UW - La Crosse Clinical Microbiology

Faculty and Staff

University of Wisconsin – La Crosse

Michael A. Hoffman, Ph.D., Department of Microbiology

Dr. Hoffman is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Director of the Clinical Microbiology Master’s Program. Much of his research focuses on the gene expression and assembly of human parainfluenza virus type 3, a respiratory tract pathogen. Additional research interests include the identification and characterization of fish viruses.

Recent Publications:

Gander, L.R., L.M. Schwan and M.A. Hoffman. Analysis of nucleotides 13-96 of the human parainfluenza virus type 3 antigenomic promoter reveals positive- and negative-acting replication elements. 2011. Virology, 419(2), 90-96.

Hoffman, M.A, L.M Thorson, J.E. Vickman, J.S. Anderson, N.A. May and M.N. Schweitzer. Roles of human parainfluenza virus type 3 bases 13 to 78 in replication and transcription: Identification of an additional replication promoter element and evidence for internal transcription initiation. 2006. J. of Virology. 80:5388-96.

Malur A.G., M.A.Hoffman and A.K. Banerjee. The human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV 3) C protein inhibits viral transcription. 2004. Virus Res. 99(2):199-204.

Hoffman MA, Banerjee AK. Precise mapping of the replication and transcription promoters of human parainfluenza virus type 3. Hoffman MA, Banerjee AK. Virology. 2000 Mar 30;269(1):201-11.

Marc Rott, Ph.D., Department of Microbiology

Dr. Rott is a Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology. His research focuses on the identification and development of novel antimicrobial compounds from plants and fungi.

Recent Publications:

Kabir MS, Namjoshi OA, Verma R, Polanowski R, Krueger SM, Sherman D, Rott MA, Schwan WR, Monte A, Cook JM.A new class of potential anti-tuberculosis agents: Synthesis and preliminary evaluation of novel acrylic acid ethyl ester derivatives. Bioorg Med Chem. 2010 Jun 15;18(12):4178-86.

Liu XT, Winkler AL, Schwan WR, Volk TJ, Rott MA, Monte A. Antibacterial Compounds from Mushrooms I: A Lanostane-Type Triterpene and Prenylphenol Derivatives from Jahnoporus hirtus and Albatrellus flettii and Their Activities Against Bacillus cereus and Enterococcus faecalis. Planta Med. Planta Med. 2010 Feb;76(2):182-5.

Kabir MS, Engelbrecht K, Polanowski R, Krueger SM, Ignasiak R, Rott M, Schwan WR, Stemper ME, Reed KD, Sherman D, Cook JM, Monte A., New classes of Gram-positive selective antibacterials: Inhibitors of MRSA and surrogates of the causative agents of anthrax and tuberculosis.Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2008 Nov 1;18(21):5745-9.

William Schwan, Ph.D., Department of Microbiology

Dr. Schwan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology. His research focuses on the regulation of type 1 pilus expression in uropathogenic Escherichia coli, the role of proline transport in Staphylococcus aureus pathogenesis and molecular epidemiology of community-acquired methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Recent Publications:

Schwan WR, Kabir MS, Kallaus M, Krueger S, Monte A, Cook JM. Synthesis and minimum inhibitory concentrations of SK-03-92 against Staphylococcus aureus and other gram-positive bacteria. J Infect Chemother. 2012 Feb;18(1):124-6.

Wetzel KJ, Bjorge D, Schwan WR. Mutational and transcriptional analyses of the Staphylococcus aureus low-affinity proline transporter OpuD during in vitro growth and infection of murine tissues. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2011 Apr;61(3):346-55

Shukla SK, Karow ME, Brady JM, Stemper ME, Kislow J, Moore N, Wroblewski K, Chyou PH, Warshauer DM, Reed KD, Lynfield R, Schwan WR. Virulence genes and genotypic associations in nasal carriage, community-associated methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant USA400 Staphylococcus aureus isolates. J Clin Microbiol. 2010 Oct;48(10):3582-92.

Kabir MS, Namjoshi OA, Verma R, Polanowski R, Krueger SM, Sherman D, Rott MA, Schwan WR, Monte A, Cook JM. A new class of potential anti-tuberculosis agents: Synthesis and preliminary evaluation of novel acrylic acid ethyl ester derivatives. Bioorg Med Chem. 2010 Jun 15;18(12):4178-86.

Schwan WR, Briska A, Stahl B, Wagner TK, Zentz E, Henkhaus J, Lovrich SD, Agger WA, Callister SM, DuChateau B, Dykes CW. Use of optical mapping to sort uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains into distinct subgroups.Microbiology. 2010 Jul;156(Pt 7):2124-35.

Schwan WR. Survival of uropathogenic Escherichia coli in the murine urinary tract is dependent on OmpR. Microbiology. 2009 Jun;155(Pt 6):1832-9

Bernadette Taylor, Ph.D., Department of Microbiology

Dr. Taylor is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology. Her research focus is the investigation of the human antibody and T cell response to low-dose intradermal influenza vaccination. She is also engaged in a collaborative project that may uncover new immunosuppressive, or cancer inhibiting drugs in compounds
present in fungi found in Wisconsin.

Recent Publication:

Taylor B.C., R.M. Brotheridge, D.A. Jessup, and J.L. Stott. 2002. Measurement of serum immunoglobulin concentration in killer whales and sea otters by radial immunodiffusion. Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol. 89:187-95.

Peter Wilker, Ph.D., Department of Microbiology

Dr. Wilker is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology. His research aims to understand how influenza viruses interface with the immune system to elicit protective or pathological responses. He is also developing antibody reagents to extend the use of ferrets as an animal model of human disease, including influenza virus infection.

Recent Publications:

Smith, K.E., Wilker, P.R., Reiter, P.L., Hedican, E.B., Bender, J.B., and Hedberg, C.W. 2012. Antibiotic Treatment of Escherichia coli O157 Infection and the Risk of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, Minnesota. Pediatr Infect Dis J 31, 37-41.

Walsh, K.B., Teijaro, J.R., Wilker, P.R., Jatzek, A., Fremgen, D.M., Das, S.C., Watanabe, T., Hatta, M., Shinya, K., Suresh, M., et al. 2011. Suppression of cytokine storm with a sphingosine analog provides protection against pathogenic influenza virus. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 108, 12018-12023.

Kohyama, M., Ise, W., Edelson, B.T., Wilker, P.R., Hildner, K., Mejia, C., Frazier, W.A., Murphy, T.L., and Murphy, K.M. 2009. Role for Spi-C in the development of red pulp macrophages and splenic iron homeostasis. Nature 457, 318-321.

Wilker, P.R., Kohyama, M., Sandau, M.M., Albring, J.C., Nakagawa, O., Schwarz, J.J., and Murphy, K.M. 2008. Transcription factor Mef2c is required for B cell proliferation and survival after antigen receptor stimulation. Nat Immunol 9, 603-612.

Wilker, P.R., Sedy, J.R., Grigura, V., Murphy, T.L., and Murphy, K.M. 2007. Evidence
for carbohydrate recognition and homotypic and heterotypic binding by the TIM family. Int Immunol 19, 763-773.

Michael Winfrey, Ph.D., Department of Microbiology

Dr. Winfrey is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology. His research interests include: i) identification of novel antimicrobial agents from black walnut hulls and other plant products, ii) microbial cycling of mercury in the environment and iii) characterization of probiotic organisms from kefir grains.

Recent Publication:

Fitschen PJ, Rolfhus KR, Winfrey MR, Allen BK, Manzy M, Maher MA. Cardiovascular effects of consumption of black versus English walnuts. 2011. J Med Food. Sep;14(9):890-8.

Nick Downey, Ph.D., Department of Biology

Dr. Downey is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology. His research focuses on the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of the parasite Trypanosoma brucei. He uses bioinformatic approaches to identify and then analyze proteins that may be involved in mitochondrial segregation and mtDNA replication. The hope is that this research will identify new approaches to develop effective anti-trypanosomal drugs.

Recent Publications:

Downey, N., Hines, J. C., Sinha, K. M. and D. S. Ray (2005) “Mitochondrial DNA Ligases of Trypanosoma brucei” Eukaryotic Cell vol 4 (4) pp765-774

Sinha KM, Hines JC, Downey N, Ray DS. Mitochondrial DNA ligase in Crithidia fasciculata. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004 Mar 30;101(13):4361-6.

Greg Sandland, Ph.D., Department of Biology

Dr. Sandland is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology. His research focuses on host-parasite coevolution and the role that disease plays in species invasions. Currently his lab is investigating the importance of environment factors and host genetics on transmission of the human parasite, Schistosoma mansoni. Other projects include assessing virulence expression in co-infected hosts, understanding how parasites modulate host life histories, and predicting disease outbreaks using mathematical models.

Recent Publicationns:

Yang Y, Feng Z, Xu D, Sandland GJ, Minchella DJ.Evolution of host resistance to parasite infection in the snail-schistosome-human system. J Math Biol. 2011 Jul 20

Sandland, G.J., Wethington, A.R., Foster, A.V. and D.J. Minchella. 2009. Effects of host outcrossing on the interaction between an aquatic snail and its locally adapted parasite. Parasitology Research, 105:555–561.

Zavodna, M., Sandland, G.J., and D.J. Michella. 2008. Effects of intermediate host genetic background on parasite transmission dynamics: a case study using Schistosoma mansoni. Experimental Parasitology, 120:57-71.

Sandland, G.J., Foster, A.V., Zavodna, M. and D.J. Minchella. 2007. Interplay between host genetic variation and parasite transmission in the Biomphalaria glabrata-Schistosoma mansoni system. Parasitology Research, 101:1083-1089.

Tom Volk, Ph.D., Department of Biology

Dr. Volk is a Professor in the Department of Biology. His research focuses on just about anything that has to do with fungi, including medical mycology. Some recent student projects have included work on Blasotmyces, Penicilium morneffei, and Candida albicans. See TomVolkfungi.net for more information.

Recent Publications:

Schwan WR, Dunek C, Gebhardt M, Engelbrecht K, Klett T, Monte A, Toce J, Rott M, Volk TJ, LiPuma JJ, Liu XT, McKelvey R. Screening a mushroom extract library for activity against Acinetobacter baumannii and Burkholderia cepacia and the identification of a compound with anti-Burkholderia activity. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob. 2010 Jan 21;9:4.

Liu XT, Winkler AL, Schwan WR, Volk TJ, Rott M, Monte A. Antibacterial compounds from mushrooms II: lanostane triterpenoids and an ergostane steroid with activity against Bacillus cereus isolated from Fomitopsis pinicola. Planta Med. 2010 Mar;76(5):464-6

Liu XT, Winkler AL, Schwan WR, Volk TJ, Rott MA, Monte A. Antibacterial compounds from mushrooms I: a lanostane-type triterpene and prenylphenol derivatives from Jahnoporus hirtus and Albatrellus flettii and their activities against Bacillus cereus and Enterococcus faecalis. Planta Med. 2010 Feb;76(2):182-5.

Burgess JW, Schwan WR, Volk TJ. 2006. PCR-based detection of DNA from the human pathogen Blastomyces dermatitidis from natural soil samples. Med Mycol. Dec;44(8):741-8.

Todd Weaver, Ph.D., Department of Chemistry

Dr. Weaver is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry. His research lab is focused in two main areas. The first area of research aims to describe the activation of bacterial toxins for membrane insertion. The second area of research involves mechanistic studies of enzymes.

Recent Publications:

Weaver TM, Hocking JM, Bailey LJ, Wawrzyn GT, Howard DR, Sikkink LA, Ramirez-Alvarado M, Thompson JR.Structural and functional studies of truncated hemolysin A from Proteus mirabilis. J Biol Chem. 2009 Aug 14;284(33):22297-309

Bailey L, Agger S, Peterson L, Thompson J, Weaver T. 2005. Crystallization of truncated hemolysin A from Proteus mirabilis. Acta Crystallograph Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun. 2005 Apr 1;61(Pt 4):448-50.

Weaver T. 2005. Structure of free fumarase C from Escherichia coli. Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr. Oct;61(Pt 10):1395-401.

Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center

The Gundersen Lutheran Research Page

William A. Agger, M.D., Section of Infectious Diseases

Dr. Agger is the Director of Research and Chairman of the Section of Infectious Diseases at Gundersen Lutheran. His research interests include antimicrobial resistance and tick-borne infectious diseases.

Recent publications:

Kowalski TJ, Berth WL, Mathiason MA, Agger WA. Oral antibiotic treatment and long-term outcomes of Lyme facial nerve palsy. Infection. 2011 Jun;39(3):239-45.

Friedlander, S.L., K.Y. Dooms, C.M. Seroogy, C.Y. Voss, W.A. Agger, K. Zhang, J. Bleesing, and A.H. Filipovich. 2008. Adolescent presentation of x-linked lymphoproliferative disease. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 100:398-400.

Feder, H.M. Jr., B.J. Johnson, S. O’Connell, E.D. Shapiro, A.C Steere, G.P. Wormser, W.A. Agger, et.al. 2007. A critical appraisal of “chronic Lyme disease”. N. Engl. J. Med. 357:1422-1430.

Agger, W.A. and R.M. Naik. 2006. How should we approach adolescent and adult pertussis? WMJ. 2006 105:47-51.

Steven M. Callister, Ph.D., Section of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Research

Dr. Callister is a senior research scientist in the Microbiology Research Laboratory. Dr. Callister’s research focuses on pathogenesis and immune responses during infections with spirochetal bacteria.

Recent publications:

Lovrich SD, Jobe DA, Kowalski TJ, Policepatil SM, Callister SM. Expansion of the Midwestern focus for human granulocytic anaplasmosis into the region surrounding La Crosse, Wisconsin. J Clin Microbiol. 2011 Nov;49(11):3855-9.

Kuo J, Nardelli DT, Warner TF, Callister SM, Schell RF. Interleukin-35 enhances Lyme arthritis in Borrelia-vaccinated and -infected mice. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2011 Jul;18(7):1125-32.

Jobe DA, Kowalski TJ, Bloemke M, Lovrich SD, Callister SM. Rapid decline of OspC borreliacidal antibodies following treatment of patients with early Lyme disease. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2011 Jun;18(6):1034-7.

Nardelli DT, Luedtke JO, Munson EL, Warner TF, Callister SM, Schell RF. Significant differences between the Borrelia-infection and Borrelia-vaccination and -infection models of Lyme arthritis in C3H/HeN mice. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2010 Oct;60(1):78-89.

LaFleur RL, Callister SM, Dant JC, Jobe DA, Lovrich SD, Warner TF, Wasmoen TL, Schell RF. One-year duration of immunity induced by vaccination with a canine Lyme disease bacterin. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2010 May;17(5):870-4.

Little SE, Heise SR, Blagburn BL, Callister SM, Mead PS. Lyme borreliosis in dogs and humans in the USA. Trends Parasitol. 2010 Apr;26(4):213-8

Nardelli, DT, EL Munson, SM Callister, and RF Schell. 2009. Human Lyme disease vaccines: past and future concerns. Future Microbiol. 4:457-469.

LaFleur RL, Dant JC, Wasmoen TL, Callister SM, Jobe DA, Lovrich SD, Warner TF, Abdelmagid O, Schell RF. Bacterin that induces anti-OspA and anti-OspC borreliacidal antibodies provides a high level of protection against canine Lyme disease. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2009 Feb;16(2):253-9

Dean A. Jobe, M.S., RM(AAM), Microbiology Research Laboratory

Dean Jobe is the supervisor of the Microbiology Research Laboratory. His research focuses on antibody responses during bacterial infections and development of diagnostic tests.

Recent publications:

Lovrich SD, Jobe DA, Kowalski TJ, Policepatil SM, Callister SM. Expansion of the Midwestern focus for human granulocytic anaplasmosis into the region surrounding La Crosse, Wisconsin. J Clin Microbiol. 2011 Nov;49(11):3855-9.

Jobe DA, Kowalski TJ, Bloemke M, Lovrich SD, Callister SM. Rapid decline of OspC borreliacidal antibodies following treatment of patients with early Lyme disease. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2011 Jun;18(6):1034-7.

Jobe, D.A., S.D. Lovrich, K.E. Asp, M.A. Mathiason, S.E. Albrecht, R.F. Schell, and S.M. Callister. 2008. Significantly improved accuracy of diagnosis of early Lyme disease by peptide enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on the borreliacidal antibody epitope of Borrelia burgdorferi OspC. Clin. Vacc. Immunol. 15:981-985.

Go, R.S., D.A. Jobe, K.E. Asp, S.M. Callister, M.A. Mathiason, L.A. Meyer, W.A. Bottner, C.E. Cole, J.P. Farnen, and K.A. Frisby. 2008. Circulating endothelial cells in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Ann. Hematol. 87:369-373.

Todd Kowalski, M.D., Section of Infectious Diseases

Kowalski TJ, Berbari EF, Huddleston PM, Steckelberg JM, Osmon DR. 2007. Propionibacterium acnes vertebral osteomyelitis: seek and ye shall find? Clin Orthop Relat Res. 461:25-30.

Kowalski TJ, Layton KF, Berbari EF, Steckelberg JM, Huddleston PM, Wald JT, Osmon DR. 2007. Follow-up MR imaging in patients with pyogenic spine infections: lack of correlation with clinical features. Am J Neuroradiol. 28:693-699.

Kowalski TJ, Berbari EF, Huddleston PM, Steckelberg JM, Mandrekar JN, Osmon DR. 2007. The management and outcome of spinal implant infections: contemporary retrospective cohort study. Clin Infect Dis. 44:913-920.

Steven D. Lovrich, Ph.D., Microbiology Research Laboratory

Dr. Lovrich is a molecular biologist in the Microbiology Research Laboratory. His research focuses on identification, purification, and characterization of bacterial protein vaccine candidates.

Recent publications:

Lovrich SD, Jobe DA, Kowalski TJ, Policepatil SM, Callister SM. Expansion of the Midwestern focus for human granulocytic anaplasmosis into the region surrounding La Crosse, Wisconsin. J Clin Microbiol. 2011 Nov;49(11):3855-9.

Jobe DA, Kowalski TJ, Bloemke M, Lovrich SD, Callister SM. Rapid decline of OspC borreliacidal antibodies following treatment of patients with early Lyme disease. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2011 Jun;18(6):1034-7.

LaFleur RL, Callister SM, Dant JC, Jobe DA, Lovrich SD, Warner TF, Wasmoen TL, Schell RF. One-year duration of immunity induced by vaccination with a canine Lyme disease bacterin. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2010 May;17(5):870-4.

La Fleur, RL, Dant JC, Wasmoen TL, Callister SM, Jobe DA, Lovrich SD, Warner TF, Abdelmagid O, Schell RF. 2009. Bacterin that induces anti-OspA and anti-OspC borreliacidal antibodies provides a high level of protection against canine Lyme disease. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 16:253-259.

Jobe, D.A., S.D. Lovrich, K.E. Asp, M.A. Mathiason, S.E. Albrecht, R.F. Schell, and S.M. Callister. 2008. Significantly improved accuracy of diagnosis of early Lyme disease by peptide enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on the borreliacidal antibody epitope of Borrelia burgdorferi OspC. Clin. Vacc. Immunol. 15:981-985.

Carl Simon Shelly, Ph.D., Director, Hematology/Oncology Research

The pathogenesis of a host of diseases and pathologic states is driven by abnormal cellular adhesion. These conditions include cancer, atherosclerosis, diabetes, leukemia, and immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS, and the ischemic reperfusion injury that occurs in frost bite, organ transplant, limb reattachment and after a heart attack or stroke. The research undertaken by Dr. Shelley's program is aimed at determining the basic molecular mechanisms that control pathologic cell adhesion such that new therapeutic targets can be developed.

Recent publications:

Delestré L, Berthon C, Quesnel B, Figeac M, Kerckaert JP, Galiègue-Zouitina S, Shelley CS. Repression of the RHOH gene by JunD. Biochem J. 2011 Jul 1;437(1):75-88.

Galiègue-Zouitina S, Delestré L, Dupont C, Troussard X, Shelley CS. Underexpression of RhoH in Hairy Cell Leukemia. Cancer Res. 2008 Jun 15;68(12):4531-40.

Kong, T., Eltzschig, H. K., Karhausen, J., Colgan, S. P. and Shelley, C. S. (2004). Leukocyte adhesion during hypoxia is mediated by HIF-1 dependent induction of β2 integrin gene expression. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 101, 10440-10445.

Douglas White, M.D., Ph.D, Rheumatology

Dr. White is the chief of the Rheumatology Section at Gundersen Lutheran and Dr. Oldenburg is a faculty member at UW-La Crosse. Together they run the rheumatology research lab studying the interactions between latent herpesviruses and their hosts' immune systems.

Recent publications:

White DW, Suzanne Beard R, Barton ES. Immune modulation during latent herpesvirus infection. Immunol Rev. 2012 Jan;245(1):189-208

Mandal P, Krueger BE, Oldenburg D, Andry KA, Beard RS, White DW, Barton ES. A gammaherpesvirus cooperates with interferon-alpha/beta-induced IRF2 to halt viral replication, control reactivation, and minimize host lethality. PLoS Pathog. 2011 Nov;7(11)

White, D. W., C. R. Keppel, S. E. Schneider, J. Coder, T. Reese, J. E. Payton T. J. Ley, H. W. Virgin, T. A. Fehniger. 2010. Latent Herpesvirus Infection Arms Natural Killer Cells, Blood 115(22):4377-83. PMID: 20139098

Barton, E. S., D. W. White, J. S. Cathelyn, K. A. Brett-McClellan, M. Engle, M. S. Diamond, V. L. Miller and H. W. Virgin. 2007. Herpesvirus latency confers symbiotic protection from bacterial infection. Nature 447(7142):326-329. PMID: 17507983.

Barton, E. S., D. W. White, H. W. Virgin. 2009. Herpesvirus Latency and Symbiotic Protection from Bacterial Infection, Viral Immunology 22(1):3-4. PMID 19210221.

Tarakanova, V. L., F. Kreisel, D. W. White, H. W. Virgin. 2008. Murine gammaherpesvirus-68 genes both induce and suppress lymphoproliferative disease. Journal of Virology 82(2):1034-1039. PMID: 17977975.

Marshfield Clinic / St. Joseph’s Hospital

All of the Marshfield faculty are part of the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation

Thomas R. Fritsche, M.D., Ph.D., Division of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Microbiology Section

Dr. Fritsche has worked in the fields of diagnostic clinical microbiology, parasitology, antimicrobial susceptibility testing and resistance emergence. Collaborations have involved the study of novel bacterial endosymbionts occuring within free-living amoebae, and the role of protozoa as professional phagocyte mimics. Such evolutionary relationships may have implications for the preadaption and/or recruitment of recognized intracellular pathogens such as the Chlamydiales and Rickettsiales for metazoan hosts.

Lin Y, Barker E, Kislow J, Kaldhone P, Stemper ME, Pantrangi M, Moore FM, Hall M, Fritsche TR, Novicki T, Foley SL, Shukla SK. Evidence of multiple virulence subtypes in nosocomial and community-associated MRSA genotypes in companion animals from the upper midwestern and northeastern United States. Clin Med Res. 2011 Mar;9(1):7-16

Fritsche TR, Biedenbach DJ, Jones RN. 2009 Antimicrobial activity of prulifloxacin tested against a worldwide collection of gastroenteritis-producing pathogens, including those causing traveler's diarrhea. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. Mar;53(3):1221-4.

Collingro A, Toenshoff ER, Taylor MW, Fritsche TR, Wagner M, Horn M. 2005. 'Candidatus Protochlamydia amoebophila', an endosymbiont of Acanthamoeba spp. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. Sep;55(Pt 5):1863-6.

Jennifer Meece, Ph.D., Clinical Research

Dr. Meece is a vector biologist in the Clinical Research Center at Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation. Her research interests include the genetics of infectious disease transmission in mosquitoes and the ecology of infectious diseases.

Recent publications:

Meece JK, Anderson JL, Fisher MC, Henk DA, Sloss BL, Reed KD. Population genetic structure of clinical and environmental isolates of Blastomyces dermatitidis, based on 27 polymorphic microsatellite markers. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2011 Aug;77(15):5123-31.

Brisson D, Vandermause MF, Meece JK, Reed KD, Dykhuizen DE. Evolution of northeastern and midwestern Borrelia burgdorferi, United States. Emerg Infect Dis. 2010 Jun;16(6):911-7

Meece JK, Anderson JL, Klein BS, Sullivan TD, Foley SL, Baumgardner DJ, Brummitt CF, Reed KD. Genetic diversity in Blastomyces dermatitidis: implications for PCR detection in clinical and environmental samples. Med Mycol. 2010 Mar;48(2):285-90.

Meece JK, Kronenwetter-Koepel TA, Vandermause MF, Reed KD. West Nile virus infection in commercial waterfowl operation, Wisconsin. Emerg Infect Dis. 2006 Sep;12(9):1451-3.

Sanjay Shukla, Ph.D., Clinical Research

Dr. Shukla is a research scientist at the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation. His research interests include the genetics and epidemiology of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, determination of infectious etiology of chronic diseases, and discovery, characterization and phylogenetic analysis of novel pathogens.

Recent publications:

Lin Y, Barker E, Kislow J, Kaldhone P, Stemper ME, Pantrangi M, Moore FM, Hall M, Fritsche TR, Novicki T, Foley SL, Shukla SK. Evidence of multiple virulence subtypes in nosocomial and community-associated MRSA genotypes in companion animals from the upper midwestern and northeastern United States. Clin Med Res. 2011 Mar;9(1):7-16

Shukla SK, Kislow J, Briska A, Henkhaus J, Dykes C.Optical mapping reveals a large genetic inversion between two methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains. J Bacteriol. 2009 Sep;191(18):5717-23.

Brady JM, Stemper ME, Weigel A, Chyou PH, Reed KD, Shukla SK. Sporadic "transitional" community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains from health care facilities in the United States. J Clin Microbiol. 2007 Aug;45(8):2654-61.

Mary Stemper, M.S., Clinical Microbiology and Clinical Research

Mary is a molecular epidemiologist at Marshfield Clinic. Her research interests include the epidemiology of nosocomial pathogens, particularly investigations of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and the detection of clinical pathogens based on the analysis of the 16S rRNA gene.

Recent Publications:

Pearce MM, Theodoropoulos N, Noskin GA, Flaherty JP, Stemper ME, Aspeslet T, Cianciotto NP, Reed KD. Native valve endocarditis due to a novel strain of Legionella.
J Clin Microbiol. 2011 Sep;49(9):3340-2.

Lin Y, Barker E, Kislow J, Kaldhone P, Stemper ME, Pantrangi M, Moore FM, Hall M, Fritsche TR, Novicki T, Foley SL, Shukla SK. Evidence of multiple virulence subtypes in nosocomial and community-associated MRSA genotypes in companion animals from the upper midwestern and northeastern United States. Clin Med Res. 2011 Mar;9(1):7-16

Reed KD, Stemper ME, Shukla SK. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of MRSA. Methods Mol Biol. 2007;391:59-69.

Brady JM, Stemper ME, Weigel A, Chyou P, Reed KD, Shukla SK. Sporadic 'Transitional-like' Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains from the United States. J Clin Microbiol 2007;45:2654-2661.

Morgan W, Caldwell MD, Brady JM, Stemper ME, Reed KD, Shukla SK. Necrotizing fasciitis due to a methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus harboring an enterotoxin gene cluster. J Clin Microbiol 2007;45:668-671.

Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene

Pete Shult, Ph.D., Communicable Disease Division

Dr. Schult is Director of the Communicable Diseases Division and Emergency Laboratory Response. He also serves as statewide coordinator for laboratory response to bioterrorism and pandemic influenza planning.

Recent publications:

Van TT, Miller J, Warshauer DM, Reisdorf E, Jernigan D, Humes R, Shult PA. Pooling nasopharyngeal/throat swab specimens to increase testing capacity for influenza viruses by PCR. J Clin Microbiol. 2012 Mar;50(3):891-6.

Kirk CJ, Shult PA. Developing laboratory networks: a practical guide and application.
Public Health Rep. 2010 May-Jun;125 Suppl 2:102-9.

Laplante JM, Marshall SA, Shudt M, Van TT, Reisdorf ES, Mingle LA, Shult PA, St George K. Influenza antiviral resistance testing in new york and wisconsin, 2006 to 2008: methodology and surveillance data. J Clin Microbiol. 2009 May;47(5):1372-8

Dharan NJ, Gubareva LV, Meyer JJ, Okomo-Adhiambo M, McClinton RC, Marshall SA, St George K, Epperson S, Brammer L, Klimov AI, Bresee JS, Fry AM; Oseltamivir-Resistance Working Group. Infections with oseltamivir-resistant influenza A(H1N1) virus in the United States. JAMA. 2009 Mar 11;301(10):1034-41.

Gern JE, Brooks GD, Meyer P, Chang A, Shen K, Evans MD, Tisler C, Dasilva D, Roberg KA, Mikus LD, Rosenthal LA, Kirk CJ, Shult PA, Bhattacharya A, Li Z, Gangnon R, Lemanske RF Jr. 2006. Bidirectional interactions between viral respiratory illnesses and cytokine responses in the first year of life. J Allergy Clin Immunol. Jan;117(1):72-8.

Dave Warshauer, Ph.D., Communicable Disease Division

Dr. Warshauer is Chief Bacteriologist for the Communicable Diseases Division and coordinates molecular and other diagnostic test development for agents of public health importance including bioterrorism.

Recent publications:
Van TT, Miller J, Warshauer DM, Reisdorf E, Jernigan D, Humes R, Shult PA. Pooling nasopharyngeal/throat swab specimens to increase testing capacity for influenza viruses by PCR. J Clin Microbiol. 2012 Mar;50(3):891-6.
Feltus DC, Giddings CW, Schneck BL, Monson T, Warshauer D, McEvoy JM. 2006. Evidence supporting zoonotic transmission of Cryptosporidium in Wisconsin. J Clin Microbiol. 2006 Sep 27; [Epub ahead of print]

Okwumabua O, O'Connor M, Shull E, Strelow K, Hamacher M, Kurzynski T, Warshauer D. 2005. Characterization of Listeria monocytogenes isolates from food animal clinical cases: PFGE pattern similarity to strains from human listeriosis cases. FEMS Microbiol Lett. Aug 15;249(2):275-81.

Bob Garrison, D.V.M., M.S., Communicable Disease Division

Dr. Garrison directs Division Operations, the laboratory’s zoonotic diseases program. In addition, he assists the Director of the Communicable Disease Division in emergency laboratory response and planning.

University of Wisconsin - Madison

Kurt Reed, M.D., Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

I am interested in the ecology of infectious diseases, especially those that are zoonotic (transmitted from animals to humans) or involve pathogens that have transmission dynamics strongly influenced by environmental conditions. This type of research requires a wide variety of techniques ranging from basic field studies to molecular epidemiology. Ecologic modeling of these diseases is aided by computerized mapping with geographic information systems (GIS) and much of the data we analyze is acquired by remote sensors on earth-orbiting satellites.

Recent publications:

Pearce MM, Theodoropoulos N, Noskin GA, Flaherty JP, Stemper ME, Aspeslet T, Cianciotto NP, Reed KD. Native valve endocarditis due to a novel strain of Legionella.
J Clin Microbiol. 2011 Sep;49(9):3340-2.

Meece JK, Anderson JL, Fisher MC, Henk DA, Sloss BL, Reed KD. Population genetic structure of clinical and environmental isolates of Blastomyces dermatitidis, based on 27 polymorphic microsatellite markers. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2011 Aug;77(15):5123-31.

Brisson D, Vandermause MF, Meece JK, Reed KD, Dykhuizen DE. Evolution of northeastern and midwestern Borrelia burgdorferi, United States. Emerg Infect Dis. 2010 Jun;16(6):911-7

Meece JK, Anderson JL, Klein BS, Sullivan TD, Foley SL, Baumgardner DJ, Brummitt CF, Reed KD. Genetic diversity in Blastomyces dermatitidis: implications for PCR detection in clinical and environmental samples. Med Mycol. 2010 Mar;48(2):285-90.

Reed KD, Melski JW, Graham MB, Regnery RL, Sotir MJ, Wegner MV, Kazmierczak JJ, Stratman EJ, Li Y, Fairley JA, Swain GR, Olson V, Sargent EK, Kehl SC, Frace MA, Kline R, Foldy SL, Davis JP, Damon IK. The detection of Monkeypox in humans in the Western hemisphere. N Eng J Med 350:342-350, 2004

USDA - U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, Marshfield, WI

Mark Borchardt, Ph.D, Institute for Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management

Dr. Borchardt's research focuses on assesing the human health threat of microorganisms in the environment, with an emphasis on viruses found in drinking water.

Recent publications:

Lambertini E, Spencer SK, Kieke BA Jr, Loge FJ, Borchardt MA. Virus contamination from operation and maintenance events in small drinking water distribution systems. J Water Health. 2011 Dec;9(4):799-812.

Newton RJ, Vandewalle JL, Borchardt MA, Gorelick MH, McLellan SL.Lachnospiraceae and Bacteroidales alternative fecal indicators reveal chronic human sewage contamination in an urban harbor. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2011 Oct;77(19):6972-81.

Borchardt MA, Bradbury KR, Alexander EC Jr, Kolberg RJ, Alexander SC, Archer JR, Braatz LA, Forest BM, Green JA, Spencer SK. Norovirus outbreak caused by a new septic system in a dolomite aquifer. Ground Water. 2011 Jan-Feb;49(1):85-97

Lambertini E, Spencer SK, Bertz PD, Loge FJ, Borchardt MA.New mathematical approaches to quantify human infectious viruses from environmental media using integrated cell culture-qPCR. J Virol Methods. 2010 Feb;163(2):244-52.

Borchardt MA, Spencer SK, Bertz PD, Ware MW, Dubey JP, Alan Lindquist HD.Concentrating Toxoplasma gondii and Cyclospora cayetanensis from surface water and drinking water by continuous separation channel centrifugation. J Appl Microbiol. 2009 Apr 18.

Borchardt M.A., Haas N.L., Hunt R.J. 2004. Vulnerability of drinking-water wells in La Crosse, Wisconsin, to enteric-virus contamination from surface water contributions. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. Oct;70(10):5937-46.

Other affiliated faculty

Sylvia A. Firary, M.D., Infectious Diseases, Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center

Carol Kirk, B.S., Respiratory Diseases, Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene

Kathy Leske, B.S., MT(ASCP), Microbiology, Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center

Jim McCormick, B.S., MT(ASCP), Microbiology, Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center

Tim Monson, M.S., Food and Water-Borne Diseases, Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene

Kathy Mruz, B.A., MT(ASCP), Virology, Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center

Thomas Novicki, Ph.D., Microbiology, Marshfield Clinic

Eric Reisdorf B.S., Molecular Diagnostics and Virology

Phil Wand, M.S., Mycobacteriology, Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene

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