Chelsie E. Armbruster PhD
Chelsie E. Armbruster
PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Specialty/Research Focus
Ageing; Bacterial Pathogenesis; Infectious Disease; Microbial Pathogenesis; Microbiology; Translational Research; Urinary Tract Infection
Professional Summary:
My laboratory is broadly focused on investigating microbe-microbe interactions, host-microbe interactions, and patient characteristics that influence disease severity. Our primary disease model is catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), one of the most common healthcare-associated infections worldwide. Long-term use of indwelling catheters, which is common for management of certain conditions particularly in aging populations, results in continuous urine colonization by bacteria (bacteriuria) and can lead to infections of the bladder (cystitis), kidneys (pyelonephritis), and bloodstream (bacteremia).
My lab uses a combination of basic science and patient-oriented research, with the long-term goals of 1) identifying the uropathogen(s) most likely to cause symptomatic infection and adverse outcomes in patients, 2) utilizing an experimental model of infection to identify key virulence factors of these organisms, and 3) developing inhibitors of the identified virulence factors to reduce colonization and infection severity in vulnerable patient populations. As bacteriuria and CAUTI are frequently polymicrobial, which can influence the progression of the infection and the efficacy of antibiotic therapy, a major emphasis of this work is on understanding the contribution of polymicrobial colonization and microbe-microbe interactions to infection progression. We are also interested in mechanisms that reduce infection severity and promote persistent asymptomatic colonization.
We recently identified the Gram-negative bacterium Proteus mirabilis as the most common cause of CAUTI in a cohort of nursing home residents, including cases of polymicrobial infection. P. mirabilis is well-known for its potent urease enzyme, which produces ammonia from the hydrolysis of urea in urine and leads to high urine pH, precipitation of polyvalent ions, and formation of urinary stones (urolithiasis). We determined that P. mirabilis urease activity can be modulated by other uropathogens in vitro and in vivo, contributing to the degree of tissue damage and risk of bacteremia. Enhancement of urease activity occurs with numerous isolates of P. mirabilis during co-culture with most of the other common uropathogens, including Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, while Morganella morganii dampens urease activity. Therefore, one project in the lab focuses on defining the underlying mechanism(s) of urease activity modulation and determining its potential as a therapeutic target.
Another focus of the lab is utilizing genome-wide screens to uncover new genes that contribute to pathogenesis during both monomicrobial and polymicrobial infection. We are using transposon insertion-site sequencing (Tn-Seq) to identify the full potential arsenal of P. mirabilis fitness and virulence factors during experimental CAUTI, including core factors that contribute to pathogenicity under all infection conditions tested, and accessory factors that are only required under certain infection conditions.
Education and Training:
- PhD, Microbiology and Immunology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine (2011)
- BS, Biotechnology, Rochester Institute of Technology (2007)
Employment:
- Associate Professor, Microbiology and Immunology, State University of New York at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2023-present)
- Assistant Professor, Microbiology and Immunology, State University of New York at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2017–2023)
- Research Investigator, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School (2016–2017)
- Post Doctoral Fellow, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School (2011–2016)
- Graduate Student, Microbiology and Immunology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine (2007–2011)
Awards and Honors:
- Graduate School 2024-2025 Distinguished Postdoc Mentor Award (2025)
- Inaugural “Highly Ranked Scholar” (2024)
- World Expert in UTI Research (2021)
- Nominated and selected to contribute a minireview to the early career scientist collection (2020)
- Travel Award (2019)
- Travel Award (2014)
- American Society for Microbiology Travel Award (2014)
- Travel Award (2013)
- University of Michigan Department of Microbiology and Immunology Travel Award (2013)
- Gordan A. Melson Outstanding Student Award Nominee and runner-up (2011)
- Travel Award (2011)
- Mid-Atlantic Microbial Pathogenesis Meeting Travel Award (2011)
- Gordon A. Melson Outstanding Student Award Nominee/Runner-up (2011)
- Travel Award (2010)
- NIH National Graduate Student Research Festival Travel Award (2010)
- CAP Student Travel Award (2009)
- Best Poster Award (2009)
- CAP Student Travel Award (2009)
- Best Poster Award (2009)
- Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar Award (2006)
- Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar (2006)
- Honors Program Scholarship (2004)
- Honors Program Scholarship (2004)
- Presidential Merit Scholarship (2003)
- Presidential Merit Scholarship (2003)
Research Expertise:
- Bacterial pathogens: Proteus mirabilis, Providencia stuartii, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis
- Catheter-associated urinary tract infection
- Motility: Swimming and swarming
- Polymicrobial infections: Urinary tract infection (UTI), catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), bacteremia, otitis-media
- Urease: Enzymatic activity during co-culture of uropathogens, and contribution to pathogenesis
- Urinary tract infection
Grants and Sponsored Research:
- June 2024–April 2029
The urothelial glycosaminoglycan layer: composition and contribution to pathogen fitness during catheter-associated urinary tract infection
NIH/NIDDK
Role: Principal Investigator
$3,045,103 - January 2025–December 2025
Long-range, volumetric middle ear imaging towards pediatric otitis media
NIH-sponsored CTSI Pilot Grant
Role: Co-Investigator
$49,700 - December 2022–November 2025
Investigating a novel contact-dependent killing system and its contribution to pathogen dominance in the urinary tract
NIH/NIAID
Role: Co-Investigator
$42,433 - September 2019–May 2025
Conserved Proteus mirabilis genetic requirements for colonization of the catheterized urinary tract
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Role: Principal Investigator - April 2022–March 2025
Identification of bacterial small molecule inhibitors of P. mirabilis urease activity
NIH/NIAID
Role: Principal Investigator
$438,625 - July 2023–June 2024
Metagenomic sequencing for improved diagnosis of catheter-associated urinary tract infection
NIDDK
Role: Principal Investigator
$100,000 - June 2020–May 2023
Genetic susceptibility to mucosal infections with aging
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Role: Co-Principal Investigator - April 2022–March 2023
Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) for eradication of microbial biofilms on urinary catheters
CTSI Pilot Grant via the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
Role: Principal Investigator
$45,530 - April 2022–September 2022
Tethered liquid perfluorocarbon coating for preventing urinary catheter colonization
National Institute of Diabetes Digestive and Kidney Disease
Role: Co-Investigator
$47,009 - January 2018–December 2021
Pathogenesis of Polymicrobial Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Role: Principal Investigator - September 2015–August 2017
Pathogenesis of Polymicrobial Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Role: Principal Investigator
$194,400 - August 2016–July 2017
Influence of aging on Proteus mirabilis urinary tract infection
University of Michigan Geriatrics Center
Role: Principal Investigator
$40,000 - June 2012–May 2015
Proteus mirabilis swarming: Initiation and role during urinary tract infection
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Role: Principal Investigator
$156,498 - April 2014–October 2014
Synergistic urease activity in polymicrobial catheter-associated urinary tract infections
University of Michigan Grants and Awards Program
Role: Co-Principal Investigator - August 2022
Microbe-Induced Cognitive Impairment
Buffalo Blue Sky Initiative
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
$35,000
Journal Articles:
- Armbruster CE, Forsyth-DeOrnellas V, Johnson AO, Smith SN, Zhao L, Wu W, Mobley HLT. (2017) Genome-wide transposon mutagenesis of Proteus mirabilis: Essential genes, fitness factors for catheter-associated urinary tract infection, and the impact of polymicrobial infection on fitness requirements. PLoS Pathog (Jun), 13(6): 1006434-1006434.
- Armbruster CE, Prenovost K, Mobley HL, Mody L. (2017) How Often Do Clinically Diagnosed Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections in Nursing Homes Meet Standardized Criteria?. J Am Geriatr Soc (Feb), 65(2): 395-401.
- Armbruster CE, Smith SN, Johnson AO, DeOrnellas V, Eaton KA, Yep A, Mody L, Wu W, Mobley HL. (2017) The Pathogenic Potential of Proteus mirabilis Is Enhanced by Other Uropathogens during Polymicrobial Urinary Tract Infection. Infect Immun (Feb), 85(2).
- Hunt BC, Brix V, Vath J, Guterman LB, Taddei SM, Deka N, Learman BS, Brauer AL, Shen S, Qu J, Armbruster CE. (2024) Metabolic interplay between Proteus mirabilis and Enterococcus faecalis facilitates polymicrobial biofilm formation and invasive disease. mBio (Dec), 15(12): e0216424. doi:10.1128/mbio.02164-24
- Johnson AO, Shipman BM, Hunt BC, Learman BS, Brauer AL, Zhou SP, Hageman Blair R, De Nisco NJ, Armbruster CE. (2024) Function and contribution of two putative Enterococcus faecalis glycosaminoglycan degrading enzymes to bacteremia and catheter-associated urinary tract infection. Infection and immunity (Jul), 92(7): e0019924. doi:10.1128/iai.00199-24
- Evstafeva D, Ilievski F, Bao Y, Luo Z, Abramovic B, Kang S, Steuer C, Montanari E, Casalini T, Simicic D, Sessa D, Mitrea SO, Pierzchala K, Cudalbu C, Armbruster CE, Leroux JC. (2024) Inhibition of urease-mediated ammonia production by 2-octynohydroxamic acid in hepatic encephalopathy. Nature communications (Mar), 15(1): 2226. doi:10.1038/s41467-024-46481-8
- Brauer AL, Learman BS, Armbruster CE. (2023) Differential contribution of hydrogen metabolism to Proteus mirabilis fitness during single-species and polymicrobial catheter-associated urinary tract infection. Pathogens (Dec), 12(12): 1377. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12121377
- Brauer AL, Learman BS, Armbruster CE. (2023) Differential Contribution of Hydrogen Metabolism to Proteus mirabilis Fitness during Single-Species and Polymicrobial Catheterized Urinary Tract Infection. Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) (Nov), 12(12). doi:10.3390/pathogens12121377
- Herout R, Khoddami S, Moskalev I, Reicherz A, Chew BH, Armbruster CE, Lange D. (2023) Role of Bacterial Surface Components in the Pathogenicity of Proteus mirabilis in a Murine Model of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection. Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) (Mar), 12(4). doi:10.3390/pathogens12040509
- Herout R, Khoddami S, Moskalev I, Reicherz A, Chew BH, Armbruster CE, Lange D. (2023) Role of bacterial surface components in the pathogenicity of Proteus mirabilis in a murine model of catheter-associated urinary tract infection. Pathogens (Mar), 4(12): 509. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12040509
- Brauer AL, Learman BS, Taddei SM, Deka N, Hunt BC, Armbruster CE. (2022) Preferential catabolism of l- vs d-serine by Proteus mirabilis contributes to pathogenesis and catheter-associated urinary tract infection. Molecular microbiology (Sep), 118(3): 125-144. doi:10.1111/mmi.14968
- Armbruster CE, Brauer AL, Humby MS, Shao J, Chakraborty S. (2021) Prospective assessment of catheter-associated bacteriuria clinical presentation, epidemiology, and colonization dynamics in nursing home residents. JCI insight (Sep).
- White AN, Learman BS, Brauer AL, Armbruster CE. (2021) Catalase Activity is Critical for Proteus mirabilis Biofilm Development, EPS Composition, and Dissemination During Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection. Infection and immunity (Jul)IAI0017721.
- Armbruster CE. (2021) mSphere of Influence: Of Mice, Men, and Microbes-How Well Do Experimental Models Recapitulate Human Infection?. mSphere (Mar), 6(2).
- Gaston JR, Johnson AO, Bair KL, White AN, Armbruster CE. (2021) Polymicrobial interactions in the urinary tract: is the enemy of my enemy my friend?. Infection and immunity (Jan).
- Gaston JR, Andersen MJ, Johnson AO, Bair KL, Sullivan CM, Guterman LB, White AN, Brauer AL, Learman BS, Flores-Mireles AL, Armbruster CE. (2020) Enterococcus faecalis Polymicrobial Interactions Facilitate Biofilm Formation, Antibiotic Recalcitrance, and Persistent Colonization of the Catheterized Urinary Tract. Pathogens (Oct), 9(10)
- Brauer AL, Learman BS, Armbruster CE. (2020) Ynt is the primary nickel import system used by Proteus mirabilis and specifically contributes to fitness by supplying nickel for urease activity. Mol Microbiol (Apr)
- Johnson AO, Forsyth V, Smith SN, Learman BS, Brauer AL, White AN, Zhao L, Wu W, Mobley HLT, Armbruster CE. (2020) Transposon Insertion Site Sequencing of Providencia stuartii: Essential Genes, Fitness Factors for Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection, and the Impact of Polymicrobial Infection on Fitness Requirements. mSphere (Jan), 5(3)
- Learman BS, Brauer AL, Eaton KA, Armbruster CE. (2019) A Rare Opportunist, Morganella morganii, Decreases Severity of Polymicrobial Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection. Infect Immun (Dec), 88(1)
- Armbruster CE, Forsyth VS, Johnson AO, Smith SN, White AN, Brauer AL, Learman BS, Zhao L, Wu W, Anderson MT, Bachman MA, Mobley HLT. (2019) Twin arginine translocation, ammonia incorporation, and polyamine biosynthesis are crucial for Proteus mirabilis fitness during bloodstream infection. PLoS Pathog (Apr), 15(4): 1007653-1007653.
- Brauer AL White AN Learman BS Johnson AO Armbruster CE. (2019) d-Serine Degradation by Proteus mirabilis Contributes to Fitness during Single-Species and Polymicrobial Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection. mSphere (Feb), 4(1)
- Brauer AL, White AN, Learman BS, Johnson AO, Armbruster CE. (2019) d-Serine Degradation by Proteus mirabilis Contributes to Fitness during Single-Species and Polymicrobial Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection. mSphere (Feb), 4(1). doi:10.1128/mSphere.00020-19
- Pang B, Armbruster CE, Foster G, Learman BS, Gandhi U, Swords WE. (2018) Autoinducer 2 (AI-2) Production by Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae 86-028NP Promotes Expression of a Predicted Glycosyltransferase That Is a Determinant of Biofilm Maturation, Prevention of Dispersal, and Persistence In Vivo. Infect Immun (Dec), 86(12)
- Mody L, Foxman B, Bradley S, McNamara S, Lansing B, Gibson K, Cassone M, Armbruster C, Mantey J, Min L. (2018) Longitudinal Assessment of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms in Newly Admitted Nursing Facility Patients: Implications for an Evolving Population. Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (Aug), 67(6): 837-844. doi:10.1093/cid/ciy194
- Armbruster CE, Smith SN, Mody L, Mobley HLT. (2018) Urine cytokine and chemokine levels predict urinary tract infection severity independent of uropathogen, urine bacterial burden, host genetics, and host age. Infect Immun (Jun)
- Forsyth VS, Armbruster CE, Smith SN, Pirani A, Springman AC, Walters MS, Nielubowicz GR, Himpsl SD, Snitkin ES, Mobley HLT. (2018) Rapid Growth of UropathogenicEscherichia coliduring Human Urinary Tract Infection. MBio (Mar), 9(2)
- Armbruster CE, Mobley HLT, Pearson MM. (2018) Pathogenesis of Proteus mirabilis Infection. EcoSal Plus (Jan), 8(1)
- Juneau RA, Pang B, Armbruster CE, Murrah KA, Perez AC, Swords WE. (2015) Peroxiredoxin-glutaredoxin and catalase promote resistance of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae 86-028NP to oxidants and survival within neutrophil extracellular traps. Infect Immun (Jan), 83(1): 239-246.
- Armbruster CE, Hodges SA, Smith SN, Alteri CJ, Mobley HL. (2014) Arginine promotes Proteus mirabilis motility and fitness by contributing to conservation of the proton gradient and proton motive force. Microbiologyopen (Oct), 3(5): 630-641.
- Armbruster CE, Smith SN, Yep A, Mobley HL. (2014) Increased incidence of urolithiasis and bacteremia during Proteus mirabilis and Providencia stuartii coinfection due to synergistic induction of urease activity. J Infect Dis (May), 209(10): 1524-1532.
- Armbruster CE, Hodges SA, Mobley HL. (2013) Initiation of swarming motility by Proteus mirabilis occurs in response to specific cues present in urine and requires excess L-glutamine. J Bacteriol (Mar), 195(6): 1305-1319.
- Armbruster CE, Mobley HL. (2012) Merging mythology and morphology: the multifaceted lifestyle of Proteus mirabilis. Nat Rev Microbiol (Nov), 10(11): 743-754.
- Armbruster CE, Pang B, Murrah K, Juneau RA, Perez AC, Weimer KE, Swords WE. (2011) RbsB (NTHI_0632) mediates quorum signal uptake in nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae strain 86-028NP. Mol Microbiol (Nov), 82(4): 836-850.
- Byrd MS, Pang B, Hong W, Waligora EA, Juneau RA, Armbruster CE, Weimer KE, Murrah K, Mann EE, Lu H, Sprinkle A, Parsek MR, Kock ND, Wozniak DJ, Swords WE. (2011) Direct evaluation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm mediators in a chronic infection model. Infect Immun (Aug), 79(8): 3087-3095.
- Weimer KE, Juneau RA, Murrah KA, Pang B, Armbruster CE, Richardson SH, Swords WE. (2011) Divergent mechanisms for passive pneumococcal resistance to β-lactam antibiotics in the presence of Haemophilus influenzae. J Infect Dis (Feb), 203(4): 549-555.
- Juneau RA, Pang B, Weimer KE, Armbruster CE, Swords WE. (2011) Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae initiates formation of neutrophil extracellular traps. Infect Immun (Jan), 79(1): 431-438.
- Weimer KE, Armbruster CE, Juneau RA, Hong W, Pang B, Swords WE. (2010) Coinfection with Haemophilus influenzae promotes pneumococcal biofilm formation during experimental otitis media and impedes the progression of pneumococcal disease. J Infect Dis (Oct), 202(7): 1068-1075.
- Armbruster CE, Hong W, Pang B, Weimer KE, Juneau RA, Turner J, Swords WE. (2010) Indirect pathogenicity of Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis in polymicrobial otitis media occurs via interspecies quorum signaling. MBio (Jul), 1(3).
- Armbruster CE, Hong W, Pang B, Dew KE, Juneau RA, Byrd MS, Love CF, Kock ND, Swords WE. (2009) LuxS promotes biofilm maturation and persistence of nontypeable haemophilus influenzae in vivo via modulation of lipooligosaccharides on the bacterial surface. Infect Immun (Sep), 77(9): 4081-4091.
Books and Book Chapters:
- Armbruster CE, Mobley HLT. (2019) Providencia species.
- Armbruster CE, Mobley HLT. (2019) Proteus species.
- Smith SN, Armbruster CE. (2019) Indwelling Urinary Catheter Model of Proteus mirabilis Infection. In: Methods in Molecular Biology: Proteus mirabilis. Springer, 187-200.
- Forsyth VS, Mobley HLT, Armbruster CE. (2019) Transposon Insertion Site Sequencing in a Urinary Tract Model. In: Methods in Molecular Biology: Proteus mirabilis. Springer, 297-337.
- Armbruster CE. (2019) Testing the Ability of Compounds to Induce Swarming. In: Methods in Molecular Biology: Proteus mirabilis. Springer, 27-34.
Professional Memberships:
- American Society for Nephrology; Member (2023–present)
- American Heart Association; Member (2023–present)
- Urinary Tract Infection Global Alliance biennial international meeting; Conference co-organizer (2021–2022)
- Urinary Tract Infection Global Alliance (UTIGA); Member (2019–present)
- NIDDK CAUTI Technology Workshop Basic Sciences breakout discussion; Session Co-Chair (2019)
- Witebsky Center for Microbial Pathogenesis annual meeting; Conference co-organizer (2018–present)
- Witebsky Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology; Member (2017–present)
- Western New York branch, American Society for Microbiology; Member (2017–present)
- Infectious Diseases Society of America (2016–present)
- Infectious Diseases Society of America; Member (2015–2016)
- University of Michigan Postdoctoral Association, Microbiology & Immunology department; President (2015–2016)
- American Society for Microbiology Michigan branch meeting; Conference co-organizer (2015)
- 1st ASM Conference on Polymicrobial Infections, American Society for Microbiology; Session co-chair (2014)
- Association for Women in Science, Michigan chapter; Member (2011–2017)
- University of Michigan Postdoctoral Association, Microbiology & Immunology department; Member (2011–2017)
- University of Michigan Postdoctoral Association; Member (2011–2017)
- Michigan branch, American Society for Microbiology; Member (2011–2017)
- American Society for Microbiology (ASM); Member (2005–present)
- American Society for Microbiology (2004–present)
Presentations:
- "Multi-species biofilm communities in the catheterized urinary tract" 3rd Rust Belt Microbiome Conference (2024)
- "Two’s a party, three’s a crowd? Implications of polymicrobial bacteriuria during long-term catheterization" 5th Scientific and Clinical Advances in Urinary Tract Infection Conference (2024)
- "Impact and mechanisms of interspecies biofilm interactions for infection severity and treatment" EUROBIOFILMS 2024 (2024)
- "Composition and consequences of polymicrobial bacteriuria during long term catheterization" Collaborating for the Advancement of Interdisciplinary Research in Benign Urology (CAIRIBU), Uromicrobiota Research Interest Group (U-RIG) (2024)
- "Lessons learned from studying polymicrobial interactions in the urinary tract" University of Rochester Microbiome Group (2024)
- "Polymicrobial interactions in the urinary tract: implications for infection severity" University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics (2024)
- "Polymicrobial interactions in the urinary tract: implications for infection severity" University of Toledo, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology seminar (2023)
- "Polymicrobial interactions in the urinary tract: implications for infection severity" State University of New York at Buffalo, Department of Oral Biology seminar (2023)
- "Harnessing polymicrobial interactions to reduce severity of catheter-associated urinary tract infections" University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Biological Sciences seminar (2023)
- "Harnessing polymicrobial interactions in the urinary tract to reduce risk of severe disease" The Ohio State University, School of Nursing seminar (2023)
- "Harnessing Polymicrobial Interactions in the Urinary Tract to Reduce Risk of Severe Disease" Gordon Research Conference on Microbial Population Biology (2023)
- "Harnessing polymicrobial interactions in the urinary tract to reduce risk of severe disease" Nationwide Children’s Hospital Discovery Seminar Series (2023)
- "Infection and Immunity’s Early-Career Researcher Minireview Program: Reflections from Recent Authors" ASM Microbe 2023 (2023)
- "Harnessing polymicrobial interactions to reduce severity of catheter-associated urinary tract infections" Wake Forest School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology seminar (2023)
- "Polymicrobial interactions in the urinary tract: implications for infection severity" Urinary Tract Infection Global Alliance UTI Hour series (2023)
- "Polymicrobial dynamics in the catheterized urinary tract: I get by with a little help from my friends" University of Tennessee Knoxville, Department of Microbiology seminar (2023)
- "Polymicrobial dynamics in the catheterized urinary tract." 2nd Rust Belt Microbiome Conference (2022)
- "Harnessing polymicrobial interactions to reduce severity of catheter-associated urinary tract infections" Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology trainee-run seminar series (2022)
- "Harnessing polymicrobial interactions in the urinary tract to decrease pathogenic potential" University College London, Center for Urological Biology, Research Department of Renal Medicine, seminar series (2022)
- "Microbial dynamics in the catheterized urinary tract: I get by with a little help from my friends" State University of New York at Buffalo, Department of Microbiology and Immunology seminar (2022)
- "Harnessing polymicrobial interactions in the catheterized urinary tract" Buffalo Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Department of Infectious Disease Research Conference (2022)
- "Polymicrobial interactions in the urinary tract: implications for infection severity" North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Infectious Disease Lecture Series (2022)
- "Harnessing polymicrobial interactions in the catheterized urinary tract" State University of New York at Buffalo Microbiome Center invited work-in-progress seminar (2022)
- "Polymicrobial urinary tract infections: composition and consequences" University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology seminar (2021)
- "Composition and consequences of polymicrobial bacteriuria" University of Rochester Medical Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology seminar (2021)
- "Polymicrobial urinary tract infections: composition and consequences" State University of New York at Buffalo, Department of Biological Sciences seminar (2021)
- "Polymicrobial catheter biofilms: composition and consequences" Slimes Online (European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Study Group on Biofilms) (2021)
- "If I had a nickel: contribution of nickel import and nickel metalloenzymes to Proteus mirabilis pathogenesis" World Microbe Forum (ASM and FEMS) (2021)
- "Biofilm formation by urinary tract pathogens: composition and consequences" University at Buffalo, Department of Oral Biology (2021)
- "Implications of polymicrobial urine colonization in catheterized nursing home residents" Western New York ASM Spring Symposium (2020)
- "Prevalence and implications of polymicrobial urine colonization during long-term catheterization" Genome Environment and Microbiome Community of Excellence (GEM) (2020)
- "Role of Nickel Import and Nickel Metalloenzymes in Proteus mirabilis Pathogenesis" University at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Microbiology and Immunology (2020)
- "Polymicrobial Interactions in the Catheterized Urinary Tract: the Mor-ganella the Merrier?" Texas A&M University, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Department of Veterinary Pathology (2020)
- "Implications of Polymicrobial Bacteriuria in Catheterized Nursing Home Residents" American Society for Microbiology annual meeting (Microbe 2020) (2020)
- "Proteus mirabilis and friends: polymicrobial interactions within the urinary tract" Georgia Gosnell Distinguished Seminar Series at Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences (2019)
- "Polymicrobial interactions during CAUTI modulate urolithiasis and secondary bacteremia" Clinical and Scientific Advances in Urinary Tract Infections biennial meeting (2019)
- "Proteus mirabilis CAUTI: Impact of Polymicrobial Interactions" National Institute of Diabetes Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIH/NIDDK) CAUTI Technology Workshop (2019)
- "Polymicrobial interactions modulate severity of catheter-associated urinary tract infection." Gordon Research Conference on Microbial Toxins and Pathogenesis (2018)
- "The interaction between pathogens in catheter-associated urinary tract infections in nursing homes" • ASM Microbe 2018 (2018)
- "Tn-Seq analysis of Providencia stuartii catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) reveals newly identified virulence factors" ASM Microbe 2018 (2018)
- "Defining the role of Proteus mirabilis catalase activity during oxidative stress and biofilm formation" Witebsky Conference on Microbial Pathogenesis (2018)
- "Tn-Seq analysis of Providencia stuartii catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) reveals newly identified virulence factors" Witebsky Conference on Microbial Pathogenesis (2018)
- "Consequences of polymicrobial interactions during catheter-associated urinary tract infections" State University of New York at Buffalo, Department of Oral Biology (2018)
- "Relatedness of MRSA and VRE strains isolated from post-acute care patients and their environment: a longitudinal assessment" IDWeek; Infectious Diseases Society of America (2017)
- "Comparison of Methods for Estimating in vivo Growth Rate During Urinary Tract Infection" ASM Microbe 2017; American Society for Microbiology (2017)
- "Genome-Wide Transposon Mutagenesis of Proteus mirabilis: Essential Genes, Fitness Factors for Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection, and the Impact of Polymicrobial Infection On Fitness Requirements" ASM Microbe 2017; American Society for Microbiology (2017)
- "Transposon Insertion Sequencing to Identify Providencia stuartii Essential Genes and Fitness Factors for Murine Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection" ASM Microbe 2017; American Society for Microbiology (2017)
- "Burgeoning Short Stay Population: Impact on transmission of Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms (MDROs)" AGS 2017 Annual Meeting; American Geriatrics Society (2017)
- "Influence of Aging on Urinary Tract Infection Susceptibility and Severity" Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Centers Annual Meeting; Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Centers Annual Meeting (2017)
- "Multidrug-Resistant Organisms (MDRO) in Post-Acute Care: Dynamics From Admission Through Discharge" IDWeek; Infectious Diseases Society of America (2016)
- "Urease activity is enhanced during co-culture of common CAUTI pathogens and contributes to severity of disease in a murine infection model" IDWeek; Infectious Diseases Society of America (2016)
- "Urease Activity is Enhanced During Experimental Polymicrobial UTI And Promotes Tissue Damage and Bacteremia" Clinical and Scientific Advances in Urinary Tract Infections (2016)
- "Delineating the Role of Enhanced Urease Activity in Tissue Damage and Bacteremia During Polymicrobial Urinary Tract Infection" ASM Microbe 2016; American Society for Microbiology (2016)
- "Measuring Differential Growth Rates of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Strains in vitro and During Experimental Murine Urinary Tract Infection" ASM Microbe 2016; American Society for Microbiology (2016)
- "Partners in Crime: Enhanced urease activity during co-culture of bacterial uropathogens" ASM Microbe 2016; American Society for Microbiology (2016)
- "Transposon Insertion Sequencing to Identify Proteus mirabilis Fitness Factors for Murine Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection" ASM Microbe 2016; American Society for Microbiology (2016)
- "Double trouble: Proteus mirabilis and Providencia stuartii coinfection increases disease severity" Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology (2016)
- "Double trouble: implications of polymicrobial urine colonization for infection severity" University of Michigan Medical School, Department of Internal Medicine (2016)
- "Double trouble: coinfection enhances the severity of catheter-associated urinary tract infections" State University of New York at Buffalo, Department of Microbiology and Immunology (2015)
- "Klebsiella pneumoniae Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections are Associated with Acute Changes in Mental Status" IDWeek; Infectious Diseases Society of America (2015)
- "Double Trouble: Coinfection with Proteus mirabilis and Providencia stuartii Enhances the Severity of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection" Molecular Pathogenesis: Mechanisms of Infectious Disease; Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (2015)
- "Contribution of Bacterial Urease to Enhanced Pathogenicity During Polymicrobial Urinary Tract Infection" ASM General Meeting; American Society for Microbiology (2015)
- "Synergistic urease activity in vitro and during experimental polymicrobial urinary tract infection" ASM General Meeting; American Society for Microbiology (2015)
- "Double trouble: coinfection enhances the severity of catheter-associated urinary tract infection" California Polytechnic State University, Department of Biological Sciences (2015)
- "Investigating Molecular Mechanisms of Enhanced Pathogenicity during Polymicrobial Urinary Tract Infection" 1st ASM Conference on Polymicrobial Infections; American Society for Microbiology (2014)
- "Polymicrobial Infections" 1st ASM Conference on Polymicrobial Infections; American Society for Microbiology (2014)
- "Synergistic urease activity during experimental polymicrobial urinary tract infection" 1st ASM Conference on Polymicrobial Infections; American Society for Microbiology (2014)
- "Synergistic urease activity and increased incidence of bacteremia and urolithiasis resulting from coinfection of the urinary tract" ASM General Meeting; American Society for Microbiology (2014)
- "Proteus mirabilis swarming occurs in response to factors present in urine and requires excess L-glutamine" Clinical and Scientific Advances in Urinary Tract Infections (2013)
- "Proteus mirabilis swarming occurs in response to factors present in urine and requires excess L-glutamine" ASM General Meeting; American Society for Microbiology (2013)
- "Proteus mirabilis swarming motility: influence of amino acids, polyamine synthesis, and metabolism" ASM General Meeting; American Society for Microbiology (2012)
- "Identification of factors that trigger Proteus mirabilis swarming motility" 18th Annual Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference (2011)
- "The interaction between pathogens in catheter-associated urinary tract infections in nursing homes" American Society for Microbiology annual meeting (Microbe 2018)
Service Activities:
- MD/PhD Program applicants; Interviewer (2025–present)
- Urinary Tract Infection Global Alliance; Vice President (2025–present)
- NIH 2025/01 ZRG1 DCAI-F (12) Special Emphasis Panel/Scientific Review Group; Ad hoc reviewer (2024)
- 3rd Rustbelt Microbiome Conference, Pittsburgh, PA; Poster session moderator (2024)
- Finger Lakes Microbiome Symposium (FiLMS); Abstract reviewer (2024)
- SUNY Research Seed Grant Program; Ad hoc reviewer (2024)
- WNY ASM Spring and Fall Meetings; Co-organizer (2024–present)
- Western New York branch, American Society for Microbiology; President Elect (2024–present)
- Basic Sciences Junior Faculty Luncheons; Organizer (2024–present)
- Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF); Ad hoc reviewer (2024)
- Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences (USUHS) Multidomain Operations Research Award (MDORA) Review Panel; Ad hoc reviewer (2024)
- NIH 2024/05KUFD Kidney and Urological Systems Function and Dysfunction Study Section; Ad hoc reviewer (2024)
- University Research Funding Opportunities (URFO) for University of Toledo; Ad hoc reviewer (2024)
- Junior Faculty Mentoring Committee; Member (2024–present)
- UB Microbiome Center, State University of New York at Buffalo; Steering Committee member (2023–present)
- Microbiology & Immunology Department Seven Year Comprehensive Program Review Committee; Working with the Director of Graduate Studies (2023–present)
- NIH ZRG1 IMII-U (01) Q Interspecies Microbial Interactions and Infections Special Emphasis Panel/Scientific Review Group; ad hoc reviewer (2023)
- Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute Bridges to Translation Pilot Funding; ad hoc reviewer (2023)
- Grand Island Central School District Amelia Earhart Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Panel. Supported by the Grand Island Chapter of Zonta International, an organization which advances the status of women through service and advocacy.; Panelist (2023)
- Stinson Award Selection Committee Member; Committee member (2023)
- MethodsX (Elsevier) (2022–present)
- Faculty Search Committee Member, Department of Microbiology & Immunology (2022–2023)
- Austrian Science Fund, Erwin Schrodinger Fellowship review; Ad hoc reviewer (2022)
- Biofilm (Elsevier) (2022–present)
- Biomedical education subcommittee member, SMBS Strategic Planning (2022–2024)
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS) (2022–present)
- ; Associate Director of Graduate Studies (2022–present)
- NIH ZRG1 DDR-C (01) Q Drug Discovery and Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Resistance Special Emphasis Panel/Scientific Review Group; Ad hoc reviewer (2022)
- Trends in Microbiology (Cell Press) (2022–present)
- PLoS Pathogens (PLoS) (2022–present)
- Spectrum (ASM) (2022–present)
- Science Translational Medicine (AAAS) (2022–present)
- Molecular Microbiology (Wiley) (2022–present)
- Appointed to the Editorial of the journal Infection and Immunity (2022–present)
- NIH/NIDDK Innovative Science Accelerator (ISAC) Program; Ad hoc reviewer (2022–present)
- Urinary Tract Infection Global Alliance biennial international meeting; Co-organizer (2021–2022)
- Molecular Bacterial Pathogenesis section, Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology; Associate Editor (2021–present)
- Participate in monthly meetings to improve/advance the MD/PhD program at UB, approve student/mentor matches and research proposals for their PhD years, etc.; MD/PhD Steering Committee (2021–present)
- NIH/NIDDK Urology and Nephrology Small Business Special Emphasis Panel ZRG1 DKUS-B (11) B; Ad-hoc reviewer (2020)
- Biofilms section, Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology; Review editor (2020–present)
- ASM Microbe 2021; Session co-chair (2020–2021)
- Annual Faculty Review Form development; Evaluator (2020–2021)
- #BlackInMicro week; Volunteer organizer, sponsorship team (2020)
- Scientific Reports (Springer Nature) (2020–present)
- JCI Insight (American Society for Clinical Investigation) (2020–present)
- NIH/NIDDK Urology and Urogynecology Special Emphasis Panel ZRG1 DKUS-B (90) S; Ad hoc reviewer on a special emphasis panel (2020)
- Annual Medical Student Research Forum; Poster judge (2020)
- npj Biofilms and Microbiomes (Springer Nature) (2019–present)
- Nature Communications (Springer Nature) (2019–present)
- NIH/NIDDK Diabetic Complications Consortium (DiaComp) Pilot & Feasibility Program; Ad hoc reviewer for pilot grants (2019)
- PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences (PPBS) Admissions Committee; Primary Representative for the Department of Microbiology & Immunology (2019–2021)
- Witebsky Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology; Steering committee member (2019–present)
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology MS Program Curriculum Development; Task force member (2019–2020)
- Thermo Fisher New Frontiers Distinguished Seminar (Departments of Biological Sciences and Microbiology & Immunology); Co-organizer (2019–present)
- PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences (PPBS) applicants; Interviewer (2019–present)
- mSphere (ASM) (2018–present)
- Cellular and Infection Microbiology (Frontiers) (2018–present)
- LCME accreditation site visit; Junior faculty representative (2018–2019)
- mBio (ASM) (2018–present)
- Collegiate Science & Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) 12th annual Summer Research Poster Symposium & Luncheon; Poster judge (2018)
- Journal of Bacteriology (ASM) (2018–present)
- PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences (PPBS) Admissions Committee; Secondary Representative for the Department of Microbiology & Immunology (2018–2019)
- 10th UB Postdoc Research Symposium; Poster judge (2018)
- PLoS One (PLoS) (2018–present)
- Molecular Bacterial Pathogenesis section, Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology; Review editor (2018–2021)
- Pathogens and Disease (FEMS) (2018–present)
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology MS Program Curriculum Review; Task force member (2018–2019)
- Microbiology and Immunology Master's Program Curriculum Task Force Three-member task force (with Tilman Baumstark and John Panepinto) to evaluate the current Master's program curriculum.; Member (2018–present)
- Journal of Medical Microbiology (Microbiology Society) (2018–present)
- Peer Review Infection, Disease & Health (Elsevier); Ad Hoc Reviewer (2017–present)
- Peer Review Medical Microbiology and Immunology (Springer); Ad Hoc Reviewer (2017–present)
- Infection, Disease & Health (Elsevier) (2017–present)
- Peer Review Journal of Infection (Elsevier); Ad Hoc Reviewer (2016–present)
- Peer Review Methods (Elsevier); Ad Hoc Reviewer (2016–present)
- Methods (Elsevier) (2016–present)
- Journal of Infection (Elsevier) (2016–present)
- Medical Microbiology and Immunology (Springer) (2016–present)
- Peer Review Microbiology (Society for General Microbiology); Ad Hoc Reviewer (2015–present)
- Planning committee and primary organizer Fall 2015 meeting of the Michigan branch of the American Society for Microbiology; Organizing Committee Member (2015)
- President University of Michigan Microbiology & Immunology Departmental Postdoctoral Association; President (2015)
- Clinical and Vaccine Immunology (ASM) (2015–present)
- Microbiology (Society for General Microbiology) (2015–present)
- Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ASM) (2014–present)
- Applied Environmental Microbiology (ASM) (2014–present)
- Infection and Immunity (ASM) (2014–present)
- Clinical Microbiology Reviews (ASM) (2013–present)
- Vice President University of Michigan Microbiology & Immunology Departmental Postdoctoral Association; Vice President (2012)