Leah A. Kafer

D-alanine aminotransferase (Dat) promotes Staphylococcus aureus colonization fitness on human nasal respiratory epithelium

This study identifies D-alanine aminotransferase (Dat) as critical for Staphylococcus aureus colonization of human nasal epithelium, showing its role in D-alanine production and fitness in this environment.

Streptococcus pneumoniae colonization modulates human nasal epithelial responses to respiratory syncytial virus infection

This study shows that Streptococcus pneumoniae precolonization reduces RSV levels and modulates epithelial transcriptional responses to RSV infection more than other nasal bacteria.

Nasal microbionts differentially colonize and elicit cytokines in human nasal epithelial organoids

This study uses human nasal epithelial organoids to investigate how different bacteria colonize nasal tissue and induce cytokine responses, finding differential effects on chemokines and inflammasome signaling.