R. K. Ernst

A Lipidomics-Based Method to Eliminate Negative Urine Culture in General Population

This paper introduces a lipidomics-based method, FLAT, to rapidly identify negative urine cultures in UTI suspects with high accuracy, improving diagnostic efficiency.

Lipid A double bond position determination using ozone and laser-induced dissociation

This study determines the double bond position in Lipid A using ozone treatment on MALDI plates combined with tandem MS.

The lipid-mediated mechanism of mechanosensitive channel MscS inactivation

This study identifies a lipid-mediated mechanism by which the mechanosensitive channel MscS inactivates, showing that intercalated lipids physically decouple tension-sensing helices from the gate.

Targeted lipid A modification of Shigella vaccine strains reduced endotoxicity without compromising immunogenicity or invasiveness

This study modifies Shigella lipid A to reduce endotoxicity while maintaining immunogenicity and invasiveness.

Structural determination of Rickettsia lipid A without chemical extraction confirms shorter acyl chains in later-evolving Spotted Fever Group pathogens

Structural Elucidation of Intact Rough-Type Lipopolysaccharides using Field Asymmetric Ion Mobility Spectrometry and Kendrick Mass Defect Plots

This paper uses FAIMS and Kendrick mass defect plots to characterize the structural diversity of R-type lipopolysaccharides from E. coli J5.

Intranasal VLP-RBD vaccine adjuvanted with BECC470 confers immunity against Delta SARS-CoV-2 challenge in K18-hACE2-mice

This study shows an intranasal VLP-RBD vaccine with BECC470 adjuvant provides protection against Delta SARS-CoV-2 in mice, with mucosal immunity and reduced lung inflammation.

Reduced SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine immunogenicity and protection in mice with diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance.

Surface anchoring of the Kingella kingae galactan is dependent on the lipopolysaccharide O-antigen

This study identifies the mechanism by which Kingella kingae galactan is anchored to the bacterial surface via an interaction with an atypical lipopolysaccharide O-antigen.

Position-specific secondary acylation determines detection of lipid A by murine TLR4 and caspase-11

The paper investigates how position-specific secondary acyl chains on lipid A affect TLR4 and Casp11 activation, revealing distinct structural requirements for each receptor.

Human TLR4 and noncanonical inflammasome differ in their ability to respond to distinct lipid A variants

The paper compares how human TLR4 and noncanonical inflammasome sensors CASP4/5 respond to different lipid A structures, finding that acylation state differentially affects their activation.

MgrB dependent colistin resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae is associated with an increase in host-to-host transmission.

This study shows that MgrB-dependent colistin resistance in K. pneumoniae reduces gut colonization but increases survival outside the host, enhancing transmission.

An adjuvanted SARS-CoV-2 RBD nanoparticle elicits neutralizing antibodies and fully protective immunity in aged mice

This study identifies an adjuvanted SARS-CoV-2 RBD nanoparticle that induces neutralizing antibodies and full protection in aged mice.

Bacterial factors drive the differential targeting of Guanylate Binding Proteins to Francisella and Shigella

This study identifies bacterial factors, including lipid A structure, that influence the differential targeting of GBPs to Francisella and Shigella.

Alum:CpG adjuvant enables SARS-CoV-2 RBD-induced protection in aged mice and synergistic activation of human elder type 1 immunity

This study evaluates AH:CpG adjuvant's ability to enhance RBD vaccine efficacy in aged mice and human elder cells, showing strong neutralizing antibody responses and cytokine production.

Host Adaptation Predisposes Pseudomonas aeruginosa to Type VI Secretion System-Mediated Predation by the Burkholderia cepacia Complex

The paper shows that Pa isolates from older CF patients are outcompeted by Bcc strains due to T6SS-abrogating mutations, increasing susceptibility to Bcc superinfection.