Dr. William J. Kenyon
Microbiology
wkenyon@westga.edu
678-839-4033
Education
- Ph.D. in Microbilogy from the University of Kansas.
- B.S. in Life Sciences from University of Missouri-Rolla
Research Interests
Our lab is interested in how bacteria respond to various forms of stress at the molecular level. In particular we are interested in the starvation-stress response (SSR) of Serratia marcescens (S. marcescens), a ubiquitous, opportunistic pathogen of humans and animals. Starvation for a source of carbon and energy (C-starvation) is a common form of stress encountered by strains of S. marcescens in both host and non-host environments. We have shown that C-starvation induces a series of changes in this organism that lead to the development of a distinctly different type of cell. Starvation-adapted S. marcescens cells are able to survive prolonged periods of nutrient limitation and are highly resistant to other forms of stress including exposure to high temperature, acidic pH, oxidizing agents, and antimicrobial compounds. In other pathogenic bacteria, C-starvation is known to induce the expression of certain virulence factors involved in pathogenesis. As part of an effort to identify individual SSR genes of S. marcescens, we hope to discover previously unknown virulence factors that enable this microorganism to cause disease. This work may also provide clues about how such bacteria survive stressful environmental conditions and act as a reservoir of infection.
Courses Taught
- BIOL 2030 Medical Micrbiology
- BIOL 3310 Microbiology
- BIOL 4315/5315 Microbial Physiology and Genetics
- BIOL 4325/5325 Advanced Medical Microbiology
Selected Publications
- Pittman, J., J. LaCroix, S. Adjekuko, L. Bysse, M. P. Spector, and W. J. Kenyon. Strain Variation in the Starvation-Stress Response (SSR) of Serratia marcescens. (currently in preparation for Microbiology).
- Kenyon, W. J., K. L. Nicholson, E. Guillaume, M. J. Pallen, and M. P. Spector. 2007. SigmaS-Dependent Carbon-Starvation Induction of pbpG (PBP 7) is Required for the Starvation-Stress Response in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Microbiology 153: 2148-2158.
- Kenyon, W. J., S. M. Thomas, E. Johnson, M. J. Pallen, and M. P. Spector. 2005. Shifts from Glucose to Certain Secondary Carbon-Sources Result in Activation of the Extracytoplasmic Sigma Factor SigmaE (sigmaE) in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Microbiology 151: 2373-2383.
- Kenyon, W. J., S. W. Esch, and C. S. Buller. 2005. The Curdlan-Type Exopolysaccharide Produced by Cellulomonas flavigena KU Forms Part of an Extracellular Glycocalyx Involved in Cellulose Degradation. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 87: 143-148.
- Humphreys, S., G. Rowley, A. Stevenson, W. J. Kenyon, M. P. Spector, and M. Roberts. 2003. Role of Periplasmic Peptidylprolyl Isomerases in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium Virulence. Infection and Immunity 71: 5386-5388.
- Kenyon, W. J. and C. S. Buller. 2002. Structural Analysis of the Curdlan-Like Exopolysaccharide Produced by Cellulomonas flavigena KU. Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology 29: 200-203.
- Kenyon, W. J., D. G. Sayers, S. Humphreys, M. Roberts, and M. P. Spector. 2002. The Starvation-Stress Response of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium Requires sigmaE-, but not CpxR-Regulated Extracytoplasmic Functions. Microbiology 148: 113-122.
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Wang, X., W. J. Kenyon, Q. X. Li, J. Mullberg, and L. M. Hutt-Fletcher. 1998. Epstein-Barr Virus Uses Different Complexes of Glycoproteins gH and gL To Infect B Lymphocytes and Epithelial Cells. Journal of Virology 72:5552-5558.
