John K. Crane MD, PhD

John Crane

John K. Crane
MD, PhD

Professor of Medicine; Adjunct Professor of Micro & Immunol. and of Pharmacol & Tox.

Department of Medicine

Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

Specialty/Research Focus

Bacterial Pathogenesis; DNA Replication, Recombination and Repair; Infectious Disease; Infectious Diseases; Medical Microbiology; Microbial Pathogenesis; Research Lab; Vitamins and Trace Nutrients

Contact Information
317 Biomedical Research Building
Buffalo, New York 14215
Phone: (716) 829-2676
Fax: (716) 267-6544
jcrane@buffalo.edu
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Patient Care

This faculty member is affiliated with UBMD, practicing physicians who are also professors in the Jacobs School.

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Overview Research Publications Activities Latest News

Professional Summary:

I am the Medical Director of the Erie County Tuberculosis (TB) clinic. Like the rest of our country and our state, we are experiencing a resurgence of cases of active TB in Western NY.
I have retired from doing Inpatient ID Consult duties at ECMC Hospital.

I teach medical students, residents, and fellows in both hospital and classroom settings. In UB’s schools of medicine and dentistry, I teach a variety of topics including microbiology, oral biology, and gastrointestinal systems, host defenses, and global health.

I also conduct laboratory research on two different types of bacterial pathogens. I work on the pathogenesis of enteric bacteria such as E. coli, Enterobacter, and Proteus. We have learned that the SOS response, a bacterial response to DNA damage, triggers release of DNA into the extracellular medium and promotes biofilm formation. We are still interested in whether the SOS response is a "druggable target". Zinc salts, dequalinium, and nitric oxide donors are inhibitors of the SOS response.
The 2nd bacterial pathogen we study is Cutibacterium acnes, formerly called Propionibacterium acnes, which is a cause of prosthetic joint infections.

I am interested in international medicine and global health and have participated in an annual medical mission trip to Honduras, a trip in which student volunteers are encouraged to participate. Resident physicians are encouraged to volunteer, and students may also be able to arrange clinical experiences.

Learning experiences in my laboratory, in infection prevention, or in international health, may be available for motivated students, residents, and fellows.

Education and Training:
  • Certificate, Denver TB Course, National Jewish Health (2015)
  • Fellowship, Infectious Diseases, University of Virginia (1990)
  • Residency, Medicine, University of Rochester, Strong Memorial Hospital (1987)
  • MD, MD, University of Virginia (1984)
  • PhD, Pharmacology, University of Virginia (1983)

Employment:
  • Medical Director, Erie County Health Dept., Erie County Tuberculosis Clinic (2015-present)
  • Professor, Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2014-present)
  • Associate Professor, Medicine, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (1994-present)

Awards and Honors:
  • "Top Doctor Award" (2024)
  • Re-Certified in Infectious Diseases (2024)
  • Outstanding Physician Award, ECMC, 2018 (2018)
  • Mentor for Recipient of IDSA Student Scholar Award, 2011 (2011)
  • Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (2009)
  • American Society for Microbiology Service Award (2008)
  • Neighborhood Steward, Little Free Library
  • NYS Hospital Acquired Infections Technical Advisory Group

Research Expertise:
  • Intestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli pathogenesis: Diarrhea-producing E. coli
  • Mechanism of Emergence of Antibiotic Resistance: Role of SOS Response in Antibiotic Resistance
  • Microbial pathogenesis
  • Role of nitric oxide in host defense in the intestinal tract: Role of nitric oxide in host defense in intestine
  • Role of zinc in intestinal infection

Research Centers:
  • Witebsky Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology

UB 2020 Strategic Strengths:
  • Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan
  • Molecular Recognition in Biological Systems and Bioinformatics

Grants and Sponsored Research:
  • May 2020–December 2022
    A study of various antibiotics against Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis in permanent and dissolvable cement beads.
    American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator
    $10,000
  • June 2019–June 2021
    SOS Response as a Generator of Antibiotic Resistance and Role of Zinc as SOS Inhibitor
    National Institutes of Health
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $444,325
  • May 2010–May 2013
    Effect of Zinc in Attaching-and-Effacing E. coli infections
    NIH, NIAID
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator
    $1,242,840
  • September 2003–August 2005
    Enteropathogenic and toxigenic E. coli Interactions
    NIH
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $225,020

Patents:
  • Technology New Disclosure 7260 Technology New Disclosure 7260, July , 2018.

Journal Articles:

See all (47 more)

Professional Memberships:
  • American Society for Microbiology, WNY Branch; past president, Member Executive Committee (2022–present)
  • American Society for Microbiology, National (2001–present)
  • Infectious Diseases Society of America; Fellow of the IDSA Member since 1989 (1989–present)

Presentations:
  • "Faith and Science talk to St. Paul's Lutheran Church, West Falls, NY, Jan. 11, 2025" Saturday night Bible Study and Fellowship time. Chad Kyler, Pastor (2025)
  • "CME Seminars, Lectures on ID Topics" CME Seminars, Dr. Rick Scott, Medical Director (2024)
  • "Cell-free DNA in Plasma for Diagnosis of Extrapulmonary TB" Monroe County and NYS Western Region TB Conference, Nov. 14, 2024 (2024)
  • "Skin and Soft Tissue Infections" Medicine Grand Rounds (2024)
  • "Top Ten Things ID Doctors Wish Residents Knew" Lecture (2024)
  • "Covid-19: Lessons Learned and Looking Forward" American Association of Nurse Practitioners NPA Teaching Day (2022)
  • "From Plaque to Peril: An Aggregation of Risk" Western NY ASM Spring Meeting, in person (2022)
  • "Update on Covid-19" 2022 Physician Assistants for Global Health (PAGH) Virtual conference. (2022)
  • "Medical Grand Rounds, on Tuberculosis" Medical Grand Rounds, Catholic Health System, Buffalo Mercy Hospital. Nov., 2019 (2021)
  • "A difficult TB Case" Infectious Diseases Research Conference; Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2020)
  • "Zinc Inhibits Hypermutation by Blocking the SOS Response in E. coli" Amer. Soc. for Microbial. Microbe 2016 Meeting; ASM (2016)
  • "Antimicrobial Stewardship" WNY APIC Chapter Spring Meeting; Assoc. for Professionals in Infection Control (2016)
  • "Infections due to Drug Resistant Organisms" Continuing Education Conference for Health Now; Health Now, formerly Exigence, a physician hospitalist staffing group (2015)
  • "Point-of-use Microbiology for Water, Sanitation, and the Environment in Honduras" Spring meeting, WNY ASM; Western NY Brach of American Soc. for Microbiology (2015)
  • "Skin and Soft Tissue Infections" Primary Care Update, CME Conference; UB Dept. of Medicine (2015)
  • "Legionnaire's Disease" 2013 Fall Symposium; Western NY Branch, American Society for Microbiology (2013)
  • "Adenosine and Purinergic Signaling in Enteropathogenic and Shiga toxigneic E. coli infection" Infectious Diseases Research Conference; University of New Mexico; Infectious Diseases Division (2013)
  • "Efecto de zinc en Infección con E. coli Enteropatogénica y Shiga-toxigénica" Research Day; Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras; Microbiology Dept. (2012)
  • "Effect of Zinc on Enteropathogenic and Shiga-toxigneic E. coli" Experimental Biology; American Society for Nutrition; American Society for Nutrition Symposium (2011)
See all (9 more)

Service Activities:
  • Honduras Medical Mission Project, Feb. 15- 23, 2025; Physician Participant, with Dr. Lee McCune (2024–2025)
  • Journey's End Refugee Services; reviewed, corrected, and revised 80 applications fall, 2024; Physician Reviewer, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Application, Form I 693 (2024–present)
  • Build Bunk beds for the approx. 10,000 children in Buffalo who sleep on the floor; Volunteer Bed- Builder, with Sleep in Heavenly Peace (2023–present)
  • UB Heals Street Ministry; Physician Mentor, UB Heals (2022–2023)
  • Volunteer Vaccinator with Evergreen Clinic; Volunteer Vaccinator, Monkeypox Outbreak, summer, 2022 (2022)
  • Interviewer for Residency Program; Resident’s Research Day/ Celebration of Scholarship. (2022)
  • Buffalo Niagara "Burn-Out Committee," chaired by Dr. Howard Faden; Member (2022–2024)
  • Dean's COVID Research Integration Work Group; Member (2021–2022)
  • Worked for 2 days as a volunteer Covid vaccinator with ECDOH, at Bowmansville Fire Dept. and at ECC South Campus.; Volunteer Physician Vaccinator, Erie County Health Dept. (2021)
  • WNY COVID-19 Research Collaborative Executive Committee; Executive Committee (2020–2021)
  • NIAID; ZAI1 JBS; Reviewer;; Grant Reviewer (2016)
  • City-Wide Antibiotic Committee; Member (2016–present)
  • NIAID; Systems Biology of Antibiotic Resistance;; Grant Reviewer (2015)
  • NIH; ZRG IDM-T (02) M;; Ad Hoc Reviewer (2014)
  • STOP Sepsis Committee, ECMC Member of the Committee charged with responding to a new New York State law passed in July, 2013, requiring all hospitals to have a comprehensive plan to recognize and respond to patients with sepsis.; Member (2013–2014)
  • Unqualified Promotions; Member (2011–2015)
  • NYS Hospital Acquired Infections Technical Advisory Working Group (HAI-TAW); Member (2011–present)
  • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology; Reviewer (2010–present)
  • Volunteer Physician, Good Neighbors Health Center Good Neighbors Health Center is a free clinic for the uninsured on Buffalo's East side, 175 Jefferson Avenue. The Monday Night clinic is On hold for now due to Covid-19.; Volunteer (2009–2020)
  • Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee, ECMC Hospital; Committee Member (2004–2020)
  • NIH; Special Emphasis Panel on Biodefense; Reviewed a Program Project Grant;; Grant Reviewer (2003)

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Contact Information

317 Biomedical Research Building
Buffalo, New York 14215
Phone: (716) 829-2676
Fax: (716) 267-6544
jcrane@buffalo.edu
View map
View faculty website

This faculty member is affiliated with UBMD, practicing physicians who are also professors in the Jacobs School.

View this physician on UBMD
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