Melanie M Pearson, PhD
Research Associate Professor, Microbiology and Immunology
Microbiology & Immunology
1150 W Medical Center Dr / 5641 Med Sci II
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
[email protected]

Available to mentor

Melanie M Pearson, PhD
Research Associate Professor
  • About
  • Links
  • Qualifications
  • Research Overview
  • Recent Publications
  • About

    I am a microbiologist by training, with specializations in bacterial genetics, molecular microbiology, Gram-negative bacteria, transcriptomics, and biofilm formation. I use these tools to study how bacteria cause human infectious diseases. My work over the last two decades focuses on the bacterial agents of urinary tract infections (UTIs). In particular, my interests center on the organism Proteus mirabilis.

    Links
    Qualifications
    • Postdoctoral Research Fellow
      University of Michigan, Microbiology and Immunology, 2010
    • PhD
      University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, 2004
    • BS
      Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, 1997
    Research Overview

    • Pathogenic mechanisms of bacterial uropathogen Proteus mirabilis
    • Chaperone-usher fimbriae and bacterial adherence/invasion during UTI
    • Bacterial nutrition and physiology during UTI
    • MrpJ: fimbria-associated regulator that controls transcription of known and suspected virulence genes
    • Fimbria-associated MrpJ paralogs that form a complex gene regulatory network for P. mirabilis and related species
    • Role of innate immunity during UTI
    • Uropathogenic Escherichia coli
    • Complicated and catheter-associated urinary tract infection

    Recent Publications See All Publications
    • Journal Article
      Organ agar serves as physiologically relevant alternative for in vivo bacterial colonization.
      Pearson MM, Shea AE, Pahil S, Smith SN, Forsyth VS, Mobley HLT. Infect Immun, 2023 Nov 16; 91 (11): e0035523 DOI:10.1128/iai.00355-23
      PMID: 37850748
    • Journal Article
      MrpH, a new class of metal-binding adhesin, requires zinc to mediate biofilm formation.
      Jiang W, Ubhayasekera W, Breed MC, Norsworthy AN, Serr N, Mobley HLT, Pearson MM, Knight SD. PLoS Pathog, 2020 Aug; 16 (8): e1008707 DOI:10.1371/journal.ppat.1008707
      PMID: 32780778
    • Book
      Proteus mirabilis
      2019 DOI:10.1007/978-1-4939-9601-8
    • Journal Article
      MrpJ Directly Regulates Proteus mirabilis Virulence Factors, Including Fimbriae and Type VI Secretion, during Urinary Tract Infection.
      Debnath I, Stringer AM, Smith SN, Bae E, Mobley HLT, Wade JT, Pearson MM. Infect Immun, 2018 Oct; 86 (10): DOI:10.1128/IAI.00388-18
      PMID: 30082479
    • Journal Article
      Pathogenesis of Proteus mirabilis Infection.
      Armbruster CE, Mobley HLT, Pearson MM. EcoSal Plus, 2018 Feb; 8 (1): DOI:10.1128/ecosalplus.ESP-0009-2017
      PMID: 29424333
    • Journal Article
      From Catheter to Kidney Stone: The Uropathogenic Lifestyle of Proteus mirabilis.
      Norsworthy AN, Pearson MM. Trends Microbiol, 2017 Apr; 25 (4): 304 - 315. DOI:10.1016/j.tim.2016.11.015
      PMID: 28017513
    • Chapter
      Proteus mirabilis and urinary tract infections
      Schaffer JN, Pearson MM. 2016 Apr 19; Urinary Tract Infections: Molecular Pathogenesis and Clinical Management, 383 - 433. DOI:10.1128/9781555817404.ch17
    • Journal Article
      Proteus mirabilis fimbriae- and urease-dependent clusters assemble in an extracellular niche to initiate bladder stone formation.
      Schaffer JN, Norsworthy AN, Sun T-T, Pearson MM. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2016 Apr 19; 113 (16): 4494 - 4499. DOI:10.1073/pnas.1601720113
      PMID: 27044107
    Featured News & Stories Portrait of Dr. Melanie Pearson
    Department News
    Melanie Pearson, Ph.D., is promoted to Associate Professor. Congratulations!
    On May 16, 2024, the Regents of the University of Michigan promoted Melanie Pearson, Ph.D., to Associate Professor on the Research Track, effective September 1, 2024.