Research Programs

Molecular Microbiology Laboratory

Sanjay K. Shukla, Ph.D.
Research Scientist (Tenured)


E-mail: shukla.sanjay@mcrf.mfldclin.edu

Dr. Sanjay Shukla is a molecular microbiologist with research interests in the emerging infectious diseases. Dr. Shukla joined the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation in 1998. He is a tenured Research Scientist at the MCRF and directs the Molecular Microbiology Laboratory. Dr. Shukla received his undergraduate degree with honors from the University of Calcutta, India. He obtained his master’s degree from the North Dakota State University and the doctorate degree from the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma.

My current research interests are in following three areas.

• The first one focuses on the mechanism of methicillin-resistance in Staphylococcus aureus and molecular epidemiology of MRSA. Specifically, we are studying the role of three mec genes, mecA , mecI and mecR1, in methicillin resistance in clinical isolates of MRSA. We recently published a comprehensive catalogue of nucleotide polymorphisms and deletions in the three mec genes from >400 clinical isolates of MRSA (mec complex in MRSA). We are also trying to determine the genetic factors that influences the evolution of community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA).
  
  
• The second area of research is the surveillance and molecular epidemiology of a tick-borne zoonotic pathogen, Anaplasma phagocytophilum. We recently described five 16S rRNA gene-based genetic variants of A. phagocytophilum from dogs in the western Washington State. We are trying to determine if polymorphisms in additional genes of A. phagocytophilum could also serve as genetic markers for the genetic variants.
  
  
• The third area of research interest is the discovery, characterization, and phylogenetic analysis of novel human and animal pathogens that are not yet identified or not linked to any infectious diseases. We use both culture-independent (primarily 16S rRNA gene analysis) and -dependent method to identify these pathogens. We recently described a black-pigmented Coryneform, Cornybacterium nigricans from urogenital flora from a number of women who experienced some complications of pregnancy. Another novel pathogen we reported was Leptotrichia amnionii from the amniotic fluid of a pregnant woman.
  
  

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Lab staff include:

Jennifer Kislow - Research Associate
Lindsay Sammons - Graduate Student
Pravin R. Kaldhone - Research Associate
Madhulatha Pantrangi, Ph.D. - Post-Doctoral Fellow

Outside Collaborators include:

Daniel Frank, Ph.D. - Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado
William Schwan, Ph.D. - Microbiology Department, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Frank Yu, Ph.D. - Human Genome Center, University of Texas at Houston
Melanie Mormile, Ph.D. - Department of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri - Rolla
Bob Mau, Ph.D. - Genome Evolution Laboratory, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Sandra Splinter BonDurant - University of Wisconsin - Madison Gene Expression Center

Selected Publications:

1. Sifri CD, Park J, Helm GA, Stemper ME, Shukla SK. 2007. Fatal brain abscess due to community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain USA300. Clin Infect Dis. 45:e113-e117.
   PubMed ID: 17918070
2. Morgan W, Caldwell MD, Brady JM, Stemper ME, Reed KD, Shukla SK. 2007. Necrotizing fasciitis due to a methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus harboring an enterotoxin gene cluster. J Clin Microbiol. 5:668-671.
   PubMed ID: 17166962
3. Stemper ME, Brady JM, Qutaishat S, Borlaug G, Reed KD, Shukla SK. 2006. Shift in Staphylococcus aureus clone linked to an infected tatoo. Emerg Infect Dis. 12:1444-1446.
   PubMed ID: 17073100
4. Shukla SK. 2006. CA-MRSA triangulation: Virulent strains, susceptible hosts, and contaminated environments. Wisconsin Medical Journal.105:21-23. (111KB PDF)
5. Shukla, SK. 2006. Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: It's time to pay attention. Wisconsin Medical Journal. 105:25-27. (96KB PDF)
6. Shukla, SK. 2005. Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and its emerging virulence. Clin Med and Res. 3:57-60.
   PubMed ID: 16012120
7. Poitout FM, Joanne K, Shinozaki JK, Stockwell PJ, Holland CJ, and Shukla SK. 2005 . Genetic Variants of Anaplasma phagocytophilum Infecting Dogs in Western Washington State. J Clin Micro . 43:796-801.
   PubMed ID: 15695682
8. Stemper ME, Shukla SK , and Reed KD. 2004. Emergence and spread of community-associated methcillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in rural Wisconsin. J. Clin. Micro. 42: 5673-80.
   PubMed ID: 15583298
9. Shukla SK, Paustian DL, Stockwell PJ, Morey RE, Jordan JG, Levett PN, Frank DN, and Reed KD. 2004. Isolation of a Fastidious Bergeyella Species Associated with Cellulitis After a Cat Bite and a Phylogenetic Comparison with Bergeyella zoohelcum Strains. J. Clin. Micro. 2004;42:290- 293.
   PubMed ID: 14715767
10. Shukla SK , Stemper ME, Ramaswamy S, Conradt JM, Reich R, Graviss EA, and Reed KD. 2004 . Molecular characteristics of nosocomial and native-American community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus clones from Wisconsin. J. Clin. Micro. 42: 3752-57.
    PubMed ID: 15297526
11. Shukla SK, Ramaswamy SV, Conradt JM, Stemper ME, Reich R, Reed KD. 2004 . Novel polymorphisms in the mec genes and a new mec complex type in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates obtained in rural Wisconsin. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 48:3080-3085.
    PubMed ID: 15273123
12. Tak T, Dhawan S, Reynolds C, and Shukla SK. 2003 . Current Diagnosis and Treatment of Infective Endocarditis. Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy. 1:639-654.
    PubMed ID: 15482161
13. Shukla SK, Vandermause MF, Belongia EA, Reed KD, Paskewitz SM, and Kazmierczak J. 2003 . Importance of primer specificity for PCR detection of Anaplasma phagocytophila among Ixodes scapularis Ticks from Wisconsin. J. Clin. Micro. 41:4006.
    PubMed ID: 12904445
14. Shukla SK, Bernard KA, Harney M, Frank DN, and Reed KD. 2003 . Corynebacterium nigricans sp. nov.: Proposed Name For A Black-pigmented Corynebacterium Recovered from the Female Urogenital Tract. J. Clin. Micro. 41:.4353-4358.
    PubMed ID: 12958268
15. Shukla SK, Harney M, Jhaveri M, Andrews A, and Reed KD. 2003 . Is a Black-Pigmented Corynebacterium species an Opportunistic Pathogen During Pregnancy? Literature Review and Report of Three New Cases. Clin. Infect. Dis. 37:834-837.
    PubMed ID: 12955646
16. Shukla SK, Meier PR, Mitchell PD, Frank DN, and Reed KD. 2002 . Leptotrichia amnionii sp. nov., a novel bacterium isolated from amniotic fluid of a woman after intrauterine fetal demise. J. Clin. Microbiol. 40:3346-3349.
    PubMed ID: 12202577
17. Vernon SD, Shukla SK, Contradt J, Unger ER, and Reeves WC. 2002 . Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences and circulating cell-free DNA from Plasma of Chronic fatigue syndrome and non-fatigued subjects. BMC Microbiol. 2:39.
    PubMed ID: 12498618

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Selected Poster Presentations:

1. Westphal ME, Brady JM, Moore NA, Bickford RK, Shukla SK, and Schwan WR. Differences in Toxin and Adherence Factor Gene Profiles in Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Methicilliin-Sensitive S. aureus Isolates. 66th North Central Branch American Society for Microbiology Meeting. Oct. 20-21, 2006, Brookings, South Dakota.
   
2. Bickford R, Westphal M, Brady J, Shukla SK, and Schwan WR. Gene Detection in Staphylococcus aureus. 66th North Central Branch American Society for Microbiology Meeting. Oct. 20-21, 2006, Brookings, South Dakota.
   
3. Morgan W, Caldwell M, Brady JM, Stemper ME, Reed KD, and Shukla SK. Virulence Gene Profile of a Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus Associated with Severe Necrotizing Fasciitis. 46th Annual ICAAC Meeting. Sept. 27-30, 2006, San Francisco, California.
   ( Poster .pdf, 134KB PDF)
4. Shukla SK, Reed KD, and Dykes CW.Genomic Comparison of Two USA300 and Two USA400 Strains by Optical Mapping. 46th Annual ICAAC Meeting. Sept. 27-30, 2006, San Francisco, California.
   ( Poster .pdf, 132KB PDF)
5. Westphal ME, Brady JM, Moore N, Shukla SK, and Schwan WR. Differences in toxin and adherence factors genes profile in community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and normal flora S. aureus isolates. 46th Annual ICAAC Meeting. Sept. 27-30, 2006, San Francisco, California.
   
6. Shukla SK, Reed KD, and Dykes CW. Optical Maps Can Identify Genomic Rearrangements in Clinical Isolates of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. 12th International Symposium on Staphylococci and Staphylococcal Infections. Sept. 3-6, 2006, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
   ( Necrotizing Fasciitis, 558KB PDF)

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