Shonna McBride PhD
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Associate Professor
-
Emory University School of Medicine
Microbiology and Immunology
1510 Clifton Rd., 3rd Floor RRC
Overview
Dr. McBride joined the Emory faculty in June 2012. She received her Ph.D. degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 2005 and her Bachelor of Science degree from McNeese State University in 1999. She trained as a postdoctoral fellow in the field of bacterial pathogenesis at the Schepens Eye Research Institute of Harvard Medical School from 2005 to 2008 and at the Tufts University School of Medicine from 2008 to 2012. The focus of research in the McBride lab is to identify molecular mechanisms employed by the gastrointestinal pathogen Clostridium difficile that allow it to live within the host and spread in the environment.
Research
Research in our laboratory centers on the emerging pathogen, Clostridium difficile. C. difficile is an spore-forming and toxin-producing bacterium that causes chronic intestinal disease which is both difficult and costly to treat. The two main factors that contribute to C. difficile infections are the ability of the bacterium to form resilient spores that allow the pathogen to spread, and the inherent resistance of the bacterium to antimicrobials. Current research topics in the lab include characterizing the genetic pathways that control spore formation, identifying mechanisms of resistance to antimicrobials, and investigating therapeutics to combat C. difficile infections. Research by the McBride lab has identified novel mechanisms used by this bacterium to respond to antimicrobial peptides, such as the CprABC transporter and the ClnRAB regulatory system, and a regulator of both toxin production and sporulation, RstA.
Academic Appointment
- Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine
Education
Degrees
- PhD from University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
Research
Publications
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Proline Stickland fermentation supportsC. difficilespore maturation
03/15/2025 Authors: Carter ZA; OBrien CE; McBride SM -
KipOTIA detoxifies 5-oxoproline and promotes the growth of Clostridioides difficile.
05/01/2024 Authors: Lee CD; Rizvi A; McBride SM -
A conserved switch controls virulence, sporulation, and motility in C. difficile.
PLoS Pathog Volume: 20 Page(s): e1012224
05/01/2024 Authors: DiCandia MA; Edwards AN; Alcaraz YB; Monteiro MP; Lee CD; Vargas Cuebas G; Bagchi P; McBride SM -
The impact of orphan histidine kinases and phosphotransfer proteins on the regulation of clostridial sporulation initiation.
mBio Volume: 15 Page(s): e0224823
04/10/2024 Authors: Mehdizadeh Gohari I; Edwards AN; McBride SM; McClane BA -
The pH-responsive SmrR-SmrT system modulates C. difficile antimicrobial resistance, spore formation, and toxin production.
Infect Immun Volume: 92 Page(s): e0046123
03/12/2024 Authors: Wetzel D; Carter ZA; Monteiro MP; Edwards AN; Scharer CD; McBride SM -
The pH-responsive SmrR-SmrT system modulates C. difficile antimicrobial resistance, spore formation, and toxin production.
bioRxiv
11/03/2023 Authors: Wetzel D; Carter ZA; Monteiro MP; Edwards AN; McBride SM -
The pH-responsive SmrR-SmrT system modulatesC. difficileantimicrobial resistance, spore formation, and toxin production
11/03/2023 Authors: Wetzel D; Carter ZA; Monteiro MP; Edwards AN; McBride SM -
Glycine fermentation by C. difficile promotes virulence and spore formation, and is induced by host cathelicidin.
Infect Immun Volume: 91 Page(s): e0031923
10/17/2023 Authors: Rizvi A; Vargas-Cuebas G; Edwards AN; DiCandia MA; Carter ZA; Lee CD; Monteiro MP; McBride SM -
The RgaS-RgaR two-component system promotes Clostridioides difficile sporulation through a small RNA and the Agr1 system.
PLoS Genet Volume: 19 Page(s): e1010841
10/01/2023 Authors: Edwards AN; McBride SM -
The predicted acetoin dehydrogenase pathway represses sporulation of Clostridioides difficile.
bioRxiv
07/29/2023 Authors: Wetzel D; Rizvi A; Edwards AN; McBride SM