Author

Payton Smith

Texas A&M University

Listed by name: these papers carry no ORCID for this author, so different people with the same name may be mixed together.

Biology Disciplines

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Microbiology· 1 Molecular Biology· 1

Signature Assays, Organisms & Methods

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Approach:experimental assay· 2 Research Focus:host-pathogen & immune response· 1 Organism:human· 1 Organism:mouse· 1

Frequent Co-Authors

Brandon L. GarciaiD· 2 shared Jon T. SkareiD· 2 shared Albert MulengaiD· 1 shared Alexandra D. Powell-PierceiD· 1 shared Brittany L. ShapiroiD· 1 shared Charles E. BoothiD· 1 shared Emily Bencosme-CuevasiD· 1 shared Klaudia I. KocurekiD· 1 shared

Activity by Year

2025-2026 · peak 1/yr

Co-Author Collaboration Network

10 top collaborators · 30 mutual co-author links

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2 shared papersMolecular Biology

Brandon L. GarciaORCID

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Author profile →

2 papers

Recent·Most cited

Borrelia burgdorferi infection-enhanced Ixodes scapularis serpins S12c5 and S13c5, target MASP1/3 to inhibit MBL-pathway complement activation and promote spirochete survival

Emily Bencosme-Cuevas, Tae Kim, Thu-Thuy Nguyen, Moiz Ashraf Ansari, Shahbaz Manzoor Khan, Payton Smith, Kyla R Herr, Yungui Guo, William Harold Witola, Jon T. Skare, Brandon L. Garcia, Klaudia I. Kocurek, L. Garry Adams, Stefan H. E. Kaufmann, Albert Mulenga

This study identifies two tick serpins, S12c5 and S13c5, that inhibit complement activation and enhance Borrelia burgdorferi survival by targeting MASP1/3.

bioRxiv · Jun 26, 2026 · PreprintMolecular Biology

The dual activity of BBK32: Implications for simultaneous inhibition of borrelial-specific antibody-dependent complement activation and fibronectin binding

Alexandra D. Powell-Pierce, Charles E. Booth, Payton Smith, Brittany L. Shapiro, Shannon Sedberry Allen, Brandon L. Garcia, Jon T. Skare

This paper demonstrates that BBK32, a surface protein of Borreliella burgdorferi, simultaneously inhibits complement activation by binding C1r and binds fibronectin, aiding in immune evasion and dissemination.

PLoS Pathogens · Jul 24, 2025Peer-reviewedMicrobiology