Summary
Professional Biography
- 2017 - present: Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
- 2014 - 2017: Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Alabama, College of Medicine, Mobile, AL, USA:
- 2008 - 2014: Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Alabama, College of Medicine, Mobile, AL, USA
- 2003 - 2008: Visiting Fellow, Laboratory of Zoonotic Pathogens, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, NIH, Hamilton, MT, USA
- 2001 - 2003: Research Scientist and Project Leader, Quorex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA
- 2000 - 2001: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- 1999 - 2000: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Medical Microbiology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
Research Interests
Research in the Brett laboratory is focused on elucidating the molecular mechanisms used by Burkholderia pseudomallei (melioidosis) and Burkholderia mallei (glanders) to evade clearance by host defenses. In particular, we are interested in determining how the lipopolysaccharides and capsular polysaccharides expressed by these organisms contribute to this process. Our laboratory has over 20 years of experience working with these important bacterial pathogens and has gained significant expertise in areas relating to Burkholderia genetics, pathogenesis, host-pathogen interactions, carbohydrate purification/characterization, glycoconjugate synthesis and the analysis of humoral/cellular immune responses. The main goal of our research is to identify correlates of antigen-induced immunity against B. pseudomallei and B. mallei and use this information to develop safe, affordable and effective melioidosis/glanders vaccines. Our laboratory is currently funded by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) to develop and test i) melioidosis and glanders subunit vaccine candidates and ii) serological assays to rapidly diagnose active cases of melioidosis.
Current Lab Members
- Sineenart Sengyee, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor
- Federico Urbano-Munoz, Staff Research Associate III
- Jacob Loughry, Staff Research Associate II
- Sarah Weiby, CMB Graduate Student
Past Lab Members
- Teresa Shaffer Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow
- Lindsey Schmidt, Ph.D., Graduate Student
- Caitlyn Orne, Ph.D.
Education
- 1998 - Ph.D., Bacterial Pathogenesis, University of Calgary, Canada
- 1993 - B.Sc., Biochemistry, University of Victoria, Canada