Christopher J. Hernandez

Mechanofiltration Enables High-Throughput Measurements of Bacterial Cell Mechanics

This paper introduces mechanofiltration, a high-throughput method to measure bacterial cell mechanics using standard lab equipment, showing it accurately detects changes in cell stiffness across genetic and environmental conditions.

Physical mechanisms that enable bacteria to traverse channels half their width

This study investigates how S. aureus traverses nanoscale channels in bone, finding that fluid pressure, not cell division, enables bacterial entry into narrow spaces.

Gut microbiome-dependent IL-1 signaling is a mediator of ACVR1R206H-driven heterotopic ossification

Antibiotic disruption of the gut microbiome reduces heterotopic ossification in FOP mice via an IL-1 mediated pathway.

Modifications to the gut microbiome alter bone matrix proteomics and fracture toughness at the cellular scale

This paper shows that altering the gut microbiome changes bone matrix proteomics and reduces fracture toughness, with micropillar splitting as a precise method to measure these effects.

A load-bearing function for the cytoplasmic membrane of Escherichia coli

This study shows that MreB couples the cell wall to the cytoplasmic membrane in E. coli, increasing resistance to bending and preventing membrane detachment under stress.

Commensal taxa in gut microbiota limit antibiotic resistance during extended oral antibiotic use

The paper tracks antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) dynamics in mice during long-term antibiotic treatment, finding that commensal bacteria reduce ARG burden by outcompeting resistant taxa.

Dietary Menaquinone-9 Supplementation Does Not Influence Bone Tissue Quality or Bone Mineral Density in Mice

This study investigates the effects of menaquinone-9 (MK9) supplementation on bone health in mice, finding no significant impact on bone tissue quality or mineral density despite MK9 serving as a precursor to MK4 in bone.

Combinatorial characterization of bacterial taxa-driven differences in the microbiome of oyster reefs

The paper characterizes microbial differences in oyster reef ecosystems by analyzing abundance and diversity across soil, biofilm, and oysters in four sites, identifying distinct taxa and their associations with environmental factors.

Determining the Youngs Modulus of the Bacterial Cell Envelope

The paper measures the Young's modulus of bacterial cell envelopes in E. coli, V. cholerae, and S. aureus using a microfluidic system and inverse finite element analysis, finding values ranging from 0.12 to 2.06 MPa.