Vance G. Fowler

Loss of GdpP function in Staphylococcus aureus confers β-lactam-specific antibiotic tolerance and promotes invasive infection

This study shows that loss of GdpP function in Staphylococcus aureus leads to β-lactam antibiotic tolerance and increases mortality in infections, highlighting its clinical relevance in treatment failure.

Genetics and Environment Distinctively Shape the Human Immune Cell Epigenome

This study identifies how genetic and environmental factors shape the human immune cell epigenome through differential methylation and chromatin accessibility changes.

A host-directed adjuvant resuscitates and sensitizes intracellular bacterial persisters to antibiotics

This study identifies a host-directed adjuvant, KL1, that increases intracellular bacterial energy and sensitizes persisters to antibiotics by modulating host immune responses and reducing reactive species production.

Dissecting epigenome dynamics in human immune cells upon viral and chemical exposure by multimodal single-cell profiling

The paper presents a multimodal epigenome atlas of human immune cells exposed to viral and chemical agents, revealing epigenetic changes in transcription factor binding sites and cytokine networks.

An engineered prodrug selectively suppresses β-lactam resistant bacteria in a mixed microbial setting

This paper engineers a prodrug that selectively suppresses β-lactam-resistant bacteria in mixed cultures by exploiting ESBL activity.

The innate immune protein calprotectin incapacitates the bactericidal activity of β-lactam antibiotics

This study shows that calprotectin reduces β-lactam antibiotic efficacy by inactivating bacterial autolysins through zinc sequestration, independent of bacterial growth.

Identification of a Chimeric M4 Protein and Novel Emm Pattern in Currently Circulating Strains of Emm4 Group A Streptococcus

The paper identifies a chimeric M4 protein and a novel Emm pattern in emm4 GAS strains due to an emm/enn gene fusion, which replaced pattern E strains in Houston over four years.