1

08/07 -

Lisa Schneper, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor and Lab Co-director
Publications:

• E. Zeng, G. Narasimhan, L. Schneper, and K. Mathee. (2008). A functional network of yeast genes
  using gene ontology information. IEEE Conference on Bioinformatics and Biomedicine (BIBM2008) 343-346.
• K. Mathee, D. Ramos, R. Sautter, O. Ciofu, A. Heydorn, N. Hoiby, A. Kharazmi, C. DeVries, D.E. Ohman and
  L. Schneper. Mucoid-to-nonmucoid conversion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa occurs by multiple pathways.
• R. Sautter, L. Schneper and K. Mathee. AlgO, a positive regulator of alginate production is a putative
  perisplamic protease with high homology to Escherichia coli Prc/Tsp
• M.S. Doud, R. Grimes-Zeppegno, E. Molina, N. Miller, D. Balachandar, L. Schneper, R. Poppiti, and K. Mathee.
  A k2A-positive Klebsiella pneumoniae causes liver and brain abscess in a Saint Kitt's man. International Journal
  of Medical Sciences 6(6):301-304.
• M. Doud, E. Zeng, L. Schneper, G. Narasimhan, K. Mathee. (2009). Approaches to analyzing dynamic microbial
  communities such as those seen in cystic fibrosis lung. Human Genomics 3(3):246-256.
• E. Zeng, G. Narasimhan, L. Schneper, and K. Mathee. (2008). A functional network of yeast genes using gene
  ontology information. IEEE Conference on Bioinformatics and Biomedicine (BIBM2008) 343-346.

2

01/09 -

Yingchun Zheng, MD, Associate Professor, Reproductive medical Center, Shandong University, China.
Title: Role of Pseudomonas aeruginosa AmpR-regulated lecB in virulence

4

09/07

Oliver Caille, Ph.D.
Title: Structure-function analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa AmpR

5

11/08

Senthilkumar Murugapiran, Ph.D.
Title: Pseudomonas aeruginosa AmpR proteomics

Natalie Maricic
Title: Investigating role of two-component response regulator PA5512 in antibiotic resistance

Deepak Balasubramanian,   Ph.D. (Biology)          
Project Title: Characterizing the AmpR regulon.

• Summer internship in Harvard Medical School with S. Lory
• Presented a poster at the 2007 American Society for Microbiology – Florida Branch Meeting in
  St. Petersburg, FL. – “Best Poster Award” in the graduate students category (10/2007)
• Recipient of SPRING 2009 CFF Traineeship grant ($1500)

• D. Balasubramanian, and K. Mathee. (2009). Comparative transcriptome analyses of
  Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Human Genomics 3(4):349-361.
• K.F. Kong, D. Balasubramanian. S. Jayawardena, S. Leal, R. Sautter, and K. Mathee.  2009.
  Coregulation of antibiotic resistance, alginate production, and quorum sensing in Pseudomonas
  aeruginosa.  Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (Provisionally Accepted).

Diansy Zincke, Ph.D. (Biology)                               
Project Title: Regulation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa pox operon involved in oxacillin resistance.

• RISE Scholar
• Recipient of Fall 2008 CFF Traineeship grant ($1500)
• Recipient of summer NIH-BRI/MBRS 2008 Award ($3000)
• Presented a poster at the 2008 American Society for Microbiology Meeting. Received “ASM Travel Award” (6/2008)
• Recipient of summer NIH-BRI/MBRS 2009 Award ($3000)

Melissa Doud , Ph.D. (Biology)        
Project Title: Microbial profiling of cystic fibrosis sputum.

• RISE Scholar
• Recipient of Fall 2008 CFF Traineeship grant ($1500)
• Recipient of summer NIH-BRI/MBRS 2008 Award ($3000)
• Gave a talk at the 2008 North American CF Meeting (10/2008)
• 8th Comparative Immunology Symposium: Immunodiversity: Cellular and molecular interactions. Placed
  third in the “Best Presentation Award” (3/2008)
• 10th Annual Biology Research Symposium. Placed second in the “Best Presentation Award” (2/2008)
• FIU Minority Biomedical Research Mini-Symposium. Placed first in the “Best Presentation Award” in
  the graduate students category (9/2007)
• Gave a talk at the 2007 American Society for Microbiology – Florida Branch Meeting in St. Petersburg, FL.
  Placed second in the “Best Presentation Award” in the graduate students category (10/2007)
  
  

• M.S. Doud, M. Light, G. Gonzalez, G. Narsimhan, and K. Mathee. Combination of 16S rRNA variable regions
  provides a detailed analysis of bacterial community dynamics in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients.
  Human Genomics (Accepted).
• M.S. Doud, R. Grimes-Zeppegno, E. Molina, N. Miller, D. Balachandar, L. Schneper, R. Poppiti, and K. Mathee.
  A k2A-positive Klebsiella pneumoniae causes liver and brain abscess in a Saint Kitt's man.International
  Journal of Medical Sciences 6(6):301-304.
• S. Roy S, H. Vedala, A.D. Roy, D.H. Kim, M. Doud, K. Mathee, H.K. Shin, N. Shimamoto,
  V. Prasad and W. Choi. (2008). Direct electrical measurements on single-molecule genomic DNA using
  single-walled carbon nanotubes. Nano Letters 8(1):26-30.
  Highlighted by
• Nanowerk Spotlight, Dec 28, 2007, “DNA electronics in nanotechnology”
• NewScientist Tech, Dec 4, 2007, “Nanoelectrodes could provide bird flu test”
• NewScientist, “Nantube electrodes could provide avian flu test”
• NanoScienceWorks, jan 2008, “Nanotube electrodes can “match” DNA via signals”
• Technology Reviews, February 13, 2008, “Wiring up DNA”
• Nature Spotlight on a related article that appeared in Feb 2008 included our work.
• K. Mathee, G. Narasimhan, C. Valdes, X. Qiu, J. M. Matewish, M. Koehrsen, A. Rokas,
  C. N. Yandava, R. Engels, E. Zeng,R. Olavarietta, M. Doud, R. Smith , P. Montgomery, J. White, P. A. Godfrey, C. Kodira,
  B. Birren, J. Galagan and S. Lory. (2008). Dynamics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa genome evolution.
  Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences USA 105:3100-3105.
  Highlighted by
• Genome Technology Online, Feb 20, 2008, “Survival through genome shapeshifting”
• Selected for review by Faculty of 1000 Biology
• H. Vedala, D.H. Kim, M. Doud, K. Mathee, and W. Choi. (2008). Effect of environmental factors on electrical
  conductivity of single oligo-DNA molecule measured using single-walled carbon nanotube nanoelectrodes.
  Nanotechnology 19:1-6 (265704)

Camila Ceballos, BS (Biomedical Engineering)
Title: To map novel genes involved in alginate production

• RISE Scholar
• Summer 2009  Research Fellowship at Harvard Medical School

Laura Florez, BS (Biology)
Title: To map novel genes involved in alginate production

• MARC Scholar

Jaison George, BS (Biomedical Engineering)
Title: To characterize novel genes involves in ß-lactamase production

• MARC Scholar
• McNair Scholar

Katherine Vandenberg, BS (Biology)
Title: To map novel genes involved in alginate production

• RISE Scholar

Ashley Rojas
Title:  To jam bacterial communication with nutrasilver

Michael Rodriguez, Christopher Columbus High, Miami
Title: To jam bacterial communication with herbs and spices

Jose Velis, Christopher Columbus High, Miami
Title:  To determine antibacterial activities of nutrasilver

David Smith, Saint Thomas Aquinas High, Miami
Title: To better understand the genetics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa alginate production

Alesy Iturrey, Miami Palmetto Senior High School, Miami
Title:  To determine antibacterial activities of nutrasilver

Shiva Kangeya, Archimedean Middle Conservatory, Miami
Title: To better understand the genetics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa alginate production

Chong-Lek Koh, Ph.D. Professor Institute of Biological Sciences (Genetics), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Visiting Fulbright Scholar)
Current Address: Sub-Dean, Graduate Academic Programs (Research Higher Degrees), National Institute of Education, Singapore
Title: Pseudomonas aeruginosa ampDE operon analysis
Publications:

• K.F. Kong, S.R. Jayawardena, S. D. Indulkar, A. del Puerto, C-L. Koh, N. Høiby, and K.  Mathee.(2005) Pseudomonas aeruginosa AmpR is a global transcriptional factor that regulates expression of AmpC and PoxB b-lactamases, proteases, quorum sensing and other virulence factors. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 49:4567-75.
• Article selected for Journal Highlights in the ASM News December issue. A monthly issue that highlights one article per journal that describes new and exciting developments in microbial research.
• C.L. Koh, M.L. Yap, Y.S. Ooi, M.E. Lim, and K. Mathee. (2003) Screening of environmental water samples from Malaysia for bacteria producing autoinducers and inhibitors of quorum sensing. Persatuan Genetik Malaysia; University of Malaya; Ministry of Science, Technology & the Environment, Malaysia; and Ministry of Health, Malaysia. 25-27 March, 2003; Kuala Lumpur. Proceedings of the 5th National Congress of Genetics. p162-163
• K. Kalaimathee, C.L. Koh, and Y.F. Ngeow. (1985). Plasmid profiles of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Peninsular Malaysia. Microbiology and Immunology 29:921-926.
• C.L. Koh, K. Kalaimathee, and Y.F. Ngeow. (1984). Penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Peninsular Malaysia.  Medical Journal of Malaysia 39:269-271.

Jim Entry, Ph.D. USDA ARS, Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research Laboratory, Kimberly, Idaho (Sabbatical Visitor)
Title: Using molecular tools to discern microbial diversity
Publications:

• J. Entry, D. Mills, K. Mathee, K. Jayachandran, R.E. Sojka and G. Narasimhan. (2008) Influence of irrigated agriculture on soil microbial diversity. Applied Soil Ecology 40:146-154.
• D.K. Mills, J.A. Entry, K. Mathee, and P.M. Gillevet. (2007). Mini-Review: Assessing Microbial Community Diversity Using Amplicon Length Heterogeneity PCR. Soil Science Society of America Journal 71 March-April
• D.K. Mills, J. A. Entry, J.D. Voss, P.M. Gillevet, and K. Mathee. (2006). An assessment of the hypervariable domains of the 16S rRNA genes for their value in determining microbial community diversity: the paradox of traditional ecological indices. FEMS Microbiological Ecology 57:496-503.
• L.I.  Moreno,  D. K.  Mills, J.  Entry, R.T.  Sautter, and K.  Mathee. (2006). Microbial metagenome profiling using Amplicon Length Heterogeneity-Polymerase Chain Reaction (ALH-PCR) proves more effective than elemental analysis in discriminating soil specimens. Journal of Forensic Science 51:1315-1322.
• C. Yang, D. Mills, K. Mathee, Y. Wang, K. Jayachandran, M. Sikaroodi, P. Gillevet, J. Entry, G. Narasimhan. (2006). Ecoinformatics tools for microbial diversity studies: Supervised classification of amplicon length heterogeneity (ALH) profiles of 16S rRNA.  Journal of Microbiological Methods 65: 49-62.
• D. Mills, J.A. Entry, K. Mathee, K. Jayachandran, R.E. Sojka, W.J. Busscher. (2003). Irrigated agriculture and tillage practices impact microbial community structure. Proceedings of the International Soil Tillage Research Organization, 16th Triennial Conference, July 2003, Brisbane, Australia. p749-754.

Balasubramanian Danajeyan, PhD, Assistant Professor, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India
Title: Exploitation of soil metagenomics for monitoring microbial nitrogen transformation and soil fertility
Publications:

• M.S. Doud, R. Grimes-Zeppegno, E. Molina, N. Miller, D. Balachandar, L. Schneper, R. Poppiti, and K. Mathee. A k2A-positive Klebsiella pneumoniae causes liver and brain abscess in a Saint Kitt's man. International Journal of Medical Sciences 6(6):301-304.

5

01/09 - 07/09

Yuhua Shi, MD, Associate Professor, Reproductive Medical Center, Shandong University, China.
Title: Role of Pseudomonas aeruginosa AmpR-regulated lecA in virulence

Zhijun Song, M.D., Ph.D.
Title: Ginseng as anti-bacterial agent for treating Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Clinical Microbiologist, Department of Clinical Microbiology, University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Publications:

• Z. Song, K.F. Kong, H. Wu, and K. Mathee. Panax ginseng inhibits quorum sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• X.H. Guo, Z.J. Song, H. Wu, P. Yan, X.J. Qin, K. Mathee, N. Høiby, B.J. Tang, X.Q. Qiu, Y.Q. Chen. (2004). Effects of pre-immunization with Bacillus Calmette Guerin vaccine on chronic P. aeruginosa lung infection in rats.   Current Immunology 24:138-141. (In Chinese)
• Z. Song, H. Wu, O. Ciofu, K.F. Kong, N. Høiby, J. Rygaard, A. Kharazmi, K.  Mathee. (2003) Pseudomonas aeruginosa alginate is refractory to Th1 immune response and impedes host immune clearance in a mouse model of acute lung infection. Journal of Medical Microbiology 52:731-40.
• Z.J. Song, H. Wu, K. Mathee, N. Høiby, and A. Kharazmi. (2002). Gerimax ginseng regulates both humoral and cellular immunity during chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection.  Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 8:459-466
• H, Wu, Z. Song, M. Givskov, G. Doring, D. Worlitzsch, K. Mathee, J. Rygaard, and N. Hoiby. (2001). Pseudomonas aeruginosa mutations in lasI and rhlI quorum sensing systems result in milder chronic lung infection. Microbiology 147:1105-1113.
• H. Wu, Song, Z.J., K. Mathee, M. Hentzer, J.B. Andersen, A. Heydorn, C. Moser, L. Eberl, S. Molin, N. Høiby, and M. Givskov. (2000)Detection of N-acylhomoserine lactones in lung tissues of mice infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Microbiology 146:2481-2493.

DeEtta Mills, Ph.D.
Title: (i) Using molecular tools to discern microbial diversity; (ii) Proteomic analysis in response to b-lactam antibiotics in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Director, DNA Fingerprinting Facility, International Forensic Research Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL.
Publications:

• J. Entry, D.K. Mills, K. Mathee, K. Jayachandran, R.E. Sojka and G. Narasimhan. (2008) Influence of irrigated agriculture on soil microbial diversity. Applied Soil Ecology 40:146-154.
• D.K. Mills, J.A. Entry, K. Mathee, and P.M. Gillevet. (2007). Mini-Review: Assessing Microbial Community Diversity Using Amplicon Length Heterogeneity PCR. Soil Science Society of America Journal 71 March-April
• D.K. Mills, J. A. Entry, J.D. Voss, P.M. Gillevet, and K. Mathee. (2006). An assessment of the hypervariable domains of the 16S rRNA genes for their value in determining microbial community diversity: the paradox of traditional ecological indices. FEMS Microbiological Ecology 57:496-503.
• L.I.  Moreno,  D. K.  Mills, J.  Entry, R.T.  Sautter, and K.  Mathee. (2006). Microbial metagenome profiling using Amplicon Length Heterogeneity-Polymerase Chain Reaction (ALH-PCR) proves more effective than elemental analysis in discriminating soil specimens. Journal of Forensic Science 51:1315-1322.
• C. Yang, D. Mills, K. Mathee, Y. Wang, K. Jayachandran, M. Sikaroodi, P. Gillevet, J. Entry, G. Narasimhan. (2006). Ecoinformatics tools for microbial diversity studies: Supervised classification of amplicon length heterogeneity (ALH) profiles of 16S rRNA.  Journal of Microbiological Methods 65: 49-62.

• D. Mills, J.A. Entry, K. Mathee, K. Jayachandran, R.E. Sojka, W.J. Busscher. (2003). Irrigated agriculture and tillage practices impact microbial community structure. Proceedings of the International Soil Tillage Research Organization, 16th Triennial Conference, July 2003, Brisbane, Australia. p749-754.

Yuan Gao (Coadvised) MS ’97, PhD ‘99
Title: Detection of helix-turn-helix motifs in protein
Major Advisor: Dr. Giri Narasimhan
Publications:

• G. Narasimhan, C. Bu, Y. Gao, X. Wang, N. Xu, K. Mathee. (2002) Mining protein sequences for motifs. Journal of Computational Biology 9:707-720.
• Y. Gao, K. Mathee, G. Narasimhan, X. Wang. (1999). Motif Detection in Protein Sequences. Proceedings of SPIRE'99, Cancun, Mexico. p 63-72.

Postdoctoral fellow, Harvard Medical School, Boston. Joining as an Assistant Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond.

Andres Plata Stapper, MS ‘03
Title: Role of exopolysacchride alginate in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation associated with cystic fibrosis.
Publications:

• A.P. Stapper, G. Narasimhan, D.E. Ohman, J. Barakat, M. Hentzer, S. Molin, A. Kharazmi, N. Høiby, K. Mathee. Alginate production affects Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm development and architecture, but is not essential for biofilm formation. Journal of Medical Microbiology 53:679-690.
• It became one of the 50-most-frequently read articles, at one point ranking number 5.

Sasha Zinzila Miller, MF ‘03
Title: Develop a novel molecular diagnostic tool to track bacterial infection in cystic fibrosis sputum using 16S rRNA.
Publication:

• S.Z. Miller, S. King, and K. Mathee. (2006). Forensic DNA analysis: An overview of human DNA analysis. International Journal of Forensic Science (Revista de Ciencias Forenses) 1:31-38

Ramakrishna Ruttala, MEnv ’04 (Co-advised)
Title: Distribution and biogeochemical importance of bacterial population in the Everglades Tree Islands.
Major Advisor: Dr. Krishnaswamy Jayachandran
Technician, Hemispheric Center for Environmental Technology, Florida International University

Sheria King, MF ’04
Title: Investigation of gyrB as a potential forensic microbial molecular marker
Publication:

• S.Z. Miller, S. King, and K. Mathee. (2006). Forensic DNA analysis: An overview of human DNA analysis. International Journal of Forensic Science (Revista de Ciencias Forenses) 1:31-38

Kok-Fai Kong, PhD ’05
Title: Characterization of amp genes involved in b-lactamase expression.

• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Traineeship Grant, July 2005.
• ASM Travel Award, 45th Annual International Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) on September 21 – 24, 2005 in New Orleans, LA.
• CSH Participation Award, 4th Biannual Meeting of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Microbial Pathogenesis and Host Response, Sept 14th  – 18th, 2004, Cold Spring Harbor, NY.
• ASM Travel Award, 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Washington, DC. May 18th – 22nd, 2003.

• Z. Song, K.F. Kong, H. Wu, and K. Mathee. Panax ginseng inhibits quorum sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• K.F. Kong, D. Balasubramanian, S. Jayawardena, S. Leal, R. Sautter, and K. Mathee. (2009). Coregulation of antibiotic resistance, alginate production, and quorum sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.  Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (Provisionally Accepted).
• A. L. Adonizio, K.F. Kong, and K. Mathee. (2008). Inhibition of quorum sensing-controlled virulence factor production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa by South Florida plant extracts. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 52:198-203.
• K.F. Kong, S.R. Jayawardena, A. Del Puerto, L. Wiehlmann, U. Laabs, B. Tummler, and K. Mathee. (2005) Characterization of poxB, a chromosomal-encoded Pseudomonas aeruginosa oxacillinase. Gene 358:82-92
• K.F. Kong, S.R. Jayawardena, S. D. Indulkar, A. del Puerto, C-L. Koh, N. Høiby, and K.  Mathee. (2005) Pseudomonas aeruginosa AmpR is a global transcriptional factor that regulates expression of AmpC and PoxB b-lactamases, proteases, quorum sensing and other virulence factors. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 49:4567-75.
• Article selected for Journal Highlights in the ASM News December issue. A monthly issue that highlights one article per journal that describes new and exciting developments in microbial research.
• Z. Song, H. Wu, O. Ciofu, K.F. Kong, N. Høiby, J. Rygaard, A. Kharazmi, K.  Mathee. (2003). Pseudomonas aeruginosa alginate is refractory to Th1 immune response and impedes host immune clearance in a mouse model of acute lung infection. Journal of Medical Microbiology 52:731-40.

Robert Todd Sautter, MS ’05
Title: Molecular mechanism responsible for mucoid to nonmucoid conversion in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

• Recipient of summer NIH-BRI/MBRS 2005 Award ($3000)

• K. Mathee, D. Ramos, R. Sautter, O. Ciofu, A. Heydorn, N. Hoiby, A. Kharazmi, C. DeVries, D.E. Ohman and L. Schneper. Mucoid-to-nonmucoid conversion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa occurs by multiple pathways.
• K.F. Kong, D. Balasubramanian, S. Jayawardena, S. Leal, R. Sautter, and K. Mathee.  Coregulation of antibiotic resistance, alginate production, and quorum sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.  Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (Provisionally Accepted).
• L.I.  Moreno,  D. K.  Mills, J.  Entry, R.T.  Sautter, and K.  Mathee. (2006). Microbial metagenome profiling using Amplicon Length Heterogeneity-Polymerase Chain Reaction (ALH-PCR) proves more effective than elemental analysis in discriminating soil specimens. Journal of Forensic Science 51:1315-1322.

Lillana Moreno, MF ’05
Title: Molecular and chemical characterization of three Miami-Dade soil types for forensic comparison

• Second Prize for Poster Presentation in the Life Sciences Category, 2005 Graduate Student Association Annual Scholarly Forum

• L.I.  Moreno,  D. K.  Mills, J.  Entry, R.T.  Sautter, and K.  Mathee. (2006). Microbial metagenome profiling using Amplicon Length Heterogeneity-Polymerase Chain Reaction (ALH-PCR) proves more effective than elemental analysis in discriminating soil specimens. Journal of Forensic Science 51:1315-1322.

Melissa Doud            
Title: The Role of Amplicon Length Heterogeneity – Polymerase Chain Reaction in Microbial Community Profiling and Presumptive Testing of Bioagents
Ph.D. Student, Department of Biological Sciences, FIU, Miami, FL.

• First Prize for Oral Presentation in the Life Sciences Category, 2005 Graduate Student Association Annual Scholarly Forum

Lance Umansky       
Title: Development of species-specific probe for Bacillus anthracis.
Free Lancer

• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Traineeship Grant, Three-time Recipient
• ASM Travel Award, 106th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Orlando, FL. May 21st – 25th. 2006.
• Second Prize for the Oral Presentation Award, 8th Biomedical and Comparative Immunology Symposium. Immunodiversity: Cellular and molecular interactions. Miami, FL. Mar 3th – 4th. 2006.
• Recipient of summer NIH-BRI/MBRS 2005 Award ($3000)
• CSH Participation Award, 4th Biannual Meeting of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Microbial Pathogenesis and Host Response, Cold Spring Harbor, NY. Sept 14th  – 18th, 2004.
• Best Presentation Award, The Joint 45th Annual Meeting of the Society for Economic Botany with the International Society of Ethnobiology and the 8th International Society for Ethnopharmacology at University of Kent at Canterbury, UK. June 13th – 17th, 2004.

• A. L. Adonizio, K. Downum, B. C. Bennett, and K. Mathee. (2006). Anti-quorum sensing activity of medicinal plants in southern Florida. Journal of Ethnopharamocology 105:427-35.
• A. L. Adonizio, K.F. Kong, and K. Mathee.  Inhibition of quorum sensing-controlled virulence factor production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa by South Florida plant extracts. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 52:198-203
• A. L. Adonizio, S. Leal, F. Ausubel, and K. Mathee. Attenuation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence by medicinal plants in a Caenorhabditis elegans model system.  Journal of Medical Microbiology57:809-813
• Patent Application: Ellagitannins as inhibitors of bacterial quorum sensing. Patent application has been filed by FIU. Serial No: 61/036,812. Involved K. Mathee, A. L. Adonizio, F. Ausubel, J. Clardy, B. Bennett and K. Downum

Allison Adonizio
Title: Identification of quorum sensing inhibitors in South Florida medicinal plants.
Publications:

• A. L. Adonizio, K. Downum, B. C. Bennett, and K. Mathee. (2006). Anti-quorum sensing activity of medicinal plants in southern Florida. Journal of Ethnopharamocology 105:427-35.
• A. L. Adonizio, K.F. Kong, and K. Mathee.  Inhibition of quorum sensing-controlled virulence factor production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa by South Florida plant extracts. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 52:198-203
• A. L. Adonizio, S. Leal, F. Ausubel, and K. Mathee. Attenuation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence by medicinal plants in a Caenorhabditis elegans model system.  Journal of Medical Microbiology57:809-813
• Patent Application: Ellagitannins as inhibitors of bacterial quorum sensing. Patent application has been filed by FIU. Serial No: 61/036,812. Involved K. Mathee, A. L. Adonizio, F. Ausubel, J. Clardy, B. Bennett and K. Downum

Todd M. Crandall
Title: Discrimination of soils by amplicon length heterogeneity (ALH)-PCR generated bacterial community profiles; a novel application for the forensic examination of soil.
FBI Agent, Arlington, Washington, DC

Chigoziem Derek Nkwonta, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Title: Characterization of multi-drug resistant Pseudominas aeruginosa isolates from Southern Nigeria. Visiting PhD student from University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Back in Nigeria completing his PhD

Damaris Ramos, BS (Biology)
Title: Molecular mechanism responsible for mucoid to nonmucoid conversion in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Ms. Ramos was part of the Honor’s college and the Biology Honors program. The Biology Honors program has stringent admission criteria requiring students to have a GPA in biology subjects to be more than 3.5. She received several honors, awards, and scholarships, notably

• The NIH – MBRS – RISE Scholarship to work in my group
• The ASM-MURC fellowship that allowed her to spend a summer in Tufts University in Boston
• The FIU – Travel Award to present her work at the 7th Asian Conference on Transcription in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in July 2002. (http://www.fiu.edu/~asian/fu_foundation_scholarship_recipi.htm)
• The FIU Honors college award for Academic Excellence in Science/Technology (http://www.fiu.edu/~honors/honorsconvo/)
• The FIU Faculty Award for outstanding achievement “Student SpotLight” (http://news.fiu.edu/thisweek/04nov02.htm)
• An invitation by Prof. Adhya to present her work at the National Institute of Health (NIH).
• She also presented her work in October 2002, at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS): Preparing scientists for the 21st Century, organized by the ASM in New Orleans, LA. Her work was selected for the Proceedings of the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR). Only 14% of the works are selected for peer-review publication.
  

Publications:

• D. Ramos, A. Heydorn, C. Koh, K. Mathee. (2003). Loss of alginate production in mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa occurs via deregulation of the alternative sigma factor AlgT. Proceedings of the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR). p1-9 (9 pages).
• K. Mathee, D. Ramos, R. Sautter, O. Ciofu, A. Heydorn, N. Hoiby, A. Kharazmi, C. DeVries, D.E. Ohman and L. Schneper. Mucoid-to-nonmucoid conversion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa occurs by multiple pathways.

Analisa Cumberbach, BS (Biology)
(Jointly advised with Dr. Jim Fourqurean)                
Title: Characterization of anti-bacterial compounds made by Miami marine algae  

• Biology Honors student.
• She laid the foundation for some of the current work in my lab.

Maria Raquel Weaver, BS (Biology)                      
Title: To determine the relationship between alginate production and quorum sensing molecules in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

• Florida Georgia-Stokes League in Alliance for Minority Scholarship.
• Second place in Life-Science Presentation Category for here presentation entitled, “Bacterial communication in expression of the virulent genes of the pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa” at the Florida Georgia-Stokes League in Alliance for Minority Participation Exposition.

Alian Aguila   BS (Biology)              
Title: Topology analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa AmpG permease.

Mr. Aguila was a member of both the University and Biology Honors programs. Alian generated several plasmid constructs that will be used in my lab in many projects. Alian is an exceptional student with many awards and credits to his name, notably,

• Biology Honor Student
• NIH - National Cancer Institute Cancer Research Fellowship
• NIH - National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Summer Internship
• NIH-NIGMS MARC U-STAR Scholarship
• Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society
• Padron Scholar
• Florida Georgia-Stokes League in Alliance for Minority Scholar
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund-Department of Energy Award.
• FIU Faculty Award for Outstanding Achievement
• FIU News “Student Spot Light” (news.fiu.edu/thisweek/01sep03.htm)
• FIU Homepage Alumni Spotlight (news.fiu.edu/releases/2003/10-13_alian_aguila.htm)

• K.F Kong, A. Aguila, G. Narasimhan, J. Park, T. Ueharaa, L. Schneper, and K. Mathee. (2009). Pseudomonas aeruginosa ß-lactamase induction requires ampP and ampG encoding permeases.

Aditi Gurkar
Title: Phage therapy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm

• Biology Honors Student
• Summer Internship in Harvard Medical, Boston with Stephen Lory (Summer 2005); subsequently she joined the lab as a technician in Spring 2006.
• 2005 Robert J Smiddy Excellence in Research Award (given to outstanding undergraduate researcher for the quality of thesis and presentation)
• FIU Faculty Award for Outstanding Achievement 2006
• Inducted into Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society

Raquel Olavarietta               
Title: Role of AmpR in biofilm Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm antibiotic resistance

• Biology Honors Student
• FIU Faculty Award for Outstanding Service in 2005
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Traineeship Grant, Aug 2006

Sergio Luna
Title: Mapping Pseudomonas aeruginosa amp gene transcripts

• Biology Honors Student
• FIU Faculty Award for Outstanding Achievement, 2006

Sixto Leal
Title: Role of Pseudomonas aeruginosa L-serine deaminase in virulence

• Biology Honors Student
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Traineeship Grant, Jan 2005

Publications:

• K.F. Kong, D. Balasubramanian, S. Jayawardena, S. Leal, R. Sautter, and K. Mathee.  Coregulation of antibiotic resistance, alginate production, and quorum sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.  Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (Provisionally Accepted).
• A. Adonizio, S. Leal, F. Ausubel, and K. Mathee. (2008). Attenuation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence by medicinal plants in a Caenorhabditis elegans model system.  Journal of Medical Microbiology57:809-813

Krystal Anson
Title: Development of mold remediation tools

• McNair Fellow
• FIU Faculty Award for Outstanding Service in 2006
• First Prize, Best Poster Presentation and Third Prize for Best Research Report, FIU 2005 Summer Research Institute Symposium. Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program.

Natalie Maricic
Title: Investigating an alternative treatment to cystic fibrosis: testing the effect of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer extracts on Pseudomonas aeruginosa

• Biology Honors Student
• McNair Fellow
• FIU Faculty Award for Outstanding Achievement 2008
• Several Outstanding Poster Awards
• 2008 Robert J Smiddy Excellence in Research Award (given to outstanding undergraduate researcher for the quality of thesis and presentation)
• Best Poster Presentation Award, 10th Annual Biology Research Symposium, Feb 16th, 2008.
• Best Poster Presentation Award, Undergraduate Category, 2007 Annual Meeting of the Florida Branch American Society for Microbiology
• Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society

Nabil Abou Baker
Title: Presumptive identification of the fungal communities in cystic fibrosis patients’ sputum using amplicon length heterogeneity polymerase chain reaction

• Honors Student
• Summer Internship in Vanderbilt University (Summer 2007 and 2008)
• Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society

Sum'07-Sp '09

Raphael Bosse
Title: Role of IclR-type regulator PA4157 in ß-lactam resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

• Honors Student
• Summer 2007 Internship in Johns Hopkins
• Summer 2008 Internship un MIT
• FIU Faculty Award for Outstanding Achievement 2009
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Traineeship Grant, Jan 2009
• Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society

Christian Villaseca
Title: Characterization of ginseng component responsible for antiquorum sensing activity

• 2008 Robert J Smiddy Excellence in Research Award (given to outstanding undergraduate researcher for the quality of thesis and presentation)

Ankita Baxi, Houston Middle School, Germantown, TN.
Project Title: Bacterial Resistance to Commonly Used Antibiotics
She spent the semester working on this project. She received the following awards at the Memphis/Shelby County Science and Engineering Fair .

• The Commercial Appeal Junior Division Award (The First Prize, Seventh Grade)
• The Commercial Appeal Junior Scholar Award
• West Tennessee Chapter of the American Statistical Association (Third Place, Junior Division)
• Outstanding Achievement Recognition by McDonalds for Top 25 Projects in Junior Division.

Ankita Baxi, Houston Middle School, Germantown, Tennessee.
Project Title: Genetic Exchange 
She spent the semester working on this project. She received the following awards at Memphis/Shelby County Science and Engineering Fair.

• The Winner of Commercial Appeal Junior Division Award (Eighth Graders)
• The Commercial Appeal Junior Lighthouse Scholar Award
• Outstanding Achievement Recognition by McDonalds for Top 25 Projects in Junior Division,
• Discovery Young Scientist Challenge in Recognition of an Outstanding Ability to Communicate Science.

Sum '03 -
Sum '04

Carolina Cazales, Coral Park High School, Miami
Ms. Cazales has been volunteering in my lab during her summer holidays. She has been learning about the how the lab is run. She has done the chemical and enzyme inventory and did a lab map indicating where every item has been placed.

Gary Rodriguez, Coral Park High School, Miami
Mr. Rodriguez primary interest is in environmental science. He was certainly a trooper, learning and helping. In Summer ’04, Mr. Rodriguez joined Dr. Joel Trexler’s lab in FIU.

Rafael Oritz and Michael Rodriguez Columbus High, Miami
Project Title: Jamming bacterial communication 

• Selected to represent the school at Miami-Dade County Fair
• Selected to represent county at the Florida Science Fair
• Received an Honorable Mention Award

2009 Meeting of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Microbial Pathogenesis and Host Response, Sept 8th  – 12th, Cold Spring Harbor, NY.

• D. Balasubramanian, K. Turner, M. Merighi, S. Dove, S. Lory, L. Schneper, and K. Mathee. Pseudomonas aeruginosa AmpR, a novel virulence regulator. Abstract #20.
• O. Caille, M. Merighi, D. Balasubramanian, L. Schneper, S. Lory, K. Mathee. Pseudomonas aeruginosa AmpR, a LysR-type regulator is involved in the direct regulation OF ampC encoding inducible ß-lactamase. Abstract #33.
• C. Ceballos, L. Florez, R.J. Smiddy, R. T. Sautter, M. Stylianou, L. Schneper, and K. Mathee. Mapping mutations responsible for nonmucoid reversion phenotype of mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Abstract #36.
• M.S. Doud, L. Schneper, P.M. Gillevet, M. Light and K. Mathee. Community sequencing elucidates fungal community in cystic fibrosis sputum. Abstract #48.
• N. Maricic, S.K. Murugapiran, A. Malladi, A. Sobczak, L. Schneper, S.  Wnuk, J. Makemson, and K. Mathee. Inhibition of quorum sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Vibrio harveyi using synthesized 4-Aza S-ribosylhomocysteine analogues. Abstract #115.
• S.K. Murugapiran, D. Balasubramanian, M. Merighi, L. Schneper, S. Lory, and K.Mathee. Effects of ß-lactamase induction on the Pseudomonas aeruginosa proteome. Abstract #127.
• C. Villaseca, H. Priestap, B. Ramalingam, N. Maricic, J. M. Quirke , K. Vandenberg, L. Schneper and K. Mathee. Panax ginseng extracts contain anti-quorum and anti-bacterial compounds. Abstract #160.
• D. Zincke, D. Balasubramanian, L. Schneper, and K. Mathee. Role of Pseudomonas aeruginosa poxAB operon in β-lactam resistance. Abstract #179.

108th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Philadelphia, MA. May 17th – 21st.

• M. Doud, R. Grimes-Zemppegno, E. Molina, N. Miller, D. Balachandran,  L. Schneper, R. Poppiti, and K. Mathee. Liver and brain abscess due to infection by magA-negative Klebsiella pneumoniae. Abstract #V016.
• J. C. Makemson, L. Schneper, N. Maricic, and K. Mathee. Stimulation of growth and inhibition of quorum sensing by ginseng of Vibrio harveyi. Abstract #I-027.

25th Southern Biomedical Engineering Conference 2009, 15 – 17 May 2009, Miami, Florida, USA.

• G. Gonzalez, M. Doud, K. Mathee and G. Narasimhan. Computer-Assisted Bacterial Identification Using 16S rRNA Sequence Data

2009 Graduate Student Association Annual Scholarly Forum

• M. Doud, P. Gillivet, M. Light and K. Mathee. Community Sequencing Analysis of Bacterial Communities Found within Cystic Fibrosis Lung.

Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS): Preparing scientists for the 21st Century. American Society for Microbiology. New Orleans, LA. Nov 13th – 16th. 

• C. Ceballos, L. Schneper and K. Mathee Mapping a Mutation Responsible for Nonmucoid Reversion Phenotype of Mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

3rd Joint Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and Wellcome Trust Conference on Genomic Perspectives to Host-Pathogen Interactions. Hinxton, United Kingdom Sept. 3rd – 6th.

• Mathee, K., C. Valdes, L. Schneper, S. Lory, and G. Narasimhan. Paralog analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Abstract #33.

7th Joint Meeting of AFERP, ASP, GA, PSE & GIF. Natural products with pharmaceutical, Nutraceutical, Cosmetic, and Agrochemical Interest. Athens, Greece, August 3rd – 8th.

• A. Adonizio, J. Dawlaty, F. Ausubel, J. Clardy, and K. Mathee. Ellagitannins from Cornocarpus erectus exhibits anti-quorum sensing activity. Abstract #PB28

107th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Boston, MA. June 1st – 5th.

• D.C. Nkwonta, V. Pannu, K. Paisely, L. Schneper, B.A. Adeniyi, K. Mathee. Molecular epidemiology of multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Southwest Nigerian Hospitals. Abstract #L-009
• D. Balasubramanian, L. Schneper, O. Caille, M. Merighi, A. Brencic, R. Smith, E. Zeng, S. Lory, G. Narasimhan, K. Mathee. Elucidating the Pseudomonas aeruginosa AmpR regulon. Abstract #A045
• J. C. Makemson, B. Ramalingam, K. Mathee. Ginseng affects induction of luminescence in Vibrio harveyi Abstract #I-080
• D. Zincke, D. Balasubramanian, K-F.Kong, L. Schneper, K. Mathee. Characterization of the poxAB operon in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Abstract #A-083
• B. Ramalingam, N. Maricic, J.M.E. Quirke, J. Makemsom, N. Rodriguez, L. Schneper, K. Mathee. Investigating the Role of ginsenosides on antibacterial and anti-quorum sensing against Chromobacterium violaceum. Abstract #A-066
• M.S. Doud, N. Baker, L. Schneper, K. Mathee; Metagenomic analysis of the cystic fibrosis lung using amplicon length heterogeneity polymerase chain reaction. Abstract #C-341

8th Comparative Immunology Symposium. Immunodiversity: Cellular and molecular interactions. Miami, FL. Mar 6th – 7th.

• N. Baker, M. Doud, L. Schenepr and K. Mathee.  Fungal analysis of the cystic fibrosis lung using Amplicon Length Hetereogentiy – Polymerase Chain Reaction

10th Annual Biology Research Symposium, Feb 16th, Kampong Botanical Gardens, Miami, FL

• D.C. Nkwonta, V. Pannu, K. Paisely, L. Schneper, B.A. Adeniyi, K. Mathee; Molecular epidemiology of multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in southwest Nigerian Hospitals.
• D. Balasubramanian, L. Schneper, O. Caille, M. Merighi, A. Brencic, R. Smith, E. Zeng, S. Lory, G. Narasimhan, K. Mathee; Elucidating the Pseudomonas aeruginosa AmpR regulon.
• D. Zincke, D. Balasubramanian, L. Schneper, K. Mathee; Characterization of the poxAB operon in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
• N. Maricic, B. Ramalingam,  J.M.E. Quirke, N. Rodriguez, L. Schneper, K. Mathee; Investigating the role of ginsenosides on antibacterial and anti-quorum sensing against Chromobacterium violaceum.
• M.S. Doud, N. Baker, L. Schneper, K. Mathee; Metagenomic analysis of the cystic fibrosis lung using Amplicon Length Heterogeneity Polymerase Chain Reaction.

10th Asian Conference on Transcription (ACT-X), Jan 13th – 16th, Bangelore, India.

• D. Balasubramanian,  K.F. Kong, R. Smith, G. Narasimhan, S. Lory and K. Mathee. Transcriptome analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa AmpR regulon.
• M. Doud, E. Zeng, D. Balasubramanian, K. Mathee, and G. Narasimhan.  Use of a new algorithm Iterative Enhancement of Motifs (IEM) to predict AmpR binding site.

2007 Meeting of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Genome Informatics, Nov 1st – 5th, Cold Spring Harbor, NY.

• P. Godfrey, K. Mathee, G. Narasimhan, C. Valdes, E. Zeng, R. Olavarietta, M. Doud, C.Yandava, M. Koehrsen, R. Engels, P. Montgomery, J. White, C. Kodira, S. Lory, B. Birren and J. Galagan. Comparative Genomics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

2007 Annual Meeting of the Florida Branch American Society for Microbiology, Oct 6th  – 8th, St. Peterburg, FL.

• D. Balasubramanian, K.F. Kong, A. Aguila, G. Narasimhan, J. Park, T. Uehara, M. Merighi, S. Lory and K. Mathee. Toward the Understanding of the mechanism of ß-lactamase induction in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
• N. Maricic, B. Ramalingam, J.M. Quirke and K. Mathee. Standardization of ginsenosides in Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer
• M. Doud and K. Mathee. Molecular analysis cystic fibrosis sputum metagenome using Amplicon Length Heterogeneity – Polymerase Chain Reaction (ALH-PCR)

FIU Minority Biomedical Research Mini-Symposium. University Park. FL. Sept 27th.

• M. Doud and K. Mathee. Molecular analysis of the polymicrobial disease, cystic fibrosis, using Amplicon Length Heterogeneity – Polymerase Chain Reaction (ALH-PCR)

5th Annual RECOMB Satellite Workshop on Comparative Genomics (RECOMB-CG'07). Sept 16th -18th,  La Jolla, California, U.S.A.

• G. Narasimhan, K. Mathee, C. Valdes, E. Zeng, R. Olavarrieta,  M.Doud, P. Godfrey, M. Koershen, A. Rokas, C. Yandava, R. Engels, C. Kodira, B. Birren, J. Galagan, S. Lory. Comparative genomics of pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

2007 Meeting of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Microbial Pathogenesis and Host Response, Sept 15th  – 19th, Cold Spring Harbor, NY.

• K.F. Kong, A. Aguila, G. Narasimhan, J. Park, T. Uehara, M. Merighi, D. Balasubramanian, S. Lory and K. Mathee. Toward the Understanding of the mechanism of ß-lactamase induction in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Abstract #88

47th Annual Meeting of the Society for Economic Botany in Chiang Mai, Thailand.  June 5th-9th, 2006.

• A. Adonizio, K.F. Kong, and K. Mathee. Anti-quorum sensing potential of South Florida medicinal plants and the attenuation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa pathogenicity.

106th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Orlando, FL. May 21st – 25th.

• R. Olavarrieta, and K. Mathee. The role of AmpRand alginate production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm antibiotic resistance. Abstract # A-005/006.
• T. M. Crandall, D. K. Mills, C. Yang, G. Narasimhan, J. Entry, J. Perr, and K. Mathee. Discrimination of soils by amplicon length heterogeneity (ALH)-PCR generated bacterial community profiles; a novel application for the forensic examination of soil. Abstract # N-017/383.
• K. R. Anson, G. Yaari, G. Tachiev, K. Mathee. Developing an efficient mold remediation protocol using hydrogen peroxide and ferrous iron. Abstract # Q-413/528.
• L. Moreno, D. Mills, J. Entry, R. Sautter, K. Mathee.  Molecular and chemical characterization of three Miami-Dade soil types for forensic comparison. Abstract #: N-232/541.
• R. T. Sautter, and K. Mathee. AlgO, a positive regulator of alginate production is a putative perisplamic protease with high homology to Escherichia coli Prc. Abstract #: B-243/054.
• M. Doud, D. Mills, M. Light, J. Martinez, and K. Mathee. Molecular-based diagnostic of cystic fibrosis lung infection using amplicon length heterogeneity - polymerase chain reaction (ALH-PCR). Abstract #: C-250/059.
• A. L. Adonizio, K-F. Kong, S. Leal, K. Downum, and K. Mathee. The ability of the medicinal plant Conocarpus erectus (Combretaceae) to inhibit bacterial virulence through interruption of cell-cell communication. Abstract #: A-063/021

Allison received an ASM travel award.

• S. M. Leal, Jr., K. Kong, S. Jayawardena, R. T. Sautter, and K. Mathee. A Co-Regulatory Network of antibiotic resistance, alginate production, and LasA protease activity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Abstract #: H-061/212.
• A. Gurkar, D. Balasubramanian, S. Indulkar, J. Manur, and K. Mathee.  Potential Application of phage therapy for prophylactic treatment against Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm Infections. Abstract #: D-067/117

ICNDST & ADC 2006 Joint Conference NC. Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. May 15th – 18th.

• V.P. Verma, H. Vedala, M. Doud, S. Roy, K. Mathee, and W. Choi. Carbon nanotube-enhanced electrochemical biosensor for cholesterol measurement in blood.

American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting.

• L. I. Moreno, D.  Mills, J. Entry, R. Sautter and K. Mathee. Potential use of Microbial DNA in soil forensics.

8th Biomedical and Comparative Immunology Symposium. Immunodiversity: Cellular and molecular interactions. Miami, FL. Mar 3th – 4th.

• A. Adonizio, and K. Mathee. Anti-quorum sensing agents from South Florida medicinal plants and their potential to attenuate Pseudomonas aeruginosa pathogenicity.

9th Asian Conference on Transcription (ACT-IX), Dec 12th – 15th, Zhunan Town, Taiwan.

• K. Mathee, S. R. Jayawardena, S. M. Leal, R. T. Sautter, K. Kong. Complex cross-talk between the global regulator AmpR and extracytoplasmic function sigma factor AlgT/U in regulating antibiotic resistance, alginate production and quorum sensing.

Forensic Science: The nexus of science and the law. Sackler Colloquium, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C. November 16th to 18th.

• L. Moreno, D. Mills, R. Sautter, and K. Mathee. Characterization of Miami-Dade Soil types for forensic comparison.
• M. Doud, D. Mills, and K. Mathee. The role of Amplicon Length Heterogeneity – Polymerase Chain Reaction in microbial community profiling and presumptive testing of bioagents.

The ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings, Salt Lake City, UT. November 6th –10th.

• D. Mills, K. Mathee,  K. Jayachandran, J. Entry. Molecular Based Approaches to Soil Microbiology Assessing Microbial Community Diversity Using Amplicon Length Heterogeneity PCR.

The 2005 North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference, Baltimore, Maryland. October 20th - 23rd.

• S. Cardenas, A. Auais, M. Doud, K. Mathee, and G. Piedimonte. Neurogenic inflammation during acute Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in weanling Fischer-344 rats

45th Annual International Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) on September 21 – 24, 2005 in New Orleans, LA.

• K.F. Kong, S.R. Jayawardena, S. Indulaker, A. del Puerto, C. Koh, N. Høiby and K. Mathee. Pseudomonas aeruginosa AmpR is a global transcriptional factor that regulates expression of AmpC and PoxB b-lactamases, proteases, quorum sensing and other virulence factors.

4th Biannual Meeting of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Microbial Pathogenesis and Host Response, Sept 14th  – 18th, Cold Spring Harbor, NY.

• A. Adonizio, K.F. Kong, and K. Mathee. Anti-quorum sensing activity of South Florida medicinal plants. Abstract #13.

• K.F. Kong, S.R. Jayawardena, R.T. Sautter, and K. Mathee. Coregulation of antibiotic resistance, alginate production, and quorum sensing in P. aeruginosa. Abstract #97.

FIU 2005 Summer Research Institute Symposium. Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program.

• K. Anson, G. Tachiev, K. Mathee. Development of mold remediation process using hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by Fe(II) iron.

46th Annual Meeting of the Society for Economic Botany at Texas Christian University, Ft. Worth, TX  June 5th-10th, 2005.

• A. Adonizio, K. Downum, B. Bennett, and K. Mathee. Anti-quorum sensing compounds from plants: expanding or view of anti-bacterial efficacy.

2005 Graduate Student Association Annual Scholarly Forum

• M. Doud. S. Miller, D. Mills, and K. Mathee. Profiling of microbial communities using amplicon length heterogeneity-polymerase chain reaction.
• L. Moreno, D. Mill, J. Entry, T.T. Sautter and K. Mathee. Molecular and chemical characterization of three Miami-Dade soil types for forensic comparison.

81st Annual American Chemical Society Meeting – FAME 2005. Orlando, FL. May 6th to 8th. 

• L. Moreno,D. Mill, J. Entry, T.T. Sautter and K. Mathee. Molecular and chemical characterization of three Miami-Dade soil types for forensic comparison.
• M. Doud. S. Miller, D. Mills, and K. Mathee. Profiling of microbial communities using amplicon length heterogeneity-polymerase chain reaction.
• T. M. Crandall, D. Mills, J.A. Entry, J.M. Perr, R.T. Sautter, and K. Mathee. Discrimination of soils by amplicon length heterogeneity-polymerase (ALH)-PCR bacterial community profiles: a novel application for the forensic examination of soil.

ASM Conference on the New Phage Biology. Key Biscayne, FL. Aug 1st – 5th.

• Gurkar, D. Balasubramanian, S. Indulkar, J. Manur, and K. Mathee. Potential application of phage therapy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm infections.

27th European Cystic Fibrosis Conference. Birmingham, UK. June 12th – 17th.

• K-F. Kong, S. Jayawardena, A. del Puerto, and K. Mathee. Characterization of poxA, a chromosomal-encoded Pseudomonas aeruginosa oxacillinase. Abstract #155. Journal of Cystic Fibrosis 3:S43

The Joint 45th Annual Meeting of the Society for Economic Botany with the International Society of Ethnobiology and the 8th International Society for Ethnopharmacology at University of Kent at Canterbury, UK. June 13th – 17th.

• Adonizio, K. Downum, B. Bennett, and K. Mathee. Identification of quorum sensing inhibitors in South Florida medicinal plants: an understudied aspect of efficacy.

104th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in New Orleans, LA. May 18th – 22nd.

• D. Mills, S. King, S. Miller, and K. Mathee. Nonhuman DNA: application of community analysis of soil for crime scene investigation. Abstract #Q-522.

6th Comparative Immunology Symposium. Immunodiversity: Cellular and molecular interactions. Miami, FL. Mar 4th – 5th.

• K-F. Kong, S. Jayawardena, A. del Puerto, and K. Mathee. Characterization of poxA, a chromosomal-encoded Pseudomonas aeruginosa oxacillinase.

Forensic Sciences Symposium 2004, Ft Lauderdale, FL. Feb. 27th – 28th. 

• D. Mills, S. King, S. Miller, and K. Mathee. Nonhuman DNA: Application of community analysis for crime scene investigations.
• S. Miller, M. Doud, D. Mills, and K. Mathee. Nonhuman DNA: Application of microbial community analysis of samples mixed with human DNA for crime scene investigation.

2003/2004 Biology Research Symposium, FIU, Miami, FL. Jan 31st.

• Sautter, R., D. Ramos, and K. Mathee. Molecular mechanisms involved in the mucoid-to-nonmucoid conversion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

14th National Biotechnology Seminar: DNA: 50 Years and Beyond. Penang, Malaysia. University Science Malaysia and National Biotechnology Directorate, Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment, Malaysia. Dec 11th – 13th.

• K.G. Chan, Y.L. Hiew, M.E. Lim, K. Mathee, and C.L. Koh. Isolation of soil and fresh water bacteria exhibiting quorum sensing activity and characterization of their N-acylhomoserine lactone molecules. p144. 

FIU MBRS Mini-Symposium. University Park. FL. Oct 1st.

• R. Sautter, and K. Mathee. Molecular mechanisms involved in the mucoid-to-nonmucoid conversion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

9th International Congress on Pseudomonas. Quebec City, Canada. Sept 6th – 10th.

• S. Jayawardena, K-F. Kong, S. Indulkar, A. del Puerto, and K. Mathee. Effect of ampR in beta-lactamase and virulent factor expressions in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Abstract #65.

26th Congress European Cystic Fibrosis Society in Belfast, Northern Ireland. June 4th – 7th.

• Z. Song, H. Wu, K.F. Kong, N. Høiby, O. Ciofu, and K. Mathee. Ginseng inhibits quorum sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Abstract #153.

103rd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Washington, D.C. May 18th – 22nd.

• K-F. Kong, S. Jayawardena, and K. Mathee. Characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ampG involved in b-lactamase expression. Abstract #A-064.
• S.Z. Miller, D. Mills, C. Koch, T. Pressler, and K. Mathee. Amplicon length heterogeneity (ALH) profile analysis of cystic fibrosis sputum reveals diverse microbial community. Abstract #C-210.

• Y. Wang, C. Yang, D. Mills, K. Mathee, P. Gillevet, J. Entry, K. Jayachandran, and G. Narasimhan. Ecoinformatics tools: Unsupervised clustering and classification of microbial communities using ALH profile data from 16S rRNA. Abstract #R-042.
• C. Yang, Y. Wang, D. Mills, K. Mathee, P. Gillevet, J. Entry, K. Jayachandran, and G. Narasimhan. An ecoinformatics tool for microbial diversity studies: Supervised classification of ALH profiles of 16S rRNA. Abstract #R-043.

Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS): Preparing scientists for the 21st Century. American Society for Microbiology. New Orleans, LA. Nov 13th – 16th. 

• D. Ramos, K. Mathee, C. H. Bigger, A. Heydorn, C. Koh. Mutations in Pseudomonas aeruginosa alternative sigma factor, AlgT results in the loss of alginate production.
• A. Aguila, K. Mathee, C. H. Bigger, and K. Kong.

FIU MBRS Mini-Symposium. University Park Campus, Miami, FL. Oct 2nd.

• A. Aguila, and K. Mathee. Topology analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa AmpG, a putative permease.

7th Asian Conference on Transcription (ACT-VII), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. July 23rd – 27th.

• D. Ramos, A. Heydorn, C. Koh, and K. Mathee. Loss of alginate production in mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa occurs via deregulation of the alternative sigma factor AlgT. Abstract #7034.

• G. Narasimhan, C. Bu, Y. Gao, X. Wang, N. Xu, G. Zheng, and K Mathee.  Mining protein sequences for motifs. Abstract #7033.

102nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Salt Lake City, UT. May 19th – 23rd.

• Z. Song, H. Wu, A. Kharazmi, N. Høiby, O. Ciofu, J. Rygaard, and K. Mathee. Alginate production protects Pseudomonas aeruginosa from host immune clearance in a mouse model of acute lung infection. Abstract #D-61.
• R.K. Ruttala, D.K. Mills, K. Mathee, and K. Jayachandran. Molecular and biochemical characterization of microbial communities in The Everglades tree islands soils. Abstract #N-24.
• J.A. Entry, D.K. Mills, K. Mathee, K. Jayachandran, J.J. Fuhrmann, R. Ruttala, and R.E. Sojka. Influence of irrigated agriculture on soil microbial diversity. Abstract # N-19.

4th Comparative Immunology Symposium. Miami, FL. Feb 28th – Mar 1st.

• Z. Song, H. Wu, A. Kharazmi, N. Høiby, O. Ciofu, J. Rygaard, and K. Mathee. Alginate production protects Pseudomonas aeruginosa from host immune clearance in a mouse model of acute lung infection.

Florida Georgia-Stokes League in Alliance for Minority Participation Exposition, Orlando, FL.

• M. R. Iriarte, and K. Mathee. Bacterial communication in expression of the virulent genes of the pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The ASM Conference on Biodegradation, Biotransformation, and Biocatalysis (B3). San Juan, Puerto Rico. Oct 2nd – 6th.

• R.K. Ruttala, D.K. Mills, P.M. Gillevet, K.G. Shetty, K. Jaychandran, and K. Mathee.
  Monitoring microbial communities in marsh sediments by amplicon length heterogeneity (ALH) and ALH-temperature gradient capillary electrophoresis (ALH-TGCE) fingerprinting. Abstract #115.

Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS): Preparing scientists for the 21st Century. American Society for Microbiology. Orlando, FL. Oct 31st – Nov 3rd.

• D. Ramos, K. Mathee, and C.L. Koh. Molecular mechanisms involved in regulating the mucoid-to-nonmucoid conversion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Abstract #557.

24th European Cystic Fibrosis Conference. Vienna, Austria. June 6th – 9th.

• Z. Song, H. Wu, N. Høiby, A. Kharazmi, and K.  Mathee. Role of alginate in Pseudomonas aeruginosa survival during lung infection. Journal of Cystic Fibrosis 2001, P237.

101st Annual Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology. Orlando, FL. May 20th – 24th.

• S. Jayawardena, J. Campbell-Tofte, D. Guardia, N. Bagge, O. Ciofu, N. Høiby, and K. Mathee. Pseudomonas aeruginosa ampR gene. Abstract #D-12.
• Plata-Stapper, M. Hentzer, Q. Li, A. Heydorn, G. Narasimhan, S. Molin, N. Hoiby, and K. Mathee. Role of alginate in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm matrix formation. Abstract #J-11.
• Z. Song, H. Wu, K. Mathee, N. Hoiby, and A. Kharazmi. Effects of Gerimax ginseng treatment on the chronic lung infection with mucoid and non-mucoid P. aeruginosa in rats. Abstract #A-121

14th North American Conference on Cystic Fibrosis. Baltimore, Maryland. Nov 9th – 12th.

• H. Wu, K. Mathee, M. Givskov, Z.J Song, and N. Høiby. Effects of quorum sensing systems on the innate immunity and pulmonary cytokine production in chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection. Pediatric Pulmonology 2000, S20: 275.

1st International Conference on Traditional Chinese Medicine. College Park, Maryland.

• Z. Song, H. Wu, Z. V. Fabber, K. Mathee, A. Kharazmi, and N. Høiby. Protective immune response induced by ginseng treatment in a mouse model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection.

2nd ASM Conference on Microbial Biofilms (Biofilms 2000). Big Sky, Montana. July 16th – 20th.

• Z. Ji, Q. Li, A. Heydorn, S. Molin, K. Mathee, and G. Narasimhan. Quantitative analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm images using fractal dimensions.

100th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology. Los Angeles, CA. May 21st – 25th.

• K. Mathee, M. Hentzer, A. Heydorn, N. Høiby, D. Ohman, S. Molin, and A. Kharazmi
  Microcolony formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis lungs is influenced by infiltrating polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Abstract  #J-4.
• H. Wu, Z. Song, M. Givskov, K. Mathee, J. Rygaard, and N. Høiby. The effects of lasI and rhlI on chronic lung infection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in rat model. Abstract  #D-137.

13th International Cystic Fibrosis Conference. Stockholm, Sweden. June 4th – 8th.

• H. Wu, Z. Song, M. Givskov, K. Mathee, J. Rygaard, and N. Høiby. Quorum sensing systems on chronic lung Infection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in rat model. Abstract  #310.

13th North American Conference on Cystic Fibrosis. Seattle, WA. Oct. 7th – 10th.

• H. Wu, Z.J Song, M. Givskov, K Mathee, J. Rygaard, and N. Høiby. Quorum sensing systems contribute to the severity of the lung infection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in rats. Pediatric Pulmonology, 1999, S19: 269.

7th International Congress on Pseudomonas - Biotechnology and Pathogenesis. Maui, Hawaii. Sept 1st – 5th.

• H. Wu, Z. Song, K. Mathee, M. Hentzer, J. B. Andersen, C. Moser, S. Molin, N. Høiby, and M. Givskov. Detection of N-acyl-homoserine lactones in lung tissue infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa associated with pulmonary infection in cystic fibrosis patients. Abstract #55.
• K. Mathee, A. Heydorn, O. Ciofu, M. Hentzer, M. Givskov, D.E. Ohman, N. Høiby, and S. Molin. Structure of mucoid and nonmucoidPseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. Abstract #53.

99th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, Chicago, Illinois. May 30th –June 3rd.

• M. Hentzer, A. Heydorn, O. Ciofu, M. Givskov, N. Høiby, S. Molin, A. Kharazmi, and K. Mathee. Changes in cell-to-cell communication patterns in response to alginate production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Abstract B/D-311.
• K. Mathee, A. Heydorn, O. Ciofu, M. Hentzer, M. Givskov, N. Høiby, S. Molin, A. Kharazmi, and D.E .Ohman. Mucoid-to-nonmucoid conversion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa occurs by multiple mechanisms. Abstract D/B-38.

Basic and Clinical Research of Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa Lung Infection in Cystic Fibrosis and Diffuse Panbronchiolitis - East meets West. Copenhagen, Denmark. Mar 17th – 19th.

• Heydorn, M. Hentzer, M. Givskov, O. Geisenberger, L. Eberl, C. Sternberg, K. Mathee, and S. Molin. Structure/Activity relationships in flow-chamber biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.  Abstract #14.
• M. Hentzer, Mathee, O. Ciofu, N. Høiby, S. Molin, and M. Givskov. Changes in levels of homoserine lactones in response to alginate production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Abstract #13.
• J.I.A. Campbell, P. Jensen, J. Blom, K. Mathee, O. Ciofu, A. Johnson, and N. Høiby.  ß-Lactam induced spheroplasts may constitute a drug resistance strategy by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in lung infections in patients with cystic fibrosis.Abstract #6.

The Annual Meeting of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories on Molecular Genetics of Bacteria and Phages. Cold Spring Harbor, NY. Aug 25th – 30th.

• K. Mathee, O. Ciofu, C. Sternberg, P. Lindum, J. Campbell, P. Jensen, A.H. Jøhansen, D. Ohman, M. Givskov, S. Molin, N. Høiby, and A. Kharazmi. Conversion to the mucoid form of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, associated with chronic pulmonary infection in cystic fibrosis, can be induced by hydrogen peroxide or activated polymorphonuclear leucocytes. Abstract #165

The International Symposia on Microbial Ecology. Halifax, Nova Scotia. Aug 9th – 14th.

• K. Mathee, O. Ciofu, C. Sternberg, P. Lindum, J. Campbell, D. Ohman, M. Givskov, S. Molin, N. Høiby, and A. Kharazmi. Conversion to the mucoid form of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, associated with chronic pulmonary infection in cystic fibrosis, can be induced by hydrogen peroxide or activated polymorphonuclear leucocytes. Abstract #245.

98th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, Atlanta, Georgia. May 17th – 21st.                             

• J. Campbell-Tofte, P. Jensen, K. Mathee, O. Ciofu and N. Høiby. ß-lactam responsive genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Abstract #V-116.

Georgia Tech International Conference on Bioinformatics: Gene Discovery in silico. Atlanta, Georgia, p36.

• Y. Gao, M. Yang, X. Wang, K. Mathee, and G. Narasimhan. Detection of HTH motifs via data mining.

6th International Congress on Pseudomonas: Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. Madrid, Spain. Sept 4th – 8th.

• D. E. Ohman, K. Mathee, S. Ma, and C.J. McPherson. Post-translational control of an alternative sigma factor in the expression of the alginate regulon in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Abstract #IV.

• K. Mathee, C. Sternberg, O. Ciofu, P. Jensen, J. Campbell, M. Givskov, D. Ohman, N. Høiby, S. Molin, and A. Kharazmi. Oxygen radical induced phenotypic change from non-alginate producing to alginate-producing form of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in biofilms. Abstract #116.

The Annual meeting of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories on Molecular Genetics of Bacteria and Phages. Madison, Wisconsin. Aug 5th – 10th.

• D.E. Ohman, K. Mathee, and C.J. McPherson. Post-translational control of an alternative sigma factor in the expression of the alginate regulon in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Abstract #56.

96th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology. New Orleans, LA. May 19th – 23rd.

• K. Mathee. Evidence of post-translational regulation of algT that encodes alternate s factor in Pseudomonas aeruginosa involved in alginate gene regulation. Abstract #B-394.

The Annual Meeting of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories on Molecular Genetics of Bacteria and Phages. Cold Spring Harbor, NY. Aug 22nd – 27th.

• K. Mathee, C. McPherson, and D.E. Ohman. Alginate gene regulation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa by AlgT, a sE homolog. Abstract #159.

5th International Symposium on Pseudomonas: Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. Tsukuba, Japan. Aug 21st – 25th.

• D.E. Ohman, K. Mathee, C. McPherson, S. Ma, and M.J. Franklin. Regulation of the alginate (algD) operon in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The FASEB Summer Conference on Control of Transcription Initiation in Prokaryotes. Saxtons River, Vermont.

• D.E. Ohman, C.J. McPherson, and K. Mathee. Transcriptional control in Pseudomonas aeruginosa by AlgT, a putative alternate sigma factor involved in alginate gene regulation.

95th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology. Washington, D.C. May 21st– 25th.

• D.E. Ohman, C.J. McPherson, and K. Mathee. Transcriptional analysis of algT encoding a putative alternate sigma factor in Pseudomonas aeruginosa involved in alginate gene regulation. Abstract #B77.

The Annual Meetings of the American Gasteroenterology Association of Digestive Diseases, San Diego, California.

• J. Ramakrishna, K. Mathee, A.G. Plaut, and A. Wright. Restriction enzyme systems of Helicobacter pylori. Gastroenterology 108:A200 Suppl

The FASEB Summer Conference on Control of Transcription Initiation in Prokaryotes. Saxtons River, Vermont.

• M.M. Howe, M. Kahmeyer, L.W. Chiang, K. Mathee, I. Artsimovitch, and Z. Zhao.

89th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.  New Orleans. May 19th – 23rd.

• Mathee, K., and M.M. Howe. Function of the Mu middle operon. Abstract #M-2.

The EMBO Workshop on Gene Organization and Expression in Bacteriophages, Salamanca, Spain, p11.

• M.M. Howe, W. Margolin, S.F. Stoddard, K. Mathee, and G.  Rao. Regulation of middle and late transcription of bacteriophage Mu.