Herbert P. Schweizer
Professor, Associate Department Head, IDRC

Phone: 491-3536
Fax: 491-8708
Email: Herbert.Schweizer@colostate.edu
Office: A102 Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, Foothills Campus
Lab: A100 Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, Foothills Campus

Degrees

B.S., University of Konstanz, Germany
Ph.D., University of Konstanz, Germany

Research Interests

Molecular Genetics and Biology of Pathogenic Bacteria; multidrug resistance

Clinical bacterial isolates are often characterized by their resistance, either intrinsic or acquired, to established antibiotics. An ongoing challenge to microbiologists is identification of new drug targets and of mechanisms underlying drug resistance. Bacterial drug efflux pumps have traditionally been regarded as almost insurmountable challenges of antibacterial drug development. Recent research efforts, however, clearly demonstrate that an understanding of structure, function and regulation of bacterial efflux systems can actually serve as an important asset for drug discovery. Biochemical and genetic studies are being employed to study the molecular architecture, function, regulation and clinical prevalence of efflux pumps of the resistance nodulation family in Burkholderia pseudomallei and, to a lesser extent, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. To support these studies we are actively engaged in developing new genetic tools for pathogenic bacteria, especially those of contemporary interest because they are either emerging pathogens or of biodefense interest, for example B. pseudomallei.

Selected Publications

Pub Med for Schweizer HP.

Lopez, C.M, D.A. Rholl, L.A. Trunck and H.P. Schweizer. 2009. Versatile dual-technology system for markerless allele replacement in Burkholderia pseudomallei. Appl. Env. Microbiol. 75, in press.

Trunck, L.A., K.L. Propst, V. Wuthiekanun, A. Tuanyok, S.M. Beckstrom-Sternberg, J.S. Beckstrom-Sternberg, S.J. Peacock, P. Keim, S.W. Dow and H. P. Schweizer. 2009. Molecular Basis of Rare Aminoglycoside Susceptibility and Pathogenesis of Burkholderia pseudomallei Clinical Isolates from Thailand. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 3(9): e519. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0000519

Kumar, A., M. Mayo, L. A. Trunck, A. C. Cheng, B.J. Currie and H.P. Schweizer. 2008. Expression of resistance-nodulation-cell division efflux pumps in commonly used Burkholderia pseudomallei strains and clinical isolates from northern Australia. Trans. Royal Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg. 102/S1:S145-S151.

Rholl, D., L.A. Trunck and H.P. Schweizer. 2008. Himar1 mutagenesis of Burkholderia pseudomallei. Appl. Env. Microbiol. 74:7529-7535.

Peacock, S.J., H.P. Schweizer, D.A.B. Dance, T.L. Smith, J.E. Gee, V. Wuthiekanun, D. DeShazer, I. Steinmetz, P. Tan and B.J. Currie. 2008. Consensus guidelines on the management of accidental laboratory exposure to Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei. [online report]. Emerg. Infect. Dis. [serial on the Internet]. Available from www.cdc.gov/eid/content/14/7/e2.htm; DOI: 10.3201/eid1407.071501.

Choi, K.-H., T. Mima, Y. Casart, D. Rholl, A. Kumar, I. Beacham and H.P. Schweizer. 2008. Genetic tools for select agent compliant manipulation of Burkholderia pseudomallei. Appl. Env. Microbiol. 74:1064-1075.