M. A. Bachman

Fitness Factor Genes Conserved within the Multi-species Core Genome of Gram-negative Enterobacterales Species Contribute to Bacteremia Pathogenesis

The paper identifies 18 conserved fitness genes in Enterobacterales species that contribute to bacteremia pathogenesis by testing mutants in a mouse model and finding attenuation in multiple organs.

Patterns of Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremic dissemination from the lung

This study tracks Klebsiella pneumoniae dissemination from the lung using barcoding, revealing two distinct patterns of bacterial spread and their associated host and bacterial factors.

Conserved metabolic regulator ArcA responds to oxygen availability, iron limitation, and cell envelope perturbations during bacteremia

This study identifies ArcA as a conserved metabolic regulator in Gram-negative bacteria during bacteremia, showing its role in adapting to oxygen, iron, and membrane stress.

Klebsiella pneumoniae causes bacteremia using factors that mediate tissue-specific fitness and resistance to oxidative stress

This study identifies 58 K. pneumoniae genes critical for bloodstream fitness during bacteremia, revealing tissue-specific mechanisms and resistance to oxidative stress.

The Klebsiella pneumoniae ter operon enhances stress tolerance

This study identifies the ter operon in Klebsiella pneumoniae as a stress tolerance factor, enhancing fitness in the gut and bladder by protecting against environmental stressors.

The ADP-heptose biosynthesis enzyme GmhB is a conserved Gram-negative bacteremia fitness factor

This study identifies GmhB as a conserved Gram-negative bacteremia fitness factor that enhances bloodstream survival through LPS-mediated mechanisms, but is dispensable in the lung.

Measurement of Klebsiella Intestinal Colonization Density to Assess Infection Risk

This study develops a qPCR assay to measure Klebsiella colonization density in rectal swabs and finds that higher density is significantly associated with increased infection risk.

Gut microbiome features are associated with sepsis onset and outcomes

This study finds that gut microbiome features, including increased Enterococcus and total bacterial abundance, and decreased butyrate-producing bacteria, are associated with sepsis onset and mortality.

A systematic analysis of hypermucoviscosity and capsule reveals distinct and overlapping genes that impact Klebsiella pneumoniae fitness

This study identifies genes affecting capsule and hypermucoviscosity in Klebsiella pneumoniae, showing their integration with central metabolism for bacterial fitness.

Comparative study of four SARS-CoV-2 Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) platforms demonstrates that ID NOW performance is impaired substantially by patient and specimen type.

This study compares four SARS-CoV-2 NAAT platforms, finding that ID NOW performs worse than others, especially with nasal swabs and in chronically infected patients.

A plasmid locus associated with Klebsiella clinical infections encodes a microbiome-dependent gut fitness factor

The paper identifies a plasmid-encoded ter operon in Klebsiella pneumoniae that functions as a microbiome-dependent gut fitness factor, enhancing colonization in the presence of specific gut microbiota.

The Klebsiella pneumoniae citrate synthase gene, gltA, influences site specific fitness during infection

This study identifies the Kp citrate synthase gene gltA as critical for metabolic flexibility during infection, showing organ-specific fitness defects in lung and gut colonization.