antimicrobial resistance working group open forum resistance working group open forum tuesday, june...

Antimicrobial Resistance Working Group Open Forum

Tuesday, June 30th Rudder Tower, room 601 2:30 p.m. Welcome 2:45–4:00 p.m. Two-minute overviews from researchers with expertise in antimicrobial resistance

4:00–5:00 p.m. Open social

Working group convener: Dr. Helene Andrews-Polymenis College of Medicine

Table of Contents

I. Program ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3 II. List of June 30th Presenters ................................................................................................................................ 4 III. *DRAFT Antimicrobial Resistance Working Group Subject Areas (if provided) .................. 5 – 77

*if you would like to be included in the DRAFT working group directory or update your bio info, please email [email protected].

PROGRAM

2:30 p.m.

Welcome – Dr. Helene Andrews-Polymenis, Associate Professor, Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center

2:45 – 4:00 p.m.

Two-minute presentations from researchers with expertise in antimicrobial resistance

(See list of registered presenters on p. 4)

4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Open social and networking

5:00 p.m.

Conclusion

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Registered Presenters (2:45-4:00 p.m.) (Two-minute presentations over expertise in antimicrobial resistance)

*Andrews-Polymenis, Helene Appiah, Bernard Aramayo, Rodolfo Autenrieth, Robin Cannon, Carolyn Craig, Thomas Cummings, Kevin Fajt, Virginia Gill, Jason Gil-Weir, Karine Gomer, Richard Gomes, Carmen Hairgrove, Thomas Han, Arum

Johnson, Valen Liang, Hong Magill, Clint Maitland, Kristen Norman, Keri Patil, Bhimu Sachs, Matt Schidlovskaya, Anna Sorg, Joe Straight, Paul Welsh, Tom Wooley, Karan Yakovlev, Vladislav Zheng, Qi

*Dr. Andrews-Polymenis will open the 2-minute slide presentations after opening remarks/welcome

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Name: Garry Adams Title: Doctor/ Professor Department: VTPB Email: [email protected]

Phone: (979) 845-9816

General Area: Molecular pathogenesis, host immunity, vaccinology, diagnostics, policy Subject: Interest and background in molecular pathogenesis of infectious diseases that applies to anti-microbial resistance includes the following: host-pathogen interaction, host immunity, vaccinology, reverse vaccinology, diagnostics, public policy

Name: Gamal Akabani

Title: Associate Professor Department: Engineering Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 458-1699

General Area: Microbiota, homeostasis, grow commensals test on animals, sequencing Subject: We hypothesize that microbial homeostasis and manipulation of competition can prevent pathogenic populations.

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Name: Mustafa Akbulut

Title: Assistant Professor Department: Chemical Engineering Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 847-8766

General Area: Development of surfaces that bacteria can't adhere to Subject: My research expertise and interests are in the development of alternative strategies not relying on antibiotics to prevent and minimize bacterial adhesion and contamination. In particular, we focus on the development of smart surfaces that physically repel bacteria (both traditional and AMR-resistant one) and minimize/eliminate bacterial attachment and surfaces that are easy to clean when bacterial biofilm is formed on them.

Name: Robert Alaniz

Title: Assistant Professor & Director College of Medicine Cell Analysis Facility Department: Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 862-4653

General Area: Natural products, microbiota, immunology Subject: Natural products from the microbiota

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Name: Helene Andrews-Polymenis

Title: Associate Professor Department: Microbial Pathogenesis & Immunology Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 436-0340

General Area: Basic mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance, identification of new targets needed during infection Subject: Multidrug efflux pumps in pathogenic bacteria, identification of new targets for antimicrobial therapy in animal models (mice, livestock)

Name: Bernard Appiah

Title: Instructional Assistant Professor Department: School of Public Health Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 458-0823

General Area: Media, policymakers engage on AMR, communication intervention Subject: Have experience in engaging different audiences--media, policymakers, around antimicrobial resistance. Interested in the public health aspect of AMR and how to use communication interventions

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Name: Rodolfo Aramayo

Title: Associate Professor Department: Biology Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 862-4354 General Area:

Microbial genetics, genomics, computational genomics Subject: Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Computational Genomics, Genome/Transcriptome Assembly/Mapping, Pathway Analysis

Name: Ashley Arnold

Title: Assistant Research Professor Department: Meat Science Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 862-3643

General Area: Subject:

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Name: Raymundo Arroyave Title: Associate Professor Department: Materials Science and Engineering Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-5416

General Area: Microbiota, homeostasis, grow commensals test on animals, sequencing Subject: This means increasing the concentrations of commensal bacteria in order to not only increase competition against pathogens but to improve host innate and adaptive immune responses that come into contact with these bacteria. This would not only improve responses to pathogens but also our resistance to cancer and autoimmune diseases. Therefore, we should be aiming to understand the microbiota, improving it, and genetically enhancing the commensal bacteria to increase their ability to compete against pathogens, modulate systemic inflammation, and improve our overall wellbeing. We have the ability of growing commensal microbes, testing them on animals, and even seeing the responses on inflammation with diagnostic imaging clinic. With our colleagues we can also perform genetic sequencing and test the effects of altering an animal’s microbial homeostasis on immune response.

Name: Giri Athrey Title: Assistant Professor Department: Avian Genetics & Functional Genomics Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-2994 General Area: Genomic and functional analysis of complex traits, currently starting work

on microbiota-mediated host immune stimulation.

Subject: I am interested in the genomic and functional basis of complex traits, including host immunity. My experience and skills are in evolutionary biology, genomics, and bioinformatics, which I have used to work on various vertebrate and invertebrate models. Currently starting work on microbiota-mediated host immune stimulation. Down the line have plans to look at host-pathogen interaction, and host immune response from the perspective of the host microbiome.

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Name: Robin Autenrieth

Title: Department Head, A.P. and Florence Wiley Professor III Department: Civil Engineering Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-2438

General Area: Environmental engineer, mobility and fate of antibiotic resistant bacteria originating from confined feeding operations Subject: We have been working on modeling the mobility and fate of antibiotic resistant bacteria originating from confined feeding operations for the purpose of developing treatment guidelines to prevent environmental exposures. As an environmental engineer, the interest is in developing discharge limits or management strategies that are health protective. We endeavor to take a systems approach toward understanding the interactions between the built environment, movement through surface waters and ground waters that impact the distribution of resistant strains of bacteria

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Name: Brent Auvermann

Title: Professor of Agricultural Engineering Department: Agricultural Engineering Email: [email protected] Phone: (806) 677-5600

General Area: Bioaerosol sampling Subject: My research and Extension programs center on fugitive dust from livestock production systems, including emission flux quantification, aerosol characterization, abatement measures, and deposition. When I collaborate with microbiologists or others knowledgeable in that area, bioaerosol sampling and analysis can be the focal point

Name: Muthu Bagavathiannan Title: Assistant Professor Department: Soil and Crop Sciences Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-5375

General Area: Evolutionary genetics and dynamics of herbicide resistance Subject: I am interested in understanding the evolutionary genetics and dynamics of herbicide resistance in weed communities. I particularly use simulation modeling tools for understanding resistance evolution and developing alternative management practices for preventing resistance. I am also interested in understanding the physiological mechanisms surrounding herbicide resistance. Non-target site resistance is particularly a growing concern.

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Name: Stephen Balfour Title: Director of Information Technology

Department: Liberal Arts Communication Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-5165

General Area: Social media to monitor outbreaks Subject: Media Monitoring System Project, a “real time international broadcast transcription and translational system”) with great potential for monitoring outbreaks (e.g., via their monitoring of social media)

Name: Vytas Bankaitis Title: Professor, E.L. Wehner-Welch Foundation Chair in

Chemistry Department: Molecular and Cellular Medicine Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 862-3188

General Area: New antifungal drugs, HTS screening, drug design, medicinal chemistry expansion Subject: Screening and validating for new antifungals directed against lipid binding proteins required for fungal viability or mycelial growth. , High throughput screening (for mutants or drugs development thereof), drug design (rational or irrational!), medicinal chemistry expansion around hits, etc.

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Name: Tadhg Begley Title: D. H. R. Barton Professor of Chemistry Department: Chemistry Email: [email protected]

Phone: (979) 862-4091

General Area: Biosynthesis, metabolism, natural products, pathways needed for antimicrobial resistance, enzyme mechanisms Subject: Biosynthesis of vitamins and natural products, microbial metabolism, genes and pathways that are needed for antimicrobial resistance, enzyme mechanism and development of unique inhibitors

Name: Deborah Bell-Pedersen Title: Professor Department: Biology Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 847-9237

General Area: Drugs to treat fungal pathogens Subject: Our interest is on opportunistic fungal pathogens; specifically the lack of good drugs, and resistance to current drugs, to treat systemic infections. The problem is that fungi are so similar to humans, so it is hard to find a drug that is specific to the fungus. We have not done much in this area, just a few pilot experiments, but have an interest in doing more. For example, our expertise is on circadian rhythms and determining what genes and proteins are expressed rhythmically in fungi, and comparison to humans. Based on differences in rhythmicity between fungi and humans, it is possible that antifungals would be more effective, or more toxic, depending on the time of day of delivery. In addition, we are working on getting funding for a high throughput drug screen that combines Aspergillus and human cells to search for compounds that inhibit the fungus, but that do not affect the human cells.

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Name: Lydia Bogomolnaya

Title: Assistant Professor Department: Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 436-0350 General Area:

Mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance in salmonella and serratia Subject: Mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance in salmonella and serratia

Name: Sarah Bondos Title: Assistant Professor Department: Molecular and Cellular Medicine Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-5399

General Area: Protein based materials solid at 37, liquid at cooler. Subject: Protein-based materials, in particular materials which are liquid at room temperature and solid at 37 C. Thus we can potentially pour these materials into a wound. A summer student will be working to incorporated anti-microbial peptides and proteins into these materials

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Name: Angela Bordin

Title: Associate Research Scientist Department: VLCS Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-3280

General Area: Host directed therapy for newborn foals, immunology infectious disease, micro. Subject: My areas of research interest and experience are immunology, infectious disease, and microbiology, with emphasis on the host-pathogen interaction and control and prevention of infectious diseases. I am particularly interested in host-directed therapy in newborn foals.

Name: Jeff Brady Title: Associate Research Scientist Department: AgriLife Research Email: [email protected]

General Area: Natural products Subject: My interests include the influence of natural products with antimicrobial properties such as condensed tannins on rumen microbial communities, as well as the impacts of antibiotics from CAFOs on the environment. The Southwest Regional Dairy Center is adjacent to the A&M property and many of my qPCR and massively parallel sequencing studies use samples originating at the dairy center.

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Name: Candice Brinkmeyer-Langford Title: Research Assistant Professor Department: VIBS Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-6780

General Area: How genetic background influences host response

Subject: I am interested in variable host responses to infection as a result of differences in host genetic background. Another interest of mine is inflammation and the impact of genetic variation on susceptibility to inflammation. My background is in genomics and genetics, with an over-arching research focus on the genetic underpinnings of chronic diseases involving

Name: Bob Burghart

Title: Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies Department: DCVM Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 862-4083

Name: Carolyn Cannon

Title: Associate Professor Department: Medicine Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 436-0868

General Area: New antibiotics, pseudomonas, pediatric pulmonology

Subject: Silver based antimicrobials, nanoparticle delivery methods

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Name: Rob Chapkin Title: Distinguished Professor, University Faculty Fellow, Regents Fellow & AgriLife Senior Faculty Fellow Department: Nutrition and Food Science Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-4426

General Area: Systems and computational biology to model HOST-microbiome Subject: We apply advanced systems and computational biology to model aspects of the dynamic interactions between the human host and its resident gut microbiota. This involves the novel integration of host exfoliated epithelial cell-derived transcriptional profiles and the microbiome-derived metatranscriptome. Using this non-invasive approach, we have identified important regulatory pathways of the gut microbiome affecting intestinal development, immune function and dysbiosis associated with colon cancer risk.

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Name: Zhilei Chen

Title: Assistant Professor Department: Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunologies Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 436-9404

General Area: Engineering proteins to target C. diff toxin, treat C. difficile infections Subject: We haven't really started the work. I recently wrote a proposal with Joe Sorg on the engineering of antibody-like protein to neutralize the C. diff toxin. These antibody-like proteins can potentially be taken orally by the patients to treat C. diff infection without the use of antibiotic. Since these protein target the toxin rather than inhibit the bacteria growth, they should not foster the emergence of antibiotic-resistance strains.

Name: Zhengdong Cheng

Title: Associate Professor Department: Chemical Engineering Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-3413

General Area: Encapsulation of drugs and controllable release Subject: Multi-drug encapsulation and controllable release achieved by the patchy discotic nanoplate encapsulation and flow-focusing microfluidic device. Moreover, the current drug contact printing and multilayer assembled hydrogel technique enable the large-scale manufacture for the multi-drug delivery capsule and the antimicrobial coating as well.

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Name: Kung-Hui (Bella) Chu

Title: Associate Professor, Division Head Department: Environmental & Water Resources Engineering Email: [email protected] Phone: (979)-845-1403

General Area: Biodegradation of antimicrobial agent Subject: My lab has done work and publish several papers regarding biodegradation of antimicrobial agent. We currently look into removal of antibiotic via different treatment technologies. Our lab is also interested in and capable of studying fate and transport of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistant strains/genes

Name: Jeff Cirillo

Title: Professor, Director of CAPRI Department: Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 436-0343

General Area: Novel diagnostics for microbial infections, basic mechanisms of microbial growth Subject: Novel diagnostics for TUBERCULOSIS

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Name: Ryan Clanton Department: Engineering General Area: Microbiota, homeostasis, grow commensals test on animals, sequencing Subject: This means increasing the concentrations of commensal bacteria in order to not only increase competition against pathogens but to improve host innate and adaptive immune responses that come into contact with these bacteria.

This would not only improve responses to pathogens but also our resistance to cancer and autoimmune diseases. Therefore, we should be aiming to understand the microbiota, improving it, and genetically enhancing the commensal bacteria to increase their ability to compete against pathogens, modulate systemic inflammation, and improve our overall wellbeing. We have the ability of growing commensal microbes, testing them on animals, and even seeing the responses on inflammation with diagnostic imaging clinic. With our colleagues we can also perform genetic sequencing and test the effects of altering an animal’s microbial homeostasis on immune response.

Name: Noah Cohen Title: Professor & Associate Department Head for Research and Graduate Studies Department: VLCS Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-3541

General Area: Metal based treatments, mechanisms of resistance to antibiotics in bacteria Subject: Metal-based drugs as alternatives to standard antimicrobials in horses; 2) Use of host-directed treatments as alternatives to antimicrobials for controlling infections in horses; 3) Epidemiology and mechanisms of macrolide-resistance in rhodococcus equi [We helped with work that will soon report a new ERM gene in R. Equi]; Interested in these areas both for equine health and as model for human health.

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Name: Walt Cook

Title: Clinical Associate Professor Department: VTPB Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-5068

General Area: Wildlife biologist, overuse of antibiotics in wildlife Subject: My primary interest is in wildlife, particularly white-tailed deer. Some deer producers indiscriminately use antibiotics on deer and then turn them loose in the wild. This is a good way for resistant bacteria to get into otherwise pristine environments. It would be interesting to examine WTD gi tracks for evidence of resistant bacteria.

Name: Thomas Craig

Title: Professor Department: VTPB Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-9191

General Area: My interest is in the area of anthelmintic resistance. Subject: We are looking at the genetics of resistance, by the worms to the drugs, and by the hosts to the parasites. So far phenotype is way ahead of genotype and the only reason they still have goats on the research farm is by selection of the phenotypically resistant goats for breeding.

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Name: Michael Criscitiello

Title: Associate Professor Department: VTPB Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-4207

General Area: Immune mechanisms, Evolution of immunity Subject: My group studies the evolution of immune mechanisms. We focus on the natural history of lymphocyte antigen receptor immunogenetics but have other concentrations in mucosal immunity, novel innate and adaptive immune receptor diversification mechanisms, non-canonical T cell subsets, immunotherapeutics and the use of MHC in wildlife conservation genetics.

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Name: Russell Cross

Title: Professor & Head Department Department: Animal Science Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-1543


Name: Kevin Cummings

Title: Assistant Professor Department: VIBS Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 458-0203

General Area: Epidemiology to study ecology and transmission of AMR Salmonella Subject: My primary research interest lies in the application of epidemiologic approaches to study the ecology and transmission of Salmonella enterica and other foodborne pathogens. As such, one of my central objectives is to reduce the emergence and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance at the pre-harvest level. This is intended to improve both animal health and public health.

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Name: Jorge da Silva

Title: Professor – ETF Superiority Department: Genomics and Bioinformatics Services Email: [email protected] Phone: (956) 969-5623

General Area: Genomics of plant-pathogen interactions in disease resistance Subject: Study the genomics of plant-pathogen interaction leading to disease resistance; 2) Identify candidate pathogen small RNA (sRNA) effectors and plant sRNAs involved in sRNA-mediated plant defense responses; 3) Perform a genome-wide SNP survey by Restricted Amplified DNA Sequencing (RAD-Seq) construct a high density linkage map and develop DNA markers associated with antibiotic resistance genes.

Name: Peter Davies

Title: Professor & Director Department: Center for Translational Cancer Research Email: [email protected] Phone: (713) 677-7474

General Area: HTS screening, compound libraries Subject: Director of a sophisticated high-throughput screening facility with laboratory automation, compound collections, including natural products libraries, and high-throughput imaging capabilities suitable to support antimicrobial resistance therapeutics programs

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Name: Paul DeFigueiredo Title: Associate Professor

Department: Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 862-4468

General Area: Novel compounds with antimicrobial or anti-infective activity Subject: Our lab is developing new tools and technology platforms to discover novel compounds with antimicrobial or anti-infective activities. We also study factors in host cells that when targeted can confer resistance to bacterial or fungal infection.

Name: Marty Dickman

Title: University Distinguished Professor, Director, Institute for Plant Genomics and Biotechnology Professor, Department of Plant Pathology & Microbiology Department: Center for Cell Death and Differentiation Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 862-4788

General Area: Fungal, plant interaction, cell death and regulation of cell death Subject: Fungal /plant host-pathogen interactions host immunity, cell death regulation

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Name: Alison Diesel

Title: Clinical Assistant Professor Department: VSCS Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-2351

General Area: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcal skin infections in companion animals Subject: Veterinary dermatologist at the VMTH with an interest in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcal skin infections in companion animals. I have been working with Dr. Sara Lawhon with regards to investigating interventional strategies with regards to the carriage state in dogs and cats, particularly in households with humans with recurrent MRSA infections

Name: Charles Douglas

Title: Assistant Professor Department: Pharmaceutical Sciences Email: [email protected] Phone: (361) 221-0738

General Area: Health Outcomes Scientist Subject: Comparative effectiveness analysis of interventions. This may be in the form of cost-effectiveness analysis, cost-benefit analysis, or cost-utility analysis comparing different intervention strategies. The second area is measuring humanistic outcomes, in other words whether our patient’s health has measurably improved. This would include patient reported outcomes and quality of life measures. The first area applies to human and non-human patients

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Name: Bob Fader

Department: HSC SCOTT/WHITE Email: [email protected]

General Area: Microbiology section chief at S/W, antimicrobial susceptibility testing Subject: Extensive experience with antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

Name: Virginia Fajt

Title: Clinical Associate Professor Department: VTPP Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-7299

General Area: Clinical Pharmacology, antimicrobial use/susceptibility, criteria for use Subject: I am a veterinary clinical pharmacologist with an interest in antimicrobial use and antimicrobial susceptibility in animals, particularly food animals. My experience includes serving on the CLSI Veterinary Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Subcommittee that sets interpretive criteria for antibiotics used in animals, current work on a systematic review of the literature on how antibiotic use is associated with antimicrobial resistance, promoting judicious use of antibiotics in my role as Chair of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners Committee on Pharmaceutical and Biological Issues, and education about antibiotics, antibiotic resistance, and regulations governing antibiotic use to veterinary students and veterinarians. As a pharmacologist, I have expertise in pharmacokinetic analysis and study design related to clinical use of drugs, including antimicrobials.

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Name: Francois Gabbai Title: Head, Department of Chemistry, Arthur E. Martell Chair of Chemistry Professor Department: Chemistry Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 862-2070

General Area: Developing radiotracers for imaging by PET scanning, apply to infection imaging Subject: The Gabbai group has been actively involved in the preparation of F18-radiotracers for disease imaging by positron emission tomography (PET). While most of our work has focused on cancer, we are interested in applying our approaches to infection imaging. In particular, we are considering new methods for the F18-radiolabeling of white blood cells as a means to target and image infectious lesions in vivo

Name: Kerri Gehring Title: Associate Professor, Meat Science & HACCP Coordinator Department: Animal Science Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 862-3643

General Area: Food safety, education in food safety, outreach in food safety Subject: I conduct research on meat/food safety, as well as teach food safety courses and conduct outreach training programs for the food industry. I also coordinate an educational program for USDA meat & poultry inspectors, and I work closely with large and small meat and poultry establishments across the United States.

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Name: Karine Gil-Weir Title: Lab Instructor Department: Biology Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-4653 General Area: An alternative non-toxic mechanism to kill bacteria, fungus and viruses, and infection prevention in clinics, hospitals, and public health Microbicides

Subject: I’m presenting my experience for more than 5 years using a high level disinfectant solution, as an alternative non-toxic mechanism to kill bacteria and resistant microorganisms in South America. This is used in many countries to avoid infections that could come to United States. This is GERDEX-invented in Venezuela (Bromuro de Lauril dimetil bencil amonio 10%).This is a disinfectant solution (quaternary ammonium) based on the active ingredient of bromine (first generation). This exclusive formula makes this solution non-toxic, non corrosive, ph7, colorless, and odorless, and extremely effective in lysis of viruses, fungus, bacteria and spores. Research studies in 13 countries, Venezuela (IVIC), France (Institute Pasteur), South America, Central America, Europe, and Canada have shown its bactericide effect on 163 germs. UNESCO authorized the use of GERDEX to stop Ebola in Africa in December. What do we know about this product in case of having any other situation as we had with Ebola last October in TX?

Name: Jason Gill Title: Assistant Professor, Bacteriophage Biology & Microbiology Department: Animal Science Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 458-9286

General Area: Phage (salmonella, staph, klebsiella) Subject: Phage and phage based alternatives for antimicrobials. Salmonella, staph aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia

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Name: Richard Gomer Title: Professor Department: Biology Email: [email protected]

Phone: (979) 458-5745

General Area: Host immunity/ alter macrophages so that they are more prone to attack microbes Subject: We are interested in, and are working on, ways to alter macrophages so that they are more prone to attack microbes; the project is part of a NIH grant. The basic idea is that there are endogenous signals in humans and mice that alter the response profile of the innate immune system, and we want to manipulate these signals to get macrophages to attack pathogens such as tuberculosis.

Name: Carmen Gomes Title: Assistant Professor Department: Biological and Agricultural Engineering Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-2455

General Area: AMR bacteria fate/transport on fresh produce, modeling health risks and mitigation strategies, biosensors to detect bacteria Subject: Antibiotic resistance bacteria fate and transport throughout fresh produce production (from farm to fork continuum): modeling health risks and mitigation strategies, Design of biosensors for pathogen detection (antibiotic resistant bacteria included) example: methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, natural products that inhibit bacterial growth and inactivate bacteria.

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Name: Carlos Gonzalez Title: Professor Department: Plant Pathology and Microbiology Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-8462

General Area: Phage, phage therapy Subject: Antibiotic resistance bacteria fate and transport throughout fresh produce production (from farm to fork continuum): modeling health risks and mitigation strategies, Design of biosensors for pathogen detection (antibiotic resistant bacteria included) example: methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, natural products that inhibit bacterial growth and inactivate bacteria.

Name: Jaime Grunlan

Title: Professor Department: Mechanical Engineering Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-3027

General Area: Nano coatings, antibacterial coatings Subject: My group deposits antimicrobial Nano coatings on a variety of surfaces. We've published a couple of papers about this and are working on a commercial anti fouling coating for fabric.

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Name: Thomas Hairgrove

Title: Livestock and Food Animal Systems Coordinator Department: Animal Science Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 458-3216

General Area: Vet/extension, getting producers and vets to use drugs judiciously Subject: Much of my educational efforts for producers and veterinary practitioners centers on the judicious use of all therapeutic drugs in food animals. I have served on the AVMA Steering Committee for FDA Policy on Veterinary Oversight of Antimicrobials since 2011. I work with Texas 4-H Programs to develop educational programs for exhibitors stressing the judicious use of antibiotics.

Name: Kirk Hamilton

Title: Professor, Department of Architecture Associate Director Department: Center for Health Systems & Design Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 862-6602

General Area: Architect, hospital design, infection control is important in these settings Subject: I am a hospital architect, author and expert in design for critical care, and member of SCCM and its design committee. I teach healthcare design in our graduate program. Design to reduce or control infection is a major area of interest. I am currently completing a dissertation on use of space by ICU nurses. I would enjoy learning more about your work, and how I might help

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Name: Arum Han

Title: Associate Professor Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering & Biomedical Engineering Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-9686

General Area: Microfluidics, lab on chip, HTS Subject: Development of microfluidic lab-on-a-chip based systems for high throughput screening, discovery, and studies of polymicrobial interactions, host-pathogen interaction, emergence of antibiotic resistance, screening natural microorganisms for antimicrobial product discovery.

Name: Daikwon Han

Title: Associate Professor Department: Epidemiology & Biostatistics Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 436-9392

General Area: Epidemiology, population health, environmental health Subject: Epidemiology, population health, environmental health

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Name: Faruque Hasan

Title: Assistant Professor Department: Chemical Engineering Email: [email protected]

Phone: (979) 862-1449

General Area: Complex system organization, optimal design of experiments, black-box modeling, and optimization of chemical, biochemical and biological systems Subject: My expertise is in the area of complex systems optimization. Specifically, my lab focuses on the optimal design of experiments, black-box modeling, and optimization of chemical, biochemical and biological systems. One example is that we are currently working on developing methods to optimize the compositions of drugs for bacterial infection

Name: Ping He

Title: Assistant Professor Department: Biochemistry & Biophysics Email: [email protected]

Phone: (979) 458-1368

General Area: Plant innate immune signaling; plant-pathogen interactions Subject: Plant innate immune signaling; plant-pathogen interactions

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Name: Jennifer Herman

Title: Assistant Professor Department: Biochemistry & Biophysics Email: [email protected]

Phone: (979) 862-3165

General Area: New targets by looking at basic cellular processes in bacillus Subject: We seek to identify and characterize new antimicrobial drug targets using a gene function discovery approach. Our current studies focus on the molecular mechanisms underlying bacterial DNA replication, cell division, and cell wall synthesis. We also study the role of small messengers, such as pppGpp, in bacterial decision making.

Name: Andreas Holzenburg

Title: Director Professor of the Dept. of Biology & Professor of Biochemistry & Biophysics

Department: Biochemistry & Biophysics Email: [email protected]

Phone: (979) 845-1164 General Area: Phage lysis Subject: How phages lyse bacteria (together with Ry Young), natural products that inhibit bacterial growth such as lichen secondary metabolites (together with Jim Smith), appropriate vs. inappropriate antibiotic usage

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Name: Magnus Hook

Title: Regents & Distinguished Professor, Neva & Wesley West Chair, Director Department: Center for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases Email: [email protected]

Phone: (713) 677-7551 General Area: MRSA, basic biology, new drugs to treat, animal models Subject: Molecular mechanisms of staph growth, MRSA, new drug targets and new drugs to target MRSA

Name: Jim Hu

Title: Professor Department: Biochemistry & Biophysics Email: [email protected]

Phone: (979) 862-4054

General Area: Phenotype ontology Subject: Phenotype ontology

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Name: Julian Hurdle

Title: Associate Professor Department: Center for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases Email: [email protected]

Phone: (713) 677-7572

General Area: HTS screening, natural products, novel antimicrobials Subject: High throughput screening of natural products…

Name: Sara Imanpour

Title: PhD Student Department: Health Services Research Email: [email protected]

General Area: Subject: I am PhD student in Health Services Research and working as a research assistant with Dr. Darcy McMaughan in the project entitled as “Nursing Home Antimicrobial Stewardship Program”. Moreover, my dissertation has concentrated on “Antibiotic Overuse”.

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Name: G.K. Jayaprakasha

Title: Research Professor Department: Horticultural Sciences Email: [email protected]

Phone: (979) 845-3864

General Area: Understanding the health beneficial properties of food, Natural products, chemistry, Metabolomics approach to identify the active constituents, Natural products that inhibit bacterial growth Subject: Understanding the health beneficial properties of food, Natural products, chemistry, Metabolomics approach to identify the active constituents, Natural products that inhibit bacterial growth

Name: Arul Jayaraman

Title: Associate Professor Department: Chemical Engineering Email: [email protected]

Phone: (979) 845-3306

General Area: Natural products, microbiota Subject: We work on identifying GI tract metabolites that attenuate different aspects of virulence and pathogenesis, as well as investigating the mechanism through which they function. Our focus has been on pathogenic E. coli (EHEC, EPEC) and lately on Salmonella enterica.

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Name: Jenny Jennings

Title: Assistant Professor Department: Animal Nutrition Email: [email protected]

Phone: (806)677-5600

General Area: Oversees feedlots for Ag up in Bushland, TX Subject: I currently oversee the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Feedlot in Bushland, TX. Antimicrobial resistance is a hot topic for the beef industry, and I am currently involved in two grant proposals with a feedlot perspective on the subject. I am in close contact with TCFA on the topic, and continue to pursue sound data collection to make sure the public gets accurate information

Name: Valen Johnson

Title: Department Head Department: Statistics Email: [email protected]

Phone: (979) 862-7583

General Area: Statistical modeling, bioninformatics, clinical trials, monitoring ID spread Subject: Division Head of Quantitative Sciences at MD Anderson Cancer Center, and so have substantial experience in clinical trials. Before MDACC, I was in the SPH at University of Michigan, and had begun some initial agent-based modeling of infectious disease transmission before leaving for MDACC. More generally, I’m interested in bioinformatics and general applications of complex statistical modeling.

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Name: Raghupathy Karthikeyan

Title: Associate Professor Department: Biological and Agricultural Engineering Email: [email protected]

Phone: (979) 845-7951

General Area: AMR bacteria and genes in the environment, particularly water Subject: 1) Antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and resistance genes in environment (particularly in surface waters, wastewater, and treated effluent) (2) disinfection (physiochemical and advanced oxidation methods) of ARB in water. Overall research interest in microbial surface water quality, modeling fate and transport of bacteria, including ARB, disinfection methods, and health risk analysis.

Name: Sharon Kerwin

Title: Professor & Tom and Joan Read Chair in Veterinary Surgery Department: VSCS Email: [email protected]

Phone: (979) 845-2351

General Area: Carriage of resistant organisms in pets, implant infections Subject: Interest in implant infection, carriage of resistant organisms in pet dogs and orthopedic infection and complications in general

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Name: Maria King Title: TEES Research Associate Professor Department: Mechanical Engineering

Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845.2251

General Area: Microbial detection in the environment, phage based detection Subject: I am very interested in participating in antimicrobial resistance related research. My Aerosol Technology Laboratory at MEEN developed a large air volume bioaerosol sampler that efficiently collects and concentrates airborne bioparticles (viruses, toxins, bacteria, fungi). The collected microbiomes are delineated by Illumina sequencing. We routinely collect and isolate large numbers of microbes (both aerosolized and sessile/biofilm) from different environments (shower units, poultry facility, state fairs, buildings, basements, subway station etc.). Many of these microbes are novel/unidentified organisms. We have also developed a patent SEPTIC (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensing_of_phage-triggered_ion_cascades) for the phage-based detection of bacteria, including the application for antibiotic resistance screening

Name: Randy Kluver

Title: Executive Director & Associate Professor Department: Communication Email: [email protected]

Phone: (979) 845-3099

General Area: Social media to monitor outbreaks Subject: Media Monitoring System Project, a “real time international broadcast transcription and translational system”) with great potential for monitoring outbreaks (e.g., via their monitoring of social media)

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Name: Peter Knappett

Title: Assistant Professor Department: Geology and Geophysics Email: [email protected]

Phone: (979) 845-6162

General Area: Bacterial/viral transport in water Subject: I’m an expert on bacteria and virus transport in shallow aquifers. I did my field research for my PhD in Bangladesh on transport pathways of fecal bacteria and pathogens from latrines and ponds to shallow drinking water wells

Name: Koichi Kobayashi

Title: Professor Department: Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology Email: [email protected]

Phone: (979) 436-0842

General Area: Innate immunity Subject: The major goal of my laboratory is to understand the function of the innate immune system, particularly in host-pathogen recognition and disease pathophysiology. We have demonstrated the role of TLR signaling and NLR protein family in the microbial recognition, host pathogen interaction, infectious disease and inflammatory diseases.

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Name: Rosina (Tammi) Krecek

Title: Visiting Professor and Interim Assistant Dean for One Health Department: VTPB Email: [email protected]

General Area: One Health, International One Health Subject: My skills include experience in international health including parasitic and infectious pathogens, building successful strategic national and international partnerships and networks that address One Health priorities and societal concerns. My academic expertise and track record as a parasitologist equip me with an understanding of the challenges of drug resistance to the control of parasitic disease in animals and humans, in both developing and developed communities. I therefore appreciate the impact on One Health ecosystems related to antimicrobial resistance

Name: Tiffany LaDow

Title: Department: HSC SCOTT/WHITE Email: [email protected]

General Area: Clinical pharmacist, community acquired drug resistant pneumonia Subject: I am currently an inpatient clinical pharmacist. My research is in multidrug resistant pneumonia patients presenting from the community. I am interested in judicious use of antibiotics, especially new agents targeting resistant organisms.

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Name: Sara Lawhon

Title: Assistant Professor Department: VTPB Email: [email protected]

Phone: (979) 218-7156

General Area: Carriage/transmission of AMR bugs particularly staph, transfer to people DIRECTOR OF VET CLINICAL LAB Subject: Carriage and transmission of antimicrobial resistant bacteria in both companion and livestock animal species. I am currently funded to study antimicrobial resistance, quorum sensing and biofilm formation in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus species. An outgrowth of this work is the One Health Grand Challenge Initiative – MRSA Project to determine whether intervention in pets affects MRSA decolonization in human patients. DIRECTOR OF VET CLINICAL LAB, DOING AMR TESTING ETC.

Name: Mi OK Lee

Title: Technician Department: Vet Med Email: [email protected]

General Area: Antimicrobial peptide, test in chickens Subject: Working on Copy Number Variation (CNV) of antimicrobial peptide genes (AMPs) and test its functional activity against E.coli and will extend to antibiotic resistance bacteria. Screen and comparative analysis of antibacterial activity of AMPs in chicken

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Name: Heather Lench

Title: Associate Professor & Associate Head Department: Psychology Email: [email protected]

Phone: (979) 845-0377

General Area: Factors that influence vaccine usage Subject: Human factors, including diversity, that would influence vaccine acceptability/usage. Together with a group of researchers in PSYC, she has prepared a white paper on an experimental approach to this issue

Name: Hong Liang

Title: Professor Department: Mechanical Engineering Email: [email protected]

Phone: (979) 862-2623

General Area: Gold and silver nanoparticles Subject: Antibacterial activity of gold and silver nanoparticles against bacteria, we design, synthesize, and characterize the materials and study their effects on virus and bacteria

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Name: Xiaorong Lin

Title: Associate Professor Department: Biology Email: [email protected]

Phone: (979) 845-7274

General Area: Basic fungal biology, antifungals Subject: We have been investigating pathogenic strategies of fungi (Cryptococcus neoformans and Aspergillus fumigatus) that cause systemic infections in humans and animals. Our research has contributed to the development of novel antifungal treatment, anti-cryptococcal vaccine development, and the advancement of basic eukaryotic microbiology

Name: Clint Magill

Title: Professor Department: Plant Pathology & Microbiology Email: [email protected]

Phone: (979) 845-8250

General Area: Fungus on sorghum Subject: Selected mutants of fungal plant pathogens with resistance to use as markers and have been involved in a project where the sorghum head smut pathogen recently gained resistance to the matalaxyl seed treatment that had been used successfully for over 20 years

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Name: Kristen Maitland

Title: Assistant Professor Department: Biomedical Engineering Email: [email protected]

Phone: (979) 845-1864

General Area: Optical instrumentation, microscopes and fibers for intravital imaging of bacteria Subject: I develop optical instrumentation, in particular microscopes and fiber-based systems for intravital imaging. I have applied this technology to imaging of fluorescent bacteria in a host animal.

Name: Ravikumar Majeti

Title: Department: HSC Pharmacy Email: [email protected]

General Area: Drug Delivery Subject: Drug Delivery

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Name: William McIntosh

Title: Professor Department: Sociology Email: [email protected]

Phone: (979) 845-8525

General Area: Perception of risk, antimicrobial resistance Subject: Collaborating with Vet Med faculty in the area of Antimicrobial Resistance and perception of risks.w/morgan scott

Name: Darcy McMaughan

Title: Director of Program on LTC, Aging and Disability Policy Department: Health Policy & Management

Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 458-0831

General Area:

AMR in nursing homes and hospitals Subject: I’ve worked two AHRQ projects focusing on interventions to improve antibiotic stewardship in nursing homes. I also completed an AHRQ project focusing on CDIFF (an often-times by-product of antibiotics) in nursing homes and hospitals. I am interested in antibiotic stewardship and the ‘revolving door’ between nursing homes and hospitals and that relationship with antimicrobial resistant infections.

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Name: John Midturi

Title: Assistant Professor Department: Internal Medicine

Email: [email protected]

General Area: SW clinician, antimicrobial stewardship Subject: I am involved with the antimicrobial stewardship program here at BSW Central Texas. I am interested in looking at the impact of this program in antibiotic and antifungal utilization, impact on overall antibiotic use, and impact on the development of resistance bacteria

Name: Elsa Murano

Title: Professor, President Emerita Department: Nutrition and Food Science



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Name: Malini Natarajarathinam

Title: Associate Professor Department: Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution


General Area: Building custom sampling plans, models for microbial growth, modeling in the food supply Subject: Building custom sampling plans, building simulation models for microbial growth, pricing models to assess risk of “contaminated” goods. Traceability and monitoring in cold chains, optimizing food supply chains for safety and efficiency

Name: Keri Norman

Title: Research Assistant Professor Department: VTPB

Email: [email protected] General Area: C. diff, AMR, antibiotic use, epidemiology of AMR in foodborne pathogens Subject: Molecular epidemiology of AMR in bacterial foodborne pathogens (comparing phenotypic and genotypic AMR profiles in E. coli and Salmonella in cattle and swine

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Name: Raimund Ober

Title: Professor Department: Molecular and Cellular Medicine



Name: Kevin Ong Title: Associate Professor & Director of The Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory

Department: Plant Pathology and Microbiology Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-8000

General Area: Plant pathogen resistance Subject: Plant pathogen resistance - efficacy of control products (applied research) in managing plant diseases

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Name: Bhimu Patil

Title: Director of Vegetable & Fruit Improvement Center, Professor of Horticultural Sciences, & Associate Professor/Director of the Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory

Department: Horticultural Sciences Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 458-8090

General Area: Natural Products Subject: We have conducted research in natural products and antimicrobial properties. We have expertise in isolation and purification of natural products.

Name: Adam Patterson

Title: Clinical Assistant Professor Department: VSCS


General Area: Clinical aspects, particularly MRSA in vet setting Subject: I’m a clinician (75% appointment dedicated to seeing cases) in the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital that specializes in veterinary dermatology—mostly in dogs, cats, and horses. I deal with methicillin-resistant staphylococci (canine pyoderma) on a daily basis and strive to use and teach the best practices in diagnosis (early recognition of risk factors of MRS and need of culture) and antibiotic stewardship (when to prescribe systemic antibiotherapy and when to best avoid antibiotics). I am open to providing the “clinical” aspect to collaborative research.

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Name: Chad Paulk Title: Assistant Professor

Department: Animal Nutrition Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 458-2703

General Area: Swine production and nutrition Subject: My interest revolves around swine production and nutrition. Antimicrobial resistance is becoming an important topic in the swine industry. My skill set and research are focused on the practical implications in swine management/production and nutrition. I would be a good fit to collaborate with a microbiologist who needs help with care of and sample collection from pigs

Name: Jean Philippe Pellois

Title: Associate Professor Department: Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Chemistry Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-0101

General Area: Light activated conjugates that can kill bacteria on surfaces including wounds Subject: The idea is to develop peptide-photosensitizer conjugates that can kill drug resistant bacteria with light

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Name: Suresh Pillai

Title: Professor of Microbiology and TAES Faculty Fellow, Director of National Center for Electron Beam Food Research

Department: Food Safety and Environmental Microbiology Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-2994

General Area: AMR bugs in food supply, molecular mechanisms of cell-cell signaling Subject: Interest; antimicrobial resistance dissemination in the food supplies/ molecular mechanisms of cell-cell signaling as it relates to antimicrobial resistance

Name: Hongmin Qin

Title: Associate Professor Department: Biology Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 458-0512

General Area: Culture of mushrooms, green algae- extraction of natural and bioactive products Subject: I have past experience with the large scale culture of edible mushrooms and extraction of bio-active product from the edible mushrooms. My lab currently works on green algae which could be used for natural by-product production

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Name: Frank Raushel

Title: Distinguished Professor & Davidson Professor of ScienceDepartment: Chemistry Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-3373

General Area: Culture of mushrooms, green algae- extraction of natural and bioactive products Subject: I have past experience with the large scale culture of edible mushrooms and extraction of bio-active product from the edible mushrooms. My lab currently works on green algae which could be used for natural by-product production

Name: Peter Rentzepis

Title: TEES Distinguished Research Professorship Department: Electrical & Computer Engineering Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-7441

General Area: Spectroscopic studies of bacteria Subject: We are performing continuous wave and time resolved spectroscopic studies on bacteria (recording spectra of excited states and transient species from milliseconds to femtoseconds time range.)

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Name: Penny Riggs

Title: Associate Professor Department: Animal Science Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-2616


Name: Aline Rodrigues Hoffmann

Title: Assistant Professor Department: Vet Med Pathobiology Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 458-4172

General Area: Skin microbiome, microbiology Subject: Studying the skin micro biome in healthy companion animals as well as those with skin disease, broad interest in micro

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Name: Daniel Romo

Title: Professor Department: Chemistry Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-9571

General Area: Natural products Subject: Natural Products LINCHPIN Laboratory which I direct and is being moved to Baylor (Dr. Ken Hull, co-Director, is cc'd here).

Name: David Russell

Title: MDS-Sciex Professor of Mass Spectrometry Department: Chemistry Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-3345

General Area: Structure/conformations of amphipathic, antimicrobial peptides Subject: Developing new approaches for studies of structure/conformations of amphipathic antimicrobial peptides. These studies are rather fundamental/basic science and largely (at this point) focus on developing ion mobility and mass spectrometry based structural probes. I'm not sure where we might fit in with your theme, but I would like to participate and see where this might take us.

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Name: Zofia Rybkowski

Title: Assistant Professor Department: Construction Science, Center for Health Systems & DesignEmail: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-4354

General Area: Harnessing design to combat spread in hospitals etc, design of new N95 Subject: I have a background in Biology (BS Stanford; MS Brown), Architecture (MArch Harvard); and Civil Engineering (MPhil, MS, PhD: HKUST and UC Berkeley). I am also a fellow in the Center for Health Systems and Design. One of my primary interests relevant to your work is in harnessing design processes to combat spread of nosocomial infections in healthcare facilities. I am interested in assisting with the development of a new N-95 mask that is more easily worn by citizens during the 6 month window before vaccine production is optimized. Feel free to let me know if these skills might fit into your proposed scope of work.

Name: James Sacchettini

Title: Professor Department: Biochemistry & Biophysics Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 862-7637

General Area: Drug discovery, diagnostics, structural biology, targeted nanoparticle delivery, genome sequencing of clinical resistant isolates. Subject: Drug discovery, diagnostics, structural biology, targeted nanoparticle delivery, genome sequencing of clinical resistant isolates.

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Name: Matt Sachs

Title: Professor Department: Biology Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-5930

General Area: Antifungal therapeutics Subject: Microbial growth and metabolism, genes and pathways needed for amr, mechanisms of transfer, HTS, natural processes that inhibit fungal growth and more.

Name: Brian Saunders

Title: Assistant Professor Department: VSCS Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-2351

General Area: Implant infection, vet surgeon Subject: Implant infection

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Name: H. Morgan Scott Title: Professor Department: Epidemiology Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 847-6197

Subject: Veterinary epidemiologist with a keen interest in molecular epidemiology, microbial ecology and systems thinking. Recent CRI hire at TAMU (2014). Has led several multidisciplinary, multi-state, multi-institutional and international research programs concerning antimicrobial resistance at interface of human and animal health over the past decade and a half. His research spans the realm from the molecular to the sociological and is always collaborative. His laboratory focuses on molecular epidemiology and microbial ecology of enteric bacteria in response to antibiotic selection pressures and also those of alternatives to antibiotics including metals, essential oils, beta-agonists, among others. Serves on WHO advisory group on integrated surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AGISAR: 2009-2019), advises US (FDA, USDA, CDC) government agencies on this issue as well as foreign governments including Colombia and The Netherlands and domestic (US) beef, swine and animal health sectors. Recently organized the 4th ASM Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance among Zoonotic and Foodborne Bacteria in Washington, DC and achieved USDA-NIFA funding to expand its scope to include systemic intervention involving stakeholders as a new theme. Attempts to always engage stakeholders across the realm from agriculture, animal health, veterinary medicine, public health and consumer advocacy groups.

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Name: Jorge Seminario

Title: Professor, Department Head-Chemical Engineering Department: Chemical Engineering Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-3301

General Area: Nanotechnology, theoretical/computational design of molecules, DNA origamis as sensors Subject: Multidisciplinary research in nanotechnology: theoretical/computational design of molecules using first principles and empirical theories. I am working on the design of DNA origamis as platforms for sensors of biological and chemical agents (specifically, nitro explosives, and TBC) in collaboration with experimental groups.

Name: Libo Shan

Title: Associate Professor Department: Plant Pathology & Microbiology Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-7311

General Area: Plant innate immunity and bacterial pathogenicity Subject: Plant innate immunity and bacterial pathogenicity

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Name: Anna Shidlovskaya

Title: Visiting Professor Department: Civil Engineering Email: [email protected]

General Area: Microbial growth/biofilms soil and water. Soil improvement using enzymes, new tch to kill bacteria Subject: My interest is the impact of microbial growth and biofilms development on water structure and mobility in soil, engineering properties of soil, and corrosion that should be taken into account in geotechnical design, construction, and maintenance/ My research is covered to practical engineering and microbiological investigations including modification of methods of soil improvement using enzymes, an increase soil resistance to microbial activity, modification of methods of structural materials protection based on enhancement and differentiation of new technologies of microorganisms aggressive forms inhibition or killing and searching for effective biocides and inhibitors to prevent corrosion.

Name: Samiran Sinha Title: Associate Professor

Department: Statistics Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-3141

General Area: Statistics, biostatistics Subject: Statistics, biostatistics

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Name: Loren Skow

Title: Professor Department: Veterinary Integrative Biosciences Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-3194

General Area: Host strategies to avoid, control, eliminate infection, host response to vaccine Subject: Immunological significance of variation in genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and the paralogous leucocyte immunoglobin-like receptor (LILR) gene families.

Name: James Smith Title: Associate Professor

Department: Biology Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-2417

General Area: Antimicrobial peptides that kill fungus, natural products, structure, biosynthesis Subject: My lab primarily studies antimicrobial peptides. We have been evaluating the use of an antifungal peptide for treating Candida. We have also isolated novel antimicrobial peptides and evaluating their applications.Skills: isolating natural antimicrobial products, structural determination, biosynthesis of natural products, and determining mechanism of action and application of identified compounds

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Name: Joe Sorg

Title: Assistant Professor Department: Biology Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-6299

General Area: CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE, transition between spore and veg cell, drugs to target Subject: Clostridium difficile sporulation and targeting that transition between sporulation and vegetative growth

Name: David Staack

Title: Assistant Professor, Department Head Department: Mechanical Engineering Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-4063

General Area: Electrical disinfection methods (disinfect air, surfaces, wounds etc) Subject: We have funded research to develop processes and devices which kill resistant bacteria. Specifically we work in a field referred to as “plasma medicine” wherein electrical discharge plasmas generated in the ambient air are used to disinfect surfaces, air, or even patients and wound directly. Resistant organism are typically not resistant to plasma discharge.

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Name: Clifford Stephen Title: Assistant Professor and Director Department: Center for Translational Cancer Research Email: [email protected] Phone: (713) 677-7456

General Area: High throughput screening IBT

Subject: I have a high throughput screening group located within the Center for Translational Cancer Research at the IBT in Houston. We are very interested in translational application of high throughput screening techniques to the discovery of therapeutic vulnerabilities in a wide variety of diseases. We are interested in targeting those vulnerabilities through the repurposing of existing drugs and clinical candidates alone or in combination. In addition to repurposing existing drugs we are also capable of performing more traditional high throughput screening of small molecules in support of new drug and probe discovery projects. We have a staff of five individuals with academic and industry experience in high throughput screening and can support projects from proof of concept, generating preliminary data to support grants, assay development to primary and confirmatory screening. We are capable of working with cells in culture, model organisms (e.g., zebrafish) and most in vitro methodologies

Name: Paul Straight Title: Associate Professor Department: Biochemistry & Biophysics Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-4231

General Area: Natural products/comprehensive view of competitive functions at the disposal of bacteria in competition

Subject: We use a two-species model system to identify specialized metabolites, enzymes, targets, and mechanisms of resistance important to competitive fitness of bacteria. Our goal is to build a comprehensive view of competitive functions at the disposal of bacteria in competition; a view which we hope will supersede current understanding of individual antibiotic actions and resistance mechanisms. Our lab uses bacterial genetics and genomics, coupled with small molecule and enzyme isolation and characterization, including imaging mass spectrometry, to dissect complex competitive functions.

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Name: Jan Suchodolski

Title: Clinical Associate Professor Department: Vet Med Small Animal Medicine & Surgery Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 458-0933

General Area: Metabolome/microbiome, model antibiotic effects on Subject: Interactions between antibiotics and microbiome and metabolome. Expert in analysis in gut microbiome and metabolome. Have done studies evaluating long-term effects of antibiotics growth promoters on disruption in microbiome. Studying alternatives to antibiotics such as probiotics/postbiotics

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Name: Phanourios Tamamis

Title: Assistant Professor & Department Head Department: Chemical Engineering Email: [email protected]

General Area: Protein structure prediction, complex prediction, protein design Subject: I have expertise in the fields of computational protein structure prediction, prediction of the structure of bimolecular complexes, and protein design and I consider that my expertise can potentially aid in bridging specific gaps associated with these areas. Thus, I would be happy to contribute if there is any need for protein structure prediction (e.g., understanding the functional role of specific peptide/protein groups in a specific problem) and peptide/protein design

Name: Matt Taylor Title: Associate Professor

Department: Animal Science Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-4425

General Area: Phage for salmonella in beef production Subject: I’ve conducted collaborative research on phage application for Salmonella in beef production with J. Gill, TAMU-CPT, as well as multiple nano-encapsulation of food antimicrobial-targeted studies. My interests lie in killing AMR pathogens through processing of human foods through both chemical and biological preservation technologies.

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Name: Debbie Threadgill

Title: Assistant Professor Department: VTPB

General Area: Subject: Campylobacter

Name: David Threadgill

Title: Professor Department: Vet Med Pathobiology Email: [email protected]

General Area: Host genetics to antimicrobial resistance, microflora and resistance Subject: Primary interest is in mouse genetic models and how they can contribute to understanding role of host genetics in influencing development of anti-microbial resistance. Secondary interest is the intersection of the microflora in influencing resistance

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Name: Jeffery Tomberlin

Title: Associate Professor Department: Entomology Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-9718

General Area: Microbe insect interactions- how insects kill pathogens Subject: I examine microbe-insect interactions with a specific interest in how insects kill pathogens- maggot therapy. My skills include behavioral ecology, life-history ecology, and nutrition ecology.

Name: Robert Triplett

Title: Professor Department: Oral Surgery Email: [email protected] Phone: (214) 828-8482

General Area: Subject: Experience in both clinical and laboratory studies with antibiotics and infections. Clinically our faculty in the Department of Surgery /Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Baylor University Center, Dallas treat a large number of patients with mild to severe infections of the head and neck from simple abscess to necrotizing fasciitis. And in a number of cases we suspect that antibiotic resistance may play a critical role in the course of infection in our patients. I think there are several items on your list that we could participate in

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Name: Ed Vargo Title: Professor Department: Entomology Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-5855

General Area: Subject: Interaction of subterranean termites and soil microbes, especially entomopathogenic fungi and bacteria. Of specific interest, is the defensive mechanisms used by termites to avoid infection, including both physiological and social responses, and the role of pathogenic microbes in shaping the breeding systems of termites’ colonies.

Name: Coran Watanabe Title: Associate Professor Department: Chemistry Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 458-8094

General Area: Natural products, microbial synergism, enzymology Subject: Natural Product Biosynthesis, Microbial synergism/quorium sensing, mechanistic enzymology

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Name: Robert Watson Title: Assistant Professor Department: Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology Email: [email protected]

General Area: Innate Immunity, TB Subject: Multidisciplinary approach including bacterial/host genetics, immunology, and cell biology to interrogate the complexities of the host-pathogen interface in order to better understand how Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes disease and how we manipulate our own cellular pathways to mitigate infection and pathogenesis

Name: Ashlee Watts Title: Assistant Professor Department: Large Animal Clinical Sciences Email: [email protected]

General Area: Orthopedic infections and antimicrobial device development Subject: I am and equine orthopedic surgeon and PhD employed at Texas A&M’s large animal hospital. I am interested in antimicrobial resistance in orthopedic infection in equine clinical patients. I have research experience in local antimicrobial depots (bone cement beads of polymethylmethacrylate and calcium phosphate) and local antimicrobial systems (regional limb perfusion, local pumps, bioabsorable depots)

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Name: Tom Welsh Title: Professor, Texas A&M AgriLife Research Faculty Fellow,

Physiology of Reproduction Department: Animal Science Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-9245

General Area: Supportive therapy, immune support- so less antibiotics are needed. Subject: I am an endocrine physiologist with a special interest in stress-responsiveness and immune function of livestock. It has been my good fortune to collaborate with Dr. Sara Lawhon and Dr. Ron Randel regarding this topic (as Dr. Lawhon described in her email message to you). My simple premise is that calves with an effective immune system require less antibiotic support.

Name: Cindy Weston Title: Assistant Professor Department: Nursing Email: [email protected]

General Area: Nurse, infection control practices Subject: I am a family nurse practitioner and faculty in the college of nursing. I have an interest in antimicrobial resistance prevention through evidence based infection control practices. From Bench to Bedside application & translation of science for nurses and other healthcare providers.

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Name: Tryon Wickersham Title: Associate Professor Department: Animal Science Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-5065

General Area: Feeding cattle, management of livestock Subject: I am a beef cattle nutritionist with expertise in feeding cattle and the management of beef cattle. I have general interest in understanding the use of antibiotics in production livestock systems and how they impact human and ecosystem health

Name: Karen Wooley Title: Distinguished Professor Department: Chemistry Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-4077

General Area: Nanotechnology Subject: Nanotechnology, delivery for drugs

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Name: Hung-jen Wu Title: Assistant Professor & Department Head Department: Chemical Engineering Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-3361

General Area: Bacterial ashesion, collab with HSC Subject: I am working with the faculty in health science center to study bacterial adhesion.

Name: Vladislav Yakovlev Title: Professor Department: Biomedical Engineering Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 458-2326

General Area: Imaging, sensing, detection of metabolic activity, laser assisted deactivation Subject: Optical imaging, sensing and detection of metabolic activity, imaging biomolecular interactions in vivo, Laser assisted de-activation

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Name: Ry Young Title: Professor Department: Biochemistry & Biophysics Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-2087

General Area: Phage image Subject: My scientific skillset is primarily all aspects of phage biology, bacterial genetics and physiology, phage and bacterial genomics, and membrane protein biochemistry. As Director of the Center for Phage Technology, my interests are in the translational applications of phage, including phage therapy, phage prophylaxis, phage-based diagnosis, and phage-based intervention and remodeling of the human and animal microbiota.

Name: John Zeber Title: Cmaf - Associate Professor Department: HSC - College Of Medicine Email: [email protected]

General Area: Multisite trials, evaluating novel uv disinfecting technology, reduce hospital infections Subject: I am a health services investigator with both the Central Texas VA and Baylor Scott & White, and have worked with Dr. Chetan Jinadatha (chief of VA infectious diseases) for several years on a variety of projects. I am currently PI of a multisite study evaluating the effectiveness of a novel UV disinfection technology, and developing a follow-up implementation proposal. Chetan developed these ideas and is conducting numerous other lab and practical studies on innovative approaches to reduce hospital infections, and we are conducting work at the VA and BSW.

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Name: Qi Zheng Title: Associate Professor Department: Epidemiology & Biostatstics Email: [email protected]

General Area: Estimate mutation rate in microbes Subject: I study the estimation of microbial mutation rates using the fluctuation test protocol. I developed several useful algorithms. I made the currently most comprehensive software package for estimating and comparing microbial mutation rates

Name: Guan Zhu Title: Professor Department: Vet Med Pathobiology Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-6981

General Area: Microbial metabolism and biochemistry Subject: Microbial metabolism and biochemistry for identifying novel drug targets and discovering non-conventional antibiotic therapeutics

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Name: Xuemei Zhu Title: Associate Professor Department: Architecture Email: [email protected] Phone: (979) 845-3780

General Area: Hospital design Subject: Impacts of hospital building design on prevent ions of hospital acquired infections

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antimicrobial resistance working group open forum resistance working group open forum tuesday, june...

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