Barbara Kazmierczak, M.D., Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Medicine and Microbial Pathogenesis

Research Interests

Our laboratory studies the opportunistic bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its interaction with host cells at mucosal surfaces. P. aeruginosa survives in a wide variety of environmental reservoirs and successfully colonizes and infects plant, insect and mammalian hosts. We are characterizing several newly discovered regulatory pathways that control adaptation to the host and expression of virulence factors. In addition to protein-based regulatory systems, we are also studying small RNA-dependent regulation in this pathogen. We are also interested the cell biology of host-pathogen interactions, and focus on how Pseudomonas-epithelial cell interactions contribute to the establishment of an innate immune response during infection. Lastly, we have translational research projects that examine whether the presence or absence of virulence factors in clinical Pseudomonas isolates can be used to guide diagnosis and treatment of infection.

Education

M.D., Cornell University, 1994

Ph.D., Rockefeller University, 1993

Recent Publications

• Laskowski MA, Osborn E, Kazmierczak BI. (2004) A novel sensor kinase-response regulator hybrid regulates Type III secretion and is required for virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Mol Microbiol 54: 1090-1103.
• Li L, Ledizet M, Kar K, Koski RA, Kazmierczak BI. (2005) An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for rapid and quantitative assessment of Type III virulence phenotypes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob 4: 22-36.
• Kazmierczak BI, Lebron MB, Murray TS. (2006) Analysis of FimX, a phosphodiesterase that governs twitching motility in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Mol Microbiol 60: 1026-1043.
• Laskowski MA, Kazmierczak BI. (2006) Mutational analysis of RetS, an unusual sensor kinase-response regulator hybrid required for Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence. Infect Immun 74: 4462-4473.
• Murray TS, Kazmierczak BI. (2006) FlhF is required for swimming and swarming in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J Bacteriol 188: 6995-7004.
• Murray TS, Egan M, Kazmierczak BI. (2007) Chronic colonization by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis patients. Curr Opin Pediatrics 19: 83-88.
• Sutterwala FS, Mijares LA, Li L, Ogura Y, Kazmierczak BI, Flavell RA. (2007) Immune recognition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa mediated by the IPAF/NLRC4 inflammasome. J Exp Med 204: 3235-3245.
• Murray TS, Kazmierczak BI. Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibits sliding motility in the absence of type IV pili and flagella. J Bacteriol, in press. (epub 7 December 2007, doi:10.1128/JB.01620-07)
• Murray TS, Egan M, Kazmierczak BI. (2007) Chronic colonization by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis patients. Curr Opin Pediatrics 19:83-88.

Contact

Campus Address
The Anlyan Center S169

E-mail
barbara.kazmierczak@yale.edu

Office Phone
(203) 737-5062

Lab Phone
(203) 737-1197

Fax
(203) 785-3864