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Research Summary
Infectious Diseases, Staphylococcus aureus
Research Activities
The past decade has witnessed a dramatic increase in Staphylococcus aureus infections acquired from the community. Yet there remains a limited understanding of how these strains spread and subsequently become established and persist within communities.
My research is focused on identifying molecular mechanisms that allow epidemic S. aureus strains such as USA300 to successfully disseminate. This project uses a combined approach of whole-genome comparative sequencing of longitudinally collected samples, genetic manipulation, and functional studies on bacterial adhesion and survival. These molecular studies are informed by ongoing epidemiological studies on S. aureus transmission in the local community. This work has identified a potentially newly emerging S. aureus strain, ST398, which was previously only associated with close contacts to animals. Ongoing studies are aimed at elucidating the molecular mechanisms of its cross-species transfer and current animal-independent spread.
In addition, I maintain an active interest in genetic determinants of drug resistance in the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum, following on from my earlier studies in this area.
Service Activities
Dr. Uhlemann serves as an Attending Physician on the Infectious Diseases Service at New York Presbyterian Hospital.
Positions & Appointments
| 2012- |
Assistant Professor of Medicine |
Columbia University Medical Center |
New York, NY |
| 2010-2011 |
Instructor, Department of Medicine |
Columbia University Medical Center |
New York, NY |
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Education and Training
| 1993-1999 |
Medicine |
Eberhard-Karls-University, Tubingen, Germany |
| 1999-2001 |
Clinical researcher, Tropical Medicine |
Eberhard-Karls-University, Tubingen, Germany |
| 2002-2005 |
PhD studies, Molecular Parasitology |
St. George's Hospital, University of London, London, UK |
| 2005-2007 |
Internship and Residency, Internal Medicine |
Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY |
| 2007-2010 |
Fellowship, Infectious Diseases |
Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY |
Selected Publications:
1. Uhlemann AC, Porcella SF, Trivedi S, Sullivan SB, Hafer C, Kennedy AD, Barbian KD, McCarthy AJ, Street C, Hirschberg DL, Lipkin WI, Lindsay JA, Deleo FR, Lowy FD. (2012) Identification of a Highly Transmissible Animal-Independent Staphylococcus aureus ST398 Clone with Distinct Genomic and Cell Adhesion Properties. mBio
3(2):pii: e00027-12
2. Uhlemann AC, Knox J, Miller M, Hafer C, Vasquez G, Ryan M, Vavagiakis P, Shi Q, Lowy FD. (2011) The environment as an unrecognized reservoir for community-associated methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus USA300: a case-control study. PLoS One
6(7):e22407
3. Uhlemann AC, Dumortier C, Hafer C, Taylor BS, Sánchez E J, Rodriguez-Taveras C, Leon P, Rojas R, Olive C, Lowy FD. (2012) Molecular characterization of Staphylococcus aureus from outpatients in the Caribbean reveals the presence of pandemic clones. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis.
31(4):505-11
4. Valderramos SG, Scanfeld D, Uhlemann AC, Fidock DA, Krishna S. (2010) Investigations into the role of the Plasmodium falciparum SERCA (PfATP6) L263E mutation in artemisinin action and resistance. Antimicrob Agents Chemother.
54(9):3842-52
5. Uhlemann AC, McGready R, Ashley EA, Brockman A, Singhasivanon P, Krishna S, White NJ, Nosten F, Price RN. (2007) Intrahost selection of Plasmodium falciparum pfmdr1 alleles after antimalarial treatment on the northwestern border of Thailand. J Infect Dis
195(1):134-41
6. Price RN*, Uhlemann AC*, Brockman A, McGready R, Ashley E, Phaipun L, Patel R, Laing K, Looareesuwan S, White NJ, Nosten F, Krishna S., *Co-first authors. (2004) Mefloquine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum and increased pfmdr1 gene copy number. Lancet
364(9432):438-47
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