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By the middle of 2006, more than 300 complete bacterial genomes have been deposited in the NCBI database; many more are available. These data have greatly increased our knowledge of bacterial genome organization and evolution and have provided new information on mechanisms of bacterial virulence. In collaboration with the Human Genome Sequencing Center (http://www.hgsc.bcm.tmc.edu) and the Genome Informatics and Analysis Group (GINA), my lab is leading several genome sequencing and annotation projects. Current projects include whole genome sequencing and annotation of Moraxella bovis, the causative agent of pink-eye in cattle, Streptococcus iniae, a pathogen of fish, and Bacillus pumilus, a sporulating organism that has contaminated NASA spacecraft. Each of these projects involves collaborators from local institutions as well as experts from other US and foreign universities and research organizations. For the M. bovis and S. iniae projects we are interested in gaining clues to virulence of these organisms and will look for potential vaccine candidates. The B. pumilus project is directed toward a deeper understanding of spore fitness and resistance to UV and chemical disinfectants. We are also collaborating with colleagues at the Texas Children’s Hospital on whole genome sequencing, annotation and comparative genomics of community acquired Staphylococcus aureus strains. The goal here is to understand the basis for increased virulence of an emerging methicillin resistant clone.

In addition, we are continuing our studies of Mannheimia haemolytica, the primary bacterial pathogen associated with bovine respiratory disease complex in cattle. We have completed a draft genome of a serotype A1 isolate and are beginning microarray experiments to examine M. haemolytica gene expression in the lungs of infected calves. It is hoped that these experiments will provide clues as to the switch from the organisms commensal to pathogenic state during disease.

Recent Publications (PubMed)

• Gioia, Jason, Xiang Qin, Huaiyang Jiang, Kenneth Clinkenbeard, Reggie Lo, Yamei Liu, George E. Fox, Shailaja Yerrapragada, Michael P. McLeod, Thomas Z. McNeill, Lisa Hemphill, Erica Sodergren, Qiaoyan Wang, Donna M. Muzny, Farah, J. Homsi, George M. Weinstock, and Sarah K. Highlander (2006) The genome sequence of Mannheimia haemolytica A1: insights into virulence, natural competence and Pasteurellaceae phylogeny, submitted to J. Bacteriol.
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  Petrosino, Joseph F. Petrosino, Qin Xiang,  Sandor E. Karpathy, Huaiyang Jiang, Shailaja Yerrapragada, Yamei Liu, Jason Gioia, Lisa Hemphill,  Arely Gonzalez, T.M. Raghavan, Akif Uzman, George E. Fox,­ Sarah Highlander, Mason Reichard, Rebecca Morton, Ken Clinkenbeard, and George M. Weinstock (2006) Beaver Fever: The Complete Genome Sequence of Francisella tularensis Type B, OSU18. submitted to J. Bacteriol.
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  Highlander, Sarah, Sarah Weissenberger, Laura Alvarez, George M. Weinstock and Peter B. Berget (2006) Complete nucleotide sequence of a P2 family lysogenic bacteriophage, fMhaA1-PHL101, from Mannheimia haemolytica serotype A1. Virology, in press.
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  McLeod, Michael, Xiang, Qin, Sandor E. Karpathy, Jason Gioia, Sarah K. Highlander, George E. Fox, Thomas Z. McNeill, Huaiyang Jiang, Donna Muzny, Leni S. Alicia C. Hawes, Erica Sodergren, Rachel Gill, Jennifer Hume, Maggie Morgan, Guangwei Fan, Anita G. Amin, Richard A. Gibbs, Chao Hong, Xue-Jie Yu, David H. Walker and George Weinstock (2004) The complete genome sequence of Rickettsia typhi and comparison with other rickettsiae. J. Bacteriol. 186: 5742-5855.
• Marciel, Ann Marie and Sarah K. Highlander. (2001) Use of operon fusions in Mannheimia haemolytica to identify environmental and cis-acting regulators of leukotoxin transcription. Infect. Immun. 69:6231-6239.
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  Highlander, Sarah K. (2001) Molecular genetic analysis of virulence in Mannheimia (Pasteurella) haemolytica. Front. Biosciences 6: d1128-1150 .
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  Highlander, Sarah K., Natalie D. Fedorova, David M. Dusek, Roger Panciera, Laura E. Alvarez, and Carol Rinehart (2000). Inactivation of the Mannheimia (Pasteurella) haemolytica leukotoxin causes partial attenuation of virulence in a calf challenge model. Infect. Immun. 68: 3916-3922.