Additional Information
Dr. Anthony Martini received his bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and master’s degree in Biotechnology from Illinois State University. He obtained his Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Iowa in the laboratory of Dr. Bradley D. Jones where he identified novel virulence factors of Streptococcus sanguinis involved in the pathogenesis of infective endocarditis using physiologically relevant in vitro assays and an in vivo rabbit model of heart infection. During his Ph.D., he developed a project characterizing the molecular interactions of a unique type IV pili system to platelet-dependent biofilm development and its contribution to disease progression, as well as environmental regulation of pili-mediate twitching motility. He is currently a postdoctoral fellow mentored by Dr. Anupama Khare at the National Cancer Institute where he is focused on characterizing molecular mechanisms used by Staphylococcus aureus to adapt to antimicrobials produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. He is also interested in how these adaptations contribute to fitness during co-culture and in other physiological contexts, and how environmental conditions influence interactions between these co-infecting pathogens.
Areas of Expertise
- Pathogenesis
- Polymicrobial Interactions
- Host-Pathogen Interactions
- Infection Models