Contact Information

Office: 3-403B BSB
Phone: 319-335-7807
Faculty Profile

Brief desctiption of current research:

My CCOM research program is primarily directed to 1) development of novel, broad-spectrum anti-infectives without microbial resistance and 2) studies of newly described microbial illnesses, recently focusing on causes of type II diabetes. My clinical/basic science collaborators and I have described/developed novel treatments for 19 new human illnesses, including staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome (TSS; 1981), post-influenza TSS (1987), staphylococcal purpura fulminans (2005), extreme pyrexia syndrome (2009), and streptococcal TSS (flesh-eating disease; 1987). These studies saved the U.S. healthcare system over $500 billion over the past 30 years. My laboratory has a long history of studies of staphylococcal, streptococcal, and enterococcal superantigen-like molecules in sensitive animal models and in humans. Recently, we have fulfilled Koch’s postulates, showing the causal role of S. aureus and its superantigens in development of Type II diabetes. I have recently developed a toxoid vaccine that protects rabbit models from all S. aureus illnesses. I am the Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder of a small biotechnology company, Hennepin Life Sciences, whose goal is to prevent and treat mucosal and skin infections through use of glycerol monolaurate (GML). Active projects include: 1) use of GML to treat and prevent simultaneous bacterial vaginosis and candidiasis as its first indication; 2) use in prevention of HIV transmission vaginally alone and in concert with approved anti-retroviral agents; 3) use to decolonize nasal mucosa; 4) use to prevent infections with Herpes Simplex Viruses; 5) use to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections; and 6) use to reduce skin Staphylococcus aureus associated with atopic dermatitis and diabetes. Our prior research established the exceptional safety of GML in both rhesus macaques and humans; this was affirmed in FDA responses to a pre-IND submission. We have also demonstrated in vivo (in rhesus macaques and women) that GML is antimicrobial for pathogens, while not affecting normal flora lactobacilli.

3 most influential diabetes/obesity/metabolism publications:

• Vu, B.G., F.A. Gourronc, D.A. Bernlohr, P.M. Schlievert, and A.J. Klingelhutz. 2013. Staphylococcal superantigens stimulate immortalized human adipocytes to produce chemokines. PLoS One 8:e77988. (PMCID:3813495).
• Spaulding, A.R., W. Salgado-Pabón, J.A. Merriman, C.S. Stach, Y. Ji, A.N. Gillman, M.L. Peterson, and P.M. Schlievert. 2014. Vaccination against Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia. J. Infect. Dis. 209:1955-1962. (PMID: 24357631).
• Vu, B.G., C.S. Stach, K. Kulhankova, W. Salgado-Pabón, A.J. Klingelhutz, and P.M. Schlievert. 2015. Chronic superantigen exposure induces systemic inflammation, elevated bloodstream endotoxin, and abnormal glucose tolerance in rabbits: possible role in diabetes. mBio 6:e02554. (PMCID: 4358007).