1. 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
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
References available upon request