Kathryn Patras, PhD

Associate Professor

Email

katy.patras@bcm.edu

Positions

Associate Professor: Molecular Virology and Microbiology
Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas, United States

Education

Postdoctoral Fellowship at UC San Diego: La Jolla, California, United States; Pediatrics

PhD from San Diego State University and UC San Diego: San Diego, California, United States; Biology

BS from University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Lincoln, NE; Animal Science

Professional Interests

Mucosal immunity and microbiota of the female urogenital tract
Group B Streptococcus
Urinary Tract Infection

Professional Statement

My intent is to understand biological mechanisms dictating interactions between mucosal immunity and microbiota of the female urogenital tract, with applications in both disease pathogenesis and overall women’s reproductive health.

Websites

Pubmed

Lab website

Lab Instagram

Selected Publications

Interspecies Interactions within the Host: the Social Network of Group B Streptococcus " ;
Pubmed PMID: 36975791.
Complete Genome Sequences of 37 Bacteria from the Human Vaginal Tract " ;
Pubmed PMID: 37219419.
Phage Resistance Accompanies Reduced Fitness of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli in the Urinary Environment " ;
Pubmed PMID: 35920561.
Human Milk Oligosaccharides Reduce Murine Group B Streptococcus Vaginal Colonization with Minimal Impact on the Vaginal Microbiota " ;
Pubmed PMID: 34986315.
Characterization of host immunity during persistent vaginal colonization by Group B Streptococcus " ;
Pubmed PMID: 25850655.
Group B Streptococcal Maternal Colonization and Neonatal Disease: Molecular Mechanisms and Preventative Approaches " ;
Pubmed PMID: 29520354.
The murine vaginal microbiota and its perturbation by the human pathogen group B Streptococcus " ;
Pubmed PMID: 30477439.
Augmentation of Urinary Lactoferrin Enhances Host Innate Immune Clearance of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli " ;
Pubmed PMID: 31055580.
A Murine Model of Group B Streptococcus Vaginal Colonization " ;
Pubmed PMID: 27911391.
Group B Streptococcus Biofilm Regulatory Protein A Contributes to Bacterial Physiology and Innate Immune Resistance " ;
Pubmed PMID: 29868829.
Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein engages human Siglec-9 to modulate neutrophil activation in the urinary tract " ;
Pubmed PMID: 28829050.

Funding

Characterizing the role of the vaginal microbiota in group B Streptococcus colonization and dissemination: Burroughs Wellcome Fund Next Gen Pregnancy Initiative

Contribution of immune modulation, metabolism, and microbiota to Group B Streptococcal urinary tract infection: NIH (NIDDK) R01 DK128053

Microbiome Discovery and Mechanisms to Combat Antibiotic Resistance at Mucosal surfaces: NIH (NIAID) U19 AI157981

Function of the type 7 secretion system in Group B Streptococcus: NIH (NIAID) R21 AI169231

Evaluating the impact of human milk oligosaccharides on the vaginal microenvironment: NIH (NICHD) R21 HD111910

The impact of gestational diabetes on Group B Streptococcal virulence and host immune response: NIH (NIAID) R21 AI173448