Mary P. Leatham-Jensen has over 25 years of experience in microbiology research. She received her BS in Microbiology from the University of Washington and her MS in Pathobiology from the University of Washington. She has worked at the University of Rhode Island, Mayo Clinic, University of Hawaii, and University of Iowa conducting research using various microbiology and molecular biology techniques. Her research has focused on microbial genetics, Salmonella vaccines, MUC1 protein structure and processing, and gene expression regulation in cytomegalovirus. She has authored several peer-reviewed publications and has excellent skills in laboratory management, teaching, and communication.
Clinical Metagenomics for Rapid Detection of Enteric Pathogens and Characteri...QIAGEN
High-throughput sequencing, combined with high-resolution metagenomic analysis, provides a powerful diagnostic tool for clinical management of enteric disease. Forty-five patient samples of known and unknown disease etiology and 20 samples from health individuals were subjected to next-generation sequencing. Subsequent metagenomic analysis identified all microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites) in the samples, including the expected pathogens in the samples of known etiology. Multiple pathogens were detected in the individual samples, providing evidence for polymicrobial infection. Patients were clearly differentiated from healthy individuals based on microorganism abundance and diversity. The speed, accuracy and actionable features of CosmosID bioinformatics and curated GenBook® databases, implemented in the QIAGEN Microbial Genomics Pro Suite, and the functional analysis, leveraging the QIAGEN functional metagenomics workflow, provide a powerful tool contributing to the revolution in clinical diagnostics, prophylactics and therapeutics that is now in progress globally.
Clinical Metagenomics for Rapid Detection of Enteric Pathogens and Characteri...QIAGEN
High-throughput sequencing, combined with high-resolution metagenomic analysis, provides a powerful diagnostic tool for clinical management of enteric disease. Forty-five patient samples of known and unknown disease etiology and 20 samples from health individuals were subjected to next-generation sequencing. Subsequent metagenomic analysis identified all microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites) in the samples, including the expected pathogens in the samples of known etiology. Multiple pathogens were detected in the individual samples, providing evidence for polymicrobial infection. Patients were clearly differentiated from healthy individuals based on microorganism abundance and diversity. The speed, accuracy and actionable features of CosmosID bioinformatics and curated GenBook® databases, implemented in the QIAGEN Microbial Genomics Pro Suite, and the functional analysis, leveraging the QIAGEN functional metagenomics workflow, provide a powerful tool contributing to the revolution in clinical diagnostics, prophylactics and therapeutics that is now in progress globally.
Presentation from the ECDC expert consultation on Whole Genome Sequencing organised by the European Centre of Disease Prevention and Control - Stockholm, 19 November 2015
Is microbial ecology driven by roaming genes?beiko
Microbial ecology often makes assumptions about the relationship between phylogeny and function, but these assumptions can be invalidated by lateral gene transfer. We need to take a broader view of relationships between genes and genomes in order to make better sense out of microbes.
Bioinformatics plays a significant role in the development of the agricultural sector, crop improvement,
agro-based industries, agricultural by-products utilization and better management of the
environment. With the increase of sequencing projects, bioinformatics continues to make
considerable progress in biology by providing scientists with access to the genomic information.
It is believed that we will take on another giant leap in bioinformatics field in next decade, where
computational models of systems wide properties could serve as the basis for experimentation
and discovery. Agricultural bioinform -atics areas that need focus would be are data curation and
need for the use of restricted vocabularies. Being an interface between modern biology and
informatics it involves discovery, development and implementation of computational algorithms
and software tools that facilitate an understanding of the biological processes with the goal to
serve primarily agriculture and healthcare sectors with several spinoffs.
Stay informed! Mills CBST is funded by the National Science Foundation, Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems (CBET) division. This highlight describes in detail the work of Mills CBST, led by Dr. Susan Spiller.
Presentation from the ECDC expert consultation on Whole Genome Sequencing organised by the European Centre of Disease Prevention and Control - Stockholm, 19 November 2015
Is microbial ecology driven by roaming genes?beiko
Microbial ecology often makes assumptions about the relationship between phylogeny and function, but these assumptions can be invalidated by lateral gene transfer. We need to take a broader view of relationships between genes and genomes in order to make better sense out of microbes.
Bioinformatics plays a significant role in the development of the agricultural sector, crop improvement,
agro-based industries, agricultural by-products utilization and better management of the
environment. With the increase of sequencing projects, bioinformatics continues to make
considerable progress in biology by providing scientists with access to the genomic information.
It is believed that we will take on another giant leap in bioinformatics field in next decade, where
computational models of systems wide properties could serve as the basis for experimentation
and discovery. Agricultural bioinform -atics areas that need focus would be are data curation and
need for the use of restricted vocabularies. Being an interface between modern biology and
informatics it involves discovery, development and implementation of computational algorithms
and software tools that facilitate an understanding of the biological processes with the goal to
serve primarily agriculture and healthcare sectors with several spinoffs.
Stay informed! Mills CBST is funded by the National Science Foundation, Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems (CBET) division. This highlight describes in detail the work of Mills CBST, led by Dr. Susan Spiller.
Molecular Biologist Academic CV for Industry or Private Sector Consideration Sirie Godshalk
Molecular Biologist with over thirteen years of hands-on research experience, impactful writer and presenter, dynamic leader and enthusiastic team player with an eye for great ideas and a passion to move science in new directions seeks challenging opportunities beyond the bench.
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MARY P. LEATHAM-JENSEN
marypatlj@gmail.com (401) 742-4677 Mebane, NC 27302
EDUCATION
B.S., Microbiology University of Washington Seattle, WA
M.S., Pathobiology University of Washington Seattle, WA
EMPLOYMENT
Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 1998-2014
Microbial genetics, the molecular basis of differing abilities of pathogenic and commensal E. coli
strains to colonize the murine large intestine.
Techniques:
Microbial and molecular screening techniques, cloning, PCR, gel electrophoresis, random
mutagenesis using Tn5 minitransposon, bacterial gene knockouts (allelic exchange),
complementation of knockouts, bacterial culture and growth rate studies, produce live-
attenuated Salmonella vaccine, animal (mouse) work, orally inoculate mice with bacterial cultures
and monitor bacterial fecal load, dissect and harvest mucus from mouse cecum, fluorescent in-
situ hybridization, cryosectioning, laser capture, prepare media, solutions and reagents
Responsibilities:
Train and review work of new undergraduate, graduate and post-docs
•Assist laboratory personnel in troubleshooting their technical problems.
•Plan experiments and develop procedures and techniques to further research projects.
•Record, organize and analyze data from experimental results.
Manage laboratory and oversee budget of several grants
•Evaluate new equipment, maintain and order laboratory supplies, and maintain accounting
paperwork as well as monitor spending from several grants.
•Develop Standard Operating Procedures for lab and compile documentation for Risk and
Safety compliance.
•Hazardous compound procurement and disposal
•IATA/DOT, Hazardous waste, Blood-borne pathogen and radiation safety trained. Aid in
IACUC protocol application.
•Design, organize and implement storage and database for hundreds of bacterial strains.
Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island 1997-1998
Edit existing manuscripts and prepare manuscripts with provided data.
Research Facility, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ 1994-1996
Structure, function and processing of the transmembrane MUC1 protein.
Techniques: Mouse handling and breeding, mouse dissection, RNA isolation from various mouse
tissues, PCR, sequencing, cell culture, transfection, microscopy, cloning.
Responsibilities:
Design and produce promoter/gene construct for production of knock-out mouse, screen
large numbers of mice to identify animals, maintain breeding pairs of heterozygote mice to
produce homozygote offspring (non-fertile) for analysis
Cancer Research Center, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 1992-1994
Molecular epidemiology, screening for genetic susceptibility to cancers.
Techniques:
Isolation of DNA from human blood, PCR, Southern analysis, pulse field gel electrophoresis,
restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, radioisotope work
Responsibilities:
2. E - M A I L M A R Y P A T L J @ G M A I L . C O M P H O N E ( 4 0 1 ) 7 4 2 - 4 6 7 7
Process DNA from large numbers of human blood samples, perform RFLP, PCR and Southerns
for several genes of interest, data used to compare link with cancer and gene variants in ethnic
populations in Hawaii
Department of Microbiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 1988-1992
Regulation of gene expression in human cytomegalovirus.
Techniques:
Cell culture, including both cell lines and primary cell culture, isolation of human foreskin
fibroblasts for cell culture, transfections, aseptic techniques, virus culture and propagation,
DNA and RNA isolation, northern, Southern and western blots, sub-cloning, chloramphenicol
acetyltransferase assays, radioisotope work
Responsibilities:
Examine and define alternative splicing in a transcription unit and the expression of the open
reading frames over time
ADDITIONAL SKILLS
Excellent skills in MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel, including calculating and graphing data
•Prepare posters and present at national American Society for Microbiology meetings.
•Familiar with basic bioinformatics tools (BLAST searches, online databases)
Instructor for MIC 502: Techniques of Molecular Biology. Preparation and execution of laboratory course
dealing with the basic techniques of molecular biology used in the study of gene structure, regulation
and function
Staff Excellence Award 2013, College of Life Sciences, University of Rhode Island
Excellent interpersonal, mentoring and communication skills
Work well in a group environment, both leading and following
Organized, efficient and good at multi-tasking
Work well with minimal supervision
Creative and curious
PUBLICATIONS:
Adediran JA, Leatham-Jensen MP, Mokszycki ME, Frimodt-Møller J, Krogfelt KA, Kazmierczak K,
Kenney LJ, Conway T, Cohen PS. An Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 envZ Missense Mutant Colonizes the
Streptomycin-Treated Mouse Intestine Better than the Wildtype but is not a Better Probiotic. Infect
Immun. 2014 Feb 82(2):670-682.
Maltby R, Leatham-Jensen MP, Gibson T, Cohen PS, Conway T. Nutritional basis for colonization
resistance by human commensal Escherichia coli strains HS and Nissle 1917 against E. coli O157:H7 in
the mouse intestine. PLoS One. 2013;8(1).
Leatham-Jensen MP, Frimodt-Møller J, Adediran J, Mokszycki ME, Banner ME, Caughron JE, Krogfelt
KA, Conway T, Cohen PS. The streptomycin-treated mouse intestine selects Escherichia coli envZ
missense mutants that interact with dense and diverse intestinal microbiota. Infect Immun. 2012
May;80(5):1716-27.
Complete list publications can be found at:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Leatham+MP%5BAuthor%5D+OR+Leatham-Jensen+MP%5BAuthor%5D
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References available upon request