My research focuses on the molecular mechanisms bacteria use to respond to their surrounding environment, with an emphasis on two-component signal transductionsystems and alternative sigma factors. This includes the transcriptional activation of virulence factors during infection of a human host and the utilization of hydrocarbons as a nutrient source during bioremediation efforts of contaminated environments. More specifically, my research program uses a broad range of microbiology, molecular biology and biochemistry techniques to investigate the regulation of gene expression in the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The long-term primary goal of my biomedical research is the identification of new drug targets and the development of novel drug therapies. The long-term primary goal of my bioremediation research is the identification of small signaling molecules that significantly enhance the rate by which microorganisms can be used to clean up contaminated sites and reach closure faster. An additional focus of my research program is the mentorship of undergraduate research assistants. The aims of my research, which are conducive to study in an undergraduate program, provide students the guidance and knowledge needed for success within a variety of graduate programs, including microbiology, immunology, molecular biology, genetics, and biochemistry. Students planning to attend health professions programs, such as medical, nursing, or pharmacy school, gain insight into infectious diseases and microbial pathogenesis.
Publications
Little A.S., Okkotsu Y., Reinhart, A.A., Damron F.H., Barbier M., Barrett B., Oglesby-Sherrouse A.G., Goldberg J.B., Cody W.L., Schurr M.J., Vasil M.L., Schurr M.J. 2018. Pseudomonas aeruginosa AlgR phosphorylation status differentially regulates pyocyanin and pyoverdine production. mBio 9:e02318-17.
Prichett, C.L., Little, A.S., Okkotsu, Y., Frisk, A., Cody, W.L., Covey, C.R., and Schurr, M.J. (2015) Expression Analysis of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa AlgZR Two-Component Regulatory System. Journal of Bacteriology. 197: 736- 748
Gillbreath, J., Cody, W.L., Merrell, D.S. and Hendrixson D.R. (2011) Change is good: Variations in common biological mechanisms in the -proteobacteria Campylobacter and Helicobacter. Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews. 75: 84-132.
Cody, W.L., Jones, A.K., Frisk, A., Carterson, A.J., Jackson, D., Wolfgang, M.C. and Schurr, M.J. (2009) Pseudomonas aeruginosa AlgZ regulates hydrogen cyanide production in an AlgR dependent manner. Journal of Bacteriology. 191: 2993-3002.
Cody, W.L., Wilson, J.W., Hendrixson, D.R., McIver, K.S., Hagman-Johnson, K., Nickerson, C.A. and Schurr, M.J. (2008) 10% skim milk as a freezing solution enhances the viability of cells stored at -80C. Journal of Microbiological Methods 75: 135-138.
Posters & Other Media
Poster Presentations
Hwang, J.S., Soto, C., Lima, I., Romas, A., Garcia, I. Archuleta, L. Bennett, B., Miller, K., and Cody, W.L. Characterization of Genes Essential for Hydrocarbon Degradation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. 2023. American Society for Microbiology Texas Branch.
Biney, C., Geddie, M., Stenesen, D., Soper, D., and Cody, W.L. Coevolution of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Drosophila melanogaster in a Chronic Infection Model. 2023. American Society for Microbiology Texas Branch.
Green, V., Wallace, E., and Cody, W.L. Mortality during Pseudomonas aeruginosa chronic infection of Drosophila melanogaster dependent on mating experience of host. 2019. American Society for Microbiology Texas Branch Meeting & Beta Beta Beta (Tri-Beta) Biological Honor Society South Central Regional Convention.
Ostertag, S., Tripplehorn, S., Sandlin, N., Henriquez, S.A., Moore, A., Soper, D.M., Cody, W.L. Coevolution of host-pathogen interactions in a Pseudomonas aeruginosa chronic infection model of Drosophila melanogaster. 2019. Beta Beta Beta (Tri-Beta) Biological Honor Society South Central Regional Convention.
Tripplehorn, S., Sandlin, N., Ostertag, S., Henriquez, S.A., Moore, A., Soper, D.M., Cody, W.L. Coevolution of host-pathogen interactions in a Pseudomonas aeruginosa chronic infection model of Drosophila melanogaster. 2018. American Society for Microbiology Texas Branch Meeting.
Casanova, K., Beckly, C., Torrance, B., Schnoebelen, A., Window, P., Bloemer, A., Steinmiller, E.M.P., Cody, W.L. Antimicrobial Properties of Novel Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles. 2018. American Society for Microbiology Texas Branch Meeting.
Torrance, B.L., Schnoebelen, A.T., Bloemer, A, Window, P., Steinmiller, E.M.P., Cody, W.L. Characterization of novel zinc oxide morphologies and their antimicrobial properties. 2017. American Society for Microbiology Texas Branch Meeting.
Schnoebelen, A.T., Torrance, B.L., Bloemer, A, Window, P., Cody, W.L., Steinmiller,
E.M.P. Discoveries in the Antimicrobial Properties of ZnO Plate and Rod Morphologies.
2017. American American Chemical Society National Meeting.
Little, A.S., Okkotsu, Y., Damron, F.H., Barbier, M., Oglesby-Sherrouse, A., Owings,
J.P., Barrett, B.C., Cardenas, A., Goldberg., Cody, W.L., Schurr, M.J. Phosphorylated
Pseudomonas aeruginosa AlgR is Required for Iron Acquisition and Murine Virulence.
2016. American Society for Microbiology Microbe Conference.
Barrett, B.C., Cardenas, A.J., Little, A.S., Schurr, M.J., Cody, W.L. Phosphorylation
of Pseudomonas aeruginosa AlgR is required for virulence in a Drosophila melanogaster
oral feeding infection model. 2016. American Society for Microbiology Texas Branch
Meeting.
Little, A.S., Pritchett, C.L., Okkotsu, Y., Covey, C. Cody, W.L. and Schurr, M.J.
Transcriptional Analysis of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa AlgZR two-component regulatory
system. 2013. B-888. American Society for Microbiology General Meeting.
Ribardo, D.A., Boll, J.M., Cody, W.L. and Hendrixson, D.R. Genetic Analysis of Capsular
Polysaccharide Production in Campylobacter Jejuni. 2010. United States Department
of Agriculture Food and Safety Directors Meeting.
Cody, W.L., Prichett, C.L., Wolfgang, M. and Schurr, M.J. Pseudomonas aeruginosa AlgZ
utilizes a biofilm specific mechanism to regulate hydrogen cyanide. 2008. B-190. American
Society for Microbiology General Meeting.
Prichett, C.L., Frisk, A., Cody, W.L. and Schurr, M.J. Transcriptional regulation
of Pseudomonas aeruginosa AlgR. 2008. B-074. American Society for Microbiology General
Meeting.
Cody, W.L. and Schurr, M.J. AlgZ/FimS and AlgR coregulate cyanide production in Pseudomonas
aeruginosa. 2007. B-471. American Society for Microbiology General Meeting.
Cody, W.L., Fisk, A. and Schurr, M.J. AlgZ/FimS regulate cyanide production in Pseudomonas
aeruginosa. 2006. B-245. American Society for Microbiology General Meeting.
Media Appearances
“America's first native Ebola patients in critical condition.” Common Concerns. Interview with Sally Xin Zhang. China Central Television (CCTV). October 3, 2014.
Current Lab Members
Caleb Biney
Abigail Ramos
Mary Aumen
Angelina Viola
Noemi Del Campo
Aaliyah Ramirez
Antonio Rame
Theo Nguyen
Past Lab Members
Carolina Soto (Master's Student, Biomedical Engineering, UT Arlington)
Mary Geddie (Medical Student, University of Kentucky College of Medicine)
Bella Lima (Emergency Medical Technician)
Suzie Hwang (Post-Baccalaureate Student, Johns Hopkins University)
Isabel Garcia (Student, Doctor of Chiropractic Program, Parker University)
Jade Pool (Medical Student, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine)
Tristan Spain (Medical Student, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences)
Grace Nye (Research Technician, Stanford University)
Lisa Archuleta (Doctoral Student, Stanford University)
Ruth Bennett (Emergency Medical Technician)
Paola Rodriguez (Master's Student, Physician Assistant Studies Program, UT Southwestern Medical Center)
Courtney Nguyen (Medical Student, UT Health Houston, Mcgovern Medical School)
Sarah "Ana" Henriquez (Doctoral Student, Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center)
Victoria Flores (Doctoral Student, University of Texas Medical Branch)
Virginia Green (Doctoral Student, Microbiology, Indiana University)
Hannah Safranak (Medical Student, University of Nebraska Medical Center)
Jason Stafford
Sophie Ostertag (Master's Student, Katholische Hochschule International Theological Institute, Vienna Austria)
Helen Turumble (Masters Students, Theology, University of Dallas)
Eli Wallace (Laboratory Technician)
Jeremy Langsfeld (Medical Student) University of New Mexico School of Medicine
Cody Meaux (Medical Student, University of Incarnate Word)
Nhu Nguyen (Medical Student, UT El Paso)
Natalie Sandlin (Doctoral Student, Microbiology, Boston College)
Kaitlin Casanova (Doctoral Student, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Texas A&M)
Sarah Tripplehorn (Doctoral Student, Molecular Biology, University of Pittsburg)
Blake Torrance (Doctoral Student, Immunology, University of Connecticut)
Kathleen Miller (Doctoral Student, Microbiology, University Florida)
Kellan Weston (Doctoral Student, Molecular Cell Biology, Washington University in St. Louis)
Amaris Cardenas (Doctoral Student, Biomedical Sciences, University of Virginia)
Maria Schena (Marketing and Sales Director, Italy)
Teresa Gilstrap
Brandon Barrett†
Alexandria Blessing (Forensic Scientist, Florida Department of Law Enforcement)
Phillip Window (Doctoral Student, Biochemistry, Colorado State University)
Christina Andalaro (Science Teacher, Arizona)
Claire Sexton
Narine Wandry (Medical Student, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio)
Adam Kaftan (Medical Student, University of Nebraska)
Clarisse Finders (Doctoral Student, Biochemistry, Michigan State University)
Turin Hansen (Registered Nurse)
Nathan McCormick (Scientist, Valspar)
Lab Photos
