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DBSP Faculty

Clayton Caswell

Clayton C. Caswell, PhD

Assistant Professor
Bacteriology
Department of Biomedical Sciences & Pathobiology

e-mail: caswellc@vt.edu


Education

2008 Ph.D., Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology
West Virginia University
2004 B.S., Biomedical Science and Entomology
Texas A&M University

Research Interests

  • Roles of small regulatory RNAs in the biology of Brucella spp.
  • Mechanisms of interactions between bacteria and hosts
  • Common regulatory pathways in related bacteria

Professional Experience

2013-present Assitant Professor
Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
2009-2012 Postdoctoral Scholar
East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine

Professional Memberships

  • American Society for Microbiology
  • Entomological Society of America

Honors and Awards

2013 Recipent of the Mäkelä-Cassell Travel Award for Early Career Scientists from the American Society for Microbiology and the Federation of European Microbiology Societies

Selected Publications

  1. Caswell, C.C., Lukomska, E., Seo, N.-S., Höök, M., and Lukomski, S. (2007) Scl1-dependent internalization of group A Streptococcus via direct interactions with the α2β1 integrin enhances pathogen survival and re-emergence. Mol. Microbiol. 64: 1319-1331.
  2. Caswell, C.C., Han, R., Hovis, K.M., Ciborowski, P., Keene, D.R., Marconi, R.T., and Lukomski, S. (2008) The Scl1 protein of M6-type group A Streptococcus binds the human complement regulatory protein, factor H, and inhibits the alternative pathway of complement. Mol. Microbiol. 67: 584-596.
  3. Caswell, C.C., Barczyk, M., Keene, D.R., Lukomska, E., Gullberg, D.E., and Lukomski, S. (2008) Identification of the first prokaryotic collagen sequence motif that mediates binding to human collagen receptors, integrins α2β1 and α11β1. J. Biol. Chem. 283: 36168-36175.
  4. Caswell, C.C., Oliver-Kozup, H., Han, R., Lukomska, E., and Lukomski, S. (2009) Scl1, the multifunctional adhesin of group A Streptococcus selectively binds cellular fibronectin and laminin, and mediates pathogen internalization by human cells. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 303: 61-68.
  5. Roop, R.M., Gaines, J.M., Anderson, E.S., Caswell, C.C., and Martin, D.W. (2009) Survival of the fittest: how Brucella strains adapt to their intracellular niche in the host. Med. Microbiol. Immunol. 198: 221-238.
  6. Caswell, C.C., Gaines, J.M., and Roop, R.M. II (2012) The RNA chaperone Hfq independently coordinates expression of the VirB type IV secretion system and the LuxR-type regulator, BabR, in Brucella abortus 2308. J. Bacteriol. 194: 3-14.
  7. Menscher, E.A., Caswell, C.C., Anderson, E.S., and Roop, R.M. II (2012) Mur regulates the gene encoding the manganese transporter MntH in Brucella abortus 2308. J. Bacteriol. 194: 561-566.
  8. Caswell, C.C., Gaines, J.M., Ciborowski, P., Smith D., Borchers, C.H., Roux, C.M., Dunman, P.M., and Roop R.M. II (2012) Identification and characterization of two small regulatory RNAs linked to virulence in Brucella abortus 2308. Mol. Microbiol. 85: 345-360.
  9. Caswell, C.C., Baumgartner, J.E., Martin, D.W., and Roop R.M. II (2012) Characterization of the organic hydroperoxide resistance system of Brucella abortus 2308. J. Bacteriol. 194: 5065-5072.
  10. Caswell, C.C., Elhassanny, A.E.M., Planchin, E.E., Roux, C.M., Weeks-Gorospe, J.N., Ficht, T.A., Dunman, P.M., and Roop R.M. II (2012). The diverse genetic regulon of the virulence-associated transcriptional regulator MucR in Brucella abortus 2308. Infect. Immun. In press.