Degrees:

• B.S. Microbiology – Pennsylvania State University, 2005
• Ph.D. Immunology – University of Pittsburgh, 2012
• Postdoctoral – West Liberty University, 2012-2016

Courses:

• BIO 124 – Biological Principles
• BIO 208 – Foundations in Cell and Molecular Biology
• BIO 401 – Genetics Lecture and Lab
• BIO 407 – Human Genetics
• BIO 461 – Molecular Biology Laboratory
• BIO 470 – Biological Chemistry
• BIO 507 – Graduate Human Genetics and Genomics
• BIO 525 – Graduate Seminar
• BIO 570 – Advanced Biological Chemistry
• PA 532 – Clinical Genetics

Current Research Projects:

Antibiotic resistance is a global health threat that is limiting treatment options for many infectious diseases. Each year, there are significant increases in the number of deaths due to antibiotic-resistant infections and health care expenses associated with these diagnoses. This information illustrates the need for new drugs that can combat the ever-increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant pathogenic bacteria.

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.  Through a screen for resazomycin-resistant F. tularensis mutants, we have identified several genes involved in resazomycin susceptibility.  Students are utilizing various molecular and biochemical assays to determine the role of each of these genes in the antimicrobial activity of resazomycins.  A second line of investigation focuses on improving the in vivo efficacy of resazomycins. Our laboratory has formed a collaboration with an organic chemist at WVU to synthesize novel resazomycins that we can screen for antimicrobial activity.  Our overarching goal is to further characterize these compounds to move them one step closer to potential clinical use in humans

Publications:

Souder K, Beatty EJ, McGovern SC, Whaby M, Young E, Pancake J, Weekley D, Rice J, Primerano DA, Denvir J, Horzempa J, Schmitt DM. Role of dipA and pilD in Francisella tularensis Susceptibility to Resazurin. Antibiotics (Basel). 2021 Aug 17;10(8):992. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics10080992. 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 tularensisLVS 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.

Schmitt, D.M., D.M. O’Dee, M.J. Brown, J. Horzempa, B.C. Russo, P.A. Morel, and G.J. Nau. 2013.  Role of NK cells in host defense against pulmonary type A Francisella tularensis infection.  Microbes Infect. 15: 201-11.  PMID: 23211929.

Schmitt, D.M., D.M. O’Dee, J. Horzempa, P.E. Carlson, Jr., B.C. Russo, J.M. Bales, M.J. Brown, and G.J. Nau. 2012.  A Francisella tularensis Live Vaccine Strain That Improves Stimulation of Antigen-Presenting Cells Does Not Enhance Vaccine Efficacy. PLoS One. 7: e31172.  PMID:  23211929.

Russo, B.C., J. Horzempa, D.M. O’Dee, D.M. Schmitt, M.J. Brown, P.E. Carlson Jr., R.J. Xavier, and G.J. Nau. 2011. A Francisella tularensis locus required for spermine responsiveness is necessary for virulence. Infect. Immun. 79: 3665-76.  PMID:  21670171.

Horzempa, J.^*, D.M. Tarwacki^*, P.E. Carlson, Jr., C.M. Robinson, and G.J. Nau. 2008. Characterization and application of a glucose-repressible promoter in Francisella tularensis.   Appl. Environ. Microbiol.  74: 2161-70.  PMID:  18245238. ^*These authors contributed equally to this work.

Spending time with my husband and two girls, running, traveling to the beach, trying new foods and restaurants.