People

• BA 1976, Knox College; Biology
• PhD 1980, University of Wisconsin–Madison; Medical Microbiology 
• Postdoc 1983, National Jewish Hospital; Immunology

The focus of our laboratory is on the pathogenesis and host response to foodborne bacterial pathogens. We have a particular interest in how growth conditions affect the virulence of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica, and how dietary and environmental constituents might after the immune response to these bacterial pathogens. Our lab's interests include both pre-harvest and post-harvest food safety issues. Examples of the former include our research on bovine respiratory disease, a major economic problem for beef and dairy cattle, and a reason for much of the antibiotic use in cattle. We also place an emphasis on providing veterinarians, and veterinary students, with research training related to food safety.

• Effect of growth conditions on pathogenesis of salmonellosis and listeriosis.
• Role of serotype 4b genes in pathogenesis of listeriosis.
• Does exposure to vinegar salad dressing affect survival of pathogenic bacteria on leafy greens?
• Viral/bacterial synergism in bovine respiratory disease.
• Arylhydrocarbon receptor in resistance to listeriosis.
• Effects of route and metabolism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on bone marrow toxicity.
• Walter Renk Endowed Laboratory in Food Safety

• University of Wisconsin–Madison Molecular and Environmental Toxicology Center
• IAFP, ASM (former Division E chair), SOT, AAI, AAVI (former President), WVMA, USDA Regional Committee on Bovine Respiratory Disease
• University of Wisconsin–Madison Expert for News Media (host defense against microbial infection, foodborne disease)

• “Pathogenesis and Innate Immunity of Listeria monocytogenes Infection.” University of Georgia, April 20, 2009.
• “Phenotypic characterization of gtcA transposon mutants of serotype 4b Listeria monocytogenes” (poster). IAFP 2008 (International Association for Food Protection annual meeting), August 3–6, 2008, Columbus, Ohio.
• “The role of adherence-associated surface antigens in foodborne listeriosis.” National Restaurant Association Quality Assurance Executive Study Group, October 16, 2007, Rogers, AR.
• “The aryl hydrocarbon receptor: a new player in innate immunity to bacterial infection.” UW–Madison Immunology Symposium, May 29, 2008, Madison, WI.
• “The role of gtcA in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal listeriosis” at ISOPOL XVI, The 16th International Symposium on Problems of Listeriosis, Savannah, GA, March 21, 2007.
• Organizer and Chair of a mini-symposium on “Role of Surface Antigens in the Pathogenicity of Listeriosis” at ISOPOL XVI, The 16th International Symposium on Problems of Listeriosis, Savannah, GA, March 23, 2007. 
• “Environmental, host and bacterial factors that influence the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal listeriosis,” NAFS-ARS Mini-Symposium, IAFP Meeting, Aug. 9, 2003, New Orleans.
• “Environmental, host and bacterial factors that influence the virulence of Listeria monocytogenes.” 91st Annual Meeting of the International Association for Food Protection, Aug. 9, 2004, Phoenix, AZ.
• “Mechanisms of immunosuppression in foodborne disease.” 91st Annual Meeting of the International Association for Food Protection, Aug. 10, 2004, Phoenix, AZ.
• “Role of tumor necrosis factor and protein kinase R in the bone marrow cell response to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.” Univ. New Mexico College of Pharmacy, Sept. 27, 2004, Albuquerque, NM.
• “The unlikely development of a veterinary immunologist.” Distinguished Veterinary Immunologist Award Lecture, CRWAD Meeting, Nov. 14, 2004, Chicago, IL.
• “Does growth of Listeria monocytogenes on sliced turkey affect its virulence and ability to invade intestinal epithelial cells?” USDA Food Safety 32.0 Principal Investigator’s Meeting, Oct. 19, 2005, River Falls, WI
• “New insights into the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal listeriosis,” Food Research Institute Seminar, Feb. 22, 2006, Madison WI
• “The role of gtcA in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal listeriosis.” ISOPOL XVI, The 16th International Symposium on Problems of Listeriosis, March 21, 2007, Savannah, GA.
• “The role of adherence-associated surface antigens in foodborne listeriosis.” National Restaurant Association Quality Assurance Executive Study Group. October 16, 2007, Rogers, AR.
• “The aryl hydrocarbon receptor: a new player in innate immunity to bacterial infection.” UW-Madison Immunology Symposium, May 29, 2008, Madison, WI.

Publications

Brandenburg KS, Rodriguez KJ, McAnulty JF, Murphy CJ, Abbott NL, Schurr MJ, Czuprynski CJ. 2013. Tryptophan Inhibits Biofilm Formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 57(4):1921-5