Biography
Research Interests:
The Schmitt laboratory studies resazomycins, a novel family of antibiotics that exhibits bactericidal activity against select Gram-negative bacteria including Francisella tularensis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. A major focus of the lab is determining the mechanism of action of these antibiotics and improving their efficacy in vivo. Our overarching goal is to further characterize these compounds to move them one step closer to potential clinical use in humans.
Notable Awards:
Finalist for Faculty Merit Foundation West Virginia Professor of the Year, 2022
West Liberty University Faculty Excellence Award in Professional Activity, 2019-2020
Courses Taught:
BIO 208 – Foundations in Cell and Molecular Biology
BIO 401 – Genetics Lecture and Lab
BIO 470 – Biological Chemistry
BIO 570 – Advanced Biological Chemistry
PA 532 – Clinical Genetics
Education
B.S. Microbiology – Pennsylvania State University, 2005
Ph.D. Immunology – University of Pittsburgh, 2012
Postdoctoral Fellowship – West Liberty University, 2012-2016
Most Recent Publications and Presentations
Geho CP, Hardin SR, Panicker JL, Marra OL, Odom JL, Glover BA, Wilcock AK, Rafa R, Brammer S, Schmitt DM (2026). Body dysmorphic disorder: Diagnostic challenges and current management. JAAPA : official journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. 2026. 39(5), 18–24. PMID: 4202376.
Collins EM, Sako A, Sikorsky K, Denvir J, Fan J, Primerano DA, D.M. Schmitt, Cantlay S, Seeber R, León F, Horzempa J. Dillapiole Dampens the Expression of the Major Virulence Genes of Francisella tularensis. Molecules. 2025 Oct 6;30(19):3995. PMID: 41097415.
Schreiber RM, DCunha L, Hall M, DeBastiani A, D.M. Schmitt, Cantlay S, Horzempa J. Host-pathogen interactions involved in erythrocyte invasion by Francisella tularensis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2025 Sep 23;15:1664733. PMID: 41064638
Matteson, E., Blackburn, J., Vincent, C., Carter, H., Quinn, M., Paull, F., Hare, A., Sims, M., and Schmitt, D.M. 2025. 3D-Printed Orthoses vs. Conventional Immobilization Methods for Pediatric Distal Radius Fractures. J Orthop Physician Assist. 2025 Jul-Sep;13(3):10.2106/jbjs.jopa.25.00006. PMID: 40837215.
Beckish L, Ging M, Mosman M, Kelley C, Wilkin L, Wills O, Adams M, Pinion C, Bilica C, Anderson A, Sims M, Beckish M, D.M. Schmitt. Diagnosis and Management of Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease in the Obese Pediatric Population. J Orthop Physician Assist. 2024 Jul-Sep;12(3):e24.00013. PMID: 39759267.
Rice, J., J. Gibson, E. Young, K. Souder, K. Cunningham, D.M. Schmitt. Low Oxygen Concentration Reduces Neisseria gonorrhoeae Susceptibility to Resazurin. Antibiotics 2024. 13: 395.
Souder K., E.J. Beatty, S.C. McGovern, M. Whaby, E. Young, J. Pancake, D. Weekley, J. Rice, D.A. Primerano, J. Denvir, J. Horzempa, D.M. Schmitt. 2021. The role of dipA and pilD in Francisella tularensis susceptibility to resazurin. Antibiotics. 2021. 10(8):992. PMID: 34439042.
Brothers K.M., J.D. Callaghan, N.A. Stella, J.M. Bachinsky, M. AlHigaylan, K.L. Lehner , J.M. Franks, K.L. Lathrop, E. Collins, D.M. Schmitt, J. Horzempa, R.M.Q. Shanks. 2019. Blowing epithelial cell bubbles with GumB: ShlA-family pore-forming toxins induce blebbing and rapid cellular death in corneal epithelial cells. PLoS Pathog.15(6):e1007825. PMID: 31220184
Schmitt D.M. , R. Barnes, T. Rogerson, A. Haught, L.K. Mazzella, M. Ford, T. Gilson, J. W. Birch, A. Sjöstedt, D. Reed, J. M. Franks, D.B. Stolz, J. Denvir, J. Fan, S. Rekulapally, D. A. Primerano, and J. Horzempa. 2017. The role and mechanism of erythrocyte invasion by Francisella tularensis. Front. Cell Infect. Microbiol. 7:173. PMID: 28536678.
Schmitt, D.M., K.L. Connolly, A.E. Jerse, M.S. Detrick, and J. Horzempa. 2016. Antibacterial activity of resazurin-based compounds against Neisseria gonorrhoeae in vitro and in vivo. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 48: 367-72. PMID: 27451856.
Loughman K., J. Hall, S. Knowlton, D. Sindeldecker, T. Gilson, D.M. Schmitt, J.W. Birch, T. Gajtka, B.N. Kobe, A. Florjanczyk, J. Ingram, C.S. Bakshi, and J. Horzempa. 2016. Temperature-Dependent Gentamicin Resistance of Francisella tularensis is Mediated by Uptake Modulation. Front Microbiol. 7:37. PMID: 26858709.
Robinson C.M., B.N. Kobe, D.M. Schmitt, B. Phair, T. Gilson, J.Y. Jung, L. Roberts, J. Liao, C. Camerlengo, B. Chang, M. Davis, L. Figurski, D. Sindeldecker, and J. Horzempa. 2015. Genetic engineering of Francisella tularensis LVS for use as a novel live vaccine platform against Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. Bioengineered. 6: 82-88. PMID: 25617059.
Brown M.J., B.C. Russo, D.M. O’Dee DM, D.M. Schmitt, and G.J. Nau. 2014. The contribution of the glycine cleavage system to the pathogenesis of Francisella tularensis. Microbes Infect. 16: 300-9. PMID: 24374051.
Schmitt, D.M., D.M. O’Dee, B.N. Cowan, J.W. Birch, L.K. Mazzella, G.J. Nau, and J. Horzempa. 2013. The use of resazurin as a novel antimicrobial agent against Francisella tularensis. Front. Cell Infect. Microbiol. 3: 93. PMID: 24367766.