iron(II)-Caged LpxC Inhibitor.
Targeting Mobilization of Ferrous Iron in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection with an Iron(II)-Caged LpxC Inhibitor. ACS Infect Dis. 2019 08 09; 5(8):1366-1375.
PMID: 31140267
Assessing Acinetobacter baumannii Virulence and Persistence in a Murine Model of Lung Infection.
Assessing Acinetobacter baumannii Virulence and Persistence in a Murine Model of Lung Infection. Methods Mol Biol. 2019; 1946:289-305.
PMID: 30798564