William Shafer PhD
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Professor
- (404) 321-6111
- wshafer@emory.edu
- Pubmed
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Emory University School of Medicine
Microbiology and Immunology
Clifton Road
Overview
William Shafer received his PhD degree in Microbiology from Kansas State University in 1979 where he studied the genetics of enterotoxin synthesis by Staphylococcus aureus. After postdoctoral studies with P.F. Sparling at the University of North Carolina where he studied the genetics of antibiotic resistance expressed by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, he moved to Emory University School of Medicine where he now Full Professor. He is also a Senior Research Career Scientist at the Atlanta VA Medical Center. He has been continually funded by the NIH and VA since 1984, has published over 115 manuscripts, serves on multiple Editorial Boards and served on several NIH, VA and international study sections.
Research
Genetics of antibiotic resistance; antimicrobial peptides; transcriptional regulation of gene expression; mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis. The Shafer laboratory is interested in proteins produced Neisseria gonorrhoeae that form drug efflux pumps that export antimicrobial compounds to the extracellular fluid. We are also interested in the molecular regulation of the expression of their genes as this is a critical component in bacterial survival during infection and antibiotic therapy. We are also defining the structure function relationships of cationic antibacterial peptides produced by neutrophils and certain epithelial cells. These peptides are thought to be important in host defense against infection and bacteria have developed multiple ways to counteract their antibacterial action. Using Neisseria gonorrhoeae as a model target pathogen to better understand the mechanisms of peptide killing and bacterial resistance, we are isolating and studying mutants that express altered levels of susceptibility to human host defense antibacterial peptides
Academic Appointment
- Professor, Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine
Education
Degrees
- PhD Microbiology from Kansas State University
Research
Focus
- 1.Genetics of pathogenesis 2.Interaction of Gram-negative bacteria with humoral and cellular defense systems 3.Structural-functional relationships of Gram-negative outer membranes 4.Physiology, genetics and gene regulation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae 5.Antimicrobial agents: Mode of action and mechanisms of microbial resistance
Publications
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Murine modeling of menstruation identifies immune correlates of protection during Chlamydia muridarum challenge.
PLoS Pathog Volume: 21 Page(s): e1012276
06/01/2025 Authors: Lawrence LA; Williams ME; Vidal P; Varughese RS; Li Z-RT; Chen TD; Roy MA; Tuske SC; Lowen AC; Scharer CD -
Structural and functional diversity of Resistance-Nodulation-Division (RND) efflux pump transporters with implications for antimicrobial resistance.
Microbiol Mol Biol Rev Volume: 88 Page(s): e0008923
09/26/2024 Authors: Kavanaugh LG; Dey D; Shafer WM; Conn GL -
Experimental genital tract infection demonstrates Neisseria gonorrhoeae MtrCDE efflux pump is not required for in vivo human infection and identifies gonococcal colonization bottleneck.
PLoS Pathog Volume: 20 Page(s): e1012578
09/01/2024 Authors: Waltmann A; Balthazar JT; Begum AA; Hua N; Jerse AE; Shafer WM; Hobbs MM; Duncan JA -
Transcriptional responses of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to glucose and lactate: implications for resistance to oxidative damage and biofilm formation.
mBio Volume: 15 Page(s): e0176124
08/14/2024 Authors: Ayala JC; Balthazar JT; Shafer WM -
Erratum for Balthazar et al., "A laboratory-based predictive pathway for the development of Neisseria gonorrhoeae high-level resistance to corallopyronin A, an inhibitor of bacterial RNA polymerase".
Microbiol Spectr Volume: 12 Page(s): e0140624
08/06/2024 Authors: Balthazar JT; Golparian D; Unemo M; Read TD; Grosse M; Stadler M; Pfarr K; Schiefer A; Hoerauf A; Edwards JL -
Ensuring a sustained workforce to combat antibiotic resistance in the 21st century: the critical need for training the next-gen of scientists at the pre-doctoral level.
Antimicrob Agents Chemother Volume: 68 Page(s): e0024424
06/05/2024 Authors: Shafer WM; Conn GL -
A laboratory-based predictive pathway for the development of Neisseria gonorrhoeae high-level resistance to corallopyronin A, an inhibitor of bacterial RNA polymerase.
Microbiol Spectr Volume: 12 Page(s): e0056024
06/04/2024 Authors: Balthazar JT; Golparian D; Unemo M; Read TD; Grosse M; Stadler M; Pfarr K; Schiefer A; Hoerauf A; Edwards JL -
Murine modeling of menstruation identifies immune correlates of protection during Chlamydia muridarum challenge.
bioRxiv
05/23/2024 Authors: Lawrence LA; Vidal P; Varughese RS; Tiger Li Z-R; Chen TD; Tuske SC; Jimenez AR; Lowen AC; Shafer WM; Swaims-Kohlmeier A -
Hormonal steroids induce multidrug resistance and stress response genes in Neisseria gonorrhoeae by binding to MtrR.
Nat Commun Volume: 15 Page(s): 1153
02/07/2024 Authors: Hooks GM; Ayala JC; Holley CL; Dhulipala V; Beggs GA; Perfect JR; Schumacher MA; Shafer WM; Brennan RG -
Transcriptional activation of ompA in Neisseria gonorrhoeae mediated by the XRE family member protein NceR.
mBio Volume: 14 Page(s): e0124423
08/31/2023 Authors: Holley CL; Dhulipala V; Maurakis SA; Greenawalt AN; Read TD; Cornelissen CN; Shafer WM