K. L. Palmer

Functional and genetic adaptations contributing to Enterococcus faecalis persistence in the female urinary tract

This study identifies genetic adaptations in Enterococcus faecalis strains isolated from the urinary tract of postmenopausal women that may contribute to their persistence in the urinary tract.

Enterococcus faecalis strains with compromised CRISPR-Cas defense emerge under antibiotic selection for a CRISPR-targeted plasmid

This study shows that antibiotic selection leads to compromised CRISPR-Cas defense in E. faecalis, enabling enhanced acquisition of antibiotic resistance plasmids.

Human serum supplementation promotes Streptococcus mitis growth and induces specific transcriptomic responses

This study shows human serum promotes S. mitis growth and alters its transcriptomic profile, revealing gene expression changes related to nutrient uptake and stress response.

Decoding a cryptic mechanism of metronidazole resistance among globally disseminated fluoroquinolone-resistant Clostridioides difficile

This study identifies a mutation in C. difficile that causes metronidazole resistance and links it to fluoroquinolone resistance, contributing to the spread of drug-resistant strains.

Targeted IS-element sequencing uncovers transposition dynamics during selective pressure in enterococci

This study uses IS-Seq to show that phage infection and antibiotic exposure drive IS256 diversification in enterococci, linking selective pressures to genome evolution.

Comparative genomics of Streptococcus oralis identifies large scale homologous recombination and a genetic variant associated with infection

This study identifies a genetic variant associated with invasiveness in Streptococcus oralis using genomic data from invasive infections and healthy volunteers.

Recurrent urinary tract infection and estrogen shape the taxonomic ecology and functional potential of the postmenopausal urobiome

This study investigates how recurrent UTI and estrogen influence the urobiome's taxonomic and functional features in postmenopausal women using metagenomic and metabolomic analyses.

Genetically distant bacteriophages elicit unique genomic changes in Enterococcus faecalis

This study shows that genetically distinct bacteriophages induce unique genomic changes in Enterococcus faecalis, highlighting phage-specific host responses during evolution.

Vancomycin resistance in Enterococcus faecium from the Dallas, Texas area is conferred predominantly on pRUM-like plasmids

This study analyzes VREfm genomes from Dallas, Texas, finding that pRUM-like plasmids are the primary vehicle for vancomycin resistance.

Streptococcus pneumoniae, S. pyogenes, and S. agalactiae membrane phospholipid remodeling in response to human serum

Identification of a novel cationic glycolipid in Streptococcus agalactiae that contributes to brain entry and meningitis

This study identifies a novel cationic glycolipid in Streptococcus agalactiae that enhances its ability to invade the blood-brain barrier and cause meningitis.

ddcP, pstB, and excess D-lactate impact synergism between vancomycin and chlorhexidine against Enterococcus faecium 1,231,410

This study identifies genetic factors and environmental conditions that affect the synergistic effect of chlorhexidine and vancomycin against VanA-type Enterococcus faecium.

Chromosomal Resistance to Metronidazole in Clostridioides difficile can be Mediated By Epistasis Between Iron Homeostasis and Oxidoreductases

This study identifies multi-genetic mechanisms of metronidazole resistance in C. difficile, showing epistasis between iron homeostasis and oxidoreductases.

Parallel genomics uncover novel enterococcal-bacteriophage interactions

The paper uses genomic approaches to study how Enterococcus faecalis responds to phage infection, identifying transcriptional regulators and gene expression changes that influence bacterial fitness and community interactions.

Conjugative delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 for the selective depletion of antibiotic-resistant enterococci

This paper develops CRISPR-Cas antimicrobials delivered via conjugative plasmids to selectively remove antibiotic resistance genes from Enterococcus faecalis in vitro and in mice.

Enterococcus faecalis CRISPR-Cas is a robust barrier to conjugative antibiotic resistance dissemination in the murine intestine

This study shows that CRISPR-Cas in Enterococcus faecalis blocks antibiotic resistance plasmid dissemination in the mouse intestine but not in vitro.

Bacteriophage resistance alters antibiotic mediated intestinal expansion of enterococci

This study shows that phage resistance in enterococci reduces their intestinal colonization ability and antibiotic sensitivity, suggesting phage therapy could complement antibiotics in treating dysbiotic microbiota.

A Type I Restriction-Modification System Associated with Enterococcus faecium Subspecies Separation

The paper identifies a Type I restriction-modification system in Clade A1 E. faecium that reduces transformability and contributes to subspecies separation.

Reduced chlorhexidine and daptomycin susceptibility arises in vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium after serial chlorhexidine exposure

This study shows that repeated exposure to chlorhexidine in vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium leads to reduced susceptibility to both chlorhexidine and daptomycin.