Barbara J. Mann
- Phone: 434-924-9666
- Fax: 434-924-0075
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Medicine- Infectious Diseases and International Health
Education
- PhD, Microbiology, University of Virginia
Research Disciplines
Biotechnology, Infectious Diseases/Biodefense, Microbiology
Research Description
My current research interests focus on testing and developing vaccines and therapeutics to combat SARS CoV-2 infections. We are using mouse as a model system.
I have also focused on the initial interactions between the pathogenic bacteria Francisella tularensis and its host, specifically in its adherence and invasion mechanisms, and protective vaccines. F. tularensis has been designated as a category A select agent for studies in Biodefense Research.
Francisella tularensis is a zoonotic infection that can be contracted by several methods including tick bites and inhalation. The low infection dose of 10-50 organisms by an inhalation route led to its development as an agent of biological warfare. The molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity of this gram negative, intracellular bacteria are largely unknown. We are using combined approaches that include bioinformatics, and mutagenesis to identify proteins that mediate adherence to and invasion of host cells. We are also screening for attenuated strains that may be useful as protective vaccines.
Training
- Biodefense & Infectious Diseases Short-Term Training to Increase Diversity in Biomedical Sciences
- Global Biothreats Training Program
- Global Infectious Disease Research Training Grant at UVa
Selected Publications
2023
Zhu, B., Wei, X., Narasimhan, H., Qian, W., Zhang, R., Cheon, I. S., . . . Sun, J. (2023). Inhibition of the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier simultaneously mitigates hyperinflammation and hyperglycemia in COVID-19. SCIENCE IMMUNOLOGY, 8(82). doi:10.1126/sciimmunol.adf0348
2022
Keshavarz, B., Richards, N. E., Workman, L. J., Patel, J., Muehling, L. M., Canderan, G., . . . Wilson, J. M. (2022). Trajectory of IgG to SARS-CoV-2 After Vaccination With BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 in an Employee Cohort and Comparison With Natural Infection. FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY, 13. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.850987
2021
Donlan, A. N., Sutherland, T. E., Marie, C., Preissner, S., Bradley, B. T., Carpenter, R. M., . . . Petri, W. A. J. (2021). IL-13 is a driver of COVID-19 severity. JCI INSIGHT, 6(15). doi:10.1172/jci.insight.150107
Donlan, A. N., Sutherland, T. E., Marie, C., Preissner, S., Bradley, B. T., Carpenter, R. M., . . . Petri, W. A. (2021). IL-13 is a driver of COVID-19 severity.. medRxiv. doi:10.1101/2020.06.18.20134353
Abhyankar, M. M., Mann, B. J., Sturek, J. M., Brovero, S., Moreau, G. B., Sengar, A., . . . Petri, W. A. J. (2021). Development of COVID-19 vaccine using a dual Toll-like receptor ligand liposome adjuvant. NPJ VACCINES, 6(1). doi:10.1038/s41541-021-00399-0
2020
Moreau, G. B., Burgess, S. L., Sturek, J. M., Donlan, A. N., Petri, W. A. J., & Mann, B. J. (2020). Evaluation of K18-hACE2 Mice as a Model of SARS-CoV-2 Infection. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE, 103(3), 1215-1219. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.20-0762
Cunningham, A. L., Mann, B. J., Qin, A., Santiago, A. E., Grassel, C., Lipsky, M., . . . Barry, E. M. (2020). Characterization of Schu S4 aro mutants as live attenuated tularemia vaccine candidates. VIRULENCE, 11(1), 283-294. doi:10.1080/21505594.2020.1746557
2018
O'Malley, K. J., Bowling, J. L., Stinson, E., Cole, K. S., Mann, B. J., Namjoshi, P., . . . Reed, D. S. (2018). Aerosol prime-boost vaccination provides strong protection in outbred rabbits against virulent type A Francisella tularensis. PLOS ONE, 13(10). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0205928
Moreau, G. B., Qin, A., & Mann, B. J. (2018). Zinc Acquisition Mechanisms Differ between Environmental and Virulent Francisella Species. JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY, 200(4). doi:10.1128/JB.00587-17
2017
Gorla, S. K., Zhang, Y., Rabideau, M. M., Qin, A., Chacko, S., House, A. L., . . . Hedstrom, L. (2017). Benzoxazoles, Phthalazinones, and Arylurea-Based Compounds with IMP Dehydrogenase-Independent Antibacterial Activity against Francisella tularensis. ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY, 61(10). doi:10.1128/AAC.00939-17
Richard, K., Mann, B. J., Qin, A., Barry, E. M., Ernst, R. K., & Vogel, S. N. (2017). Monophosphoryl Lipid A Enhances Efficacy of a Francisella tularensis LVS-Catanionic Nanoparticle Subunit Vaccine against F-tularensis Schu S4 Challenge by Augmenting both Humoral and Cellular Immunity. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY, 24(3). doi:10.1128/CVI.00574-16
2016
Qin, A., Zhang, Y., Clark, M. E., Moore, E. A., Rabideau, M. M., Moreau, G. B., & Mann, B. J. (2016). Components of the type six secretion system are substrates of Francisella tularensis Schu S4 DsbA-like FipB protein. VIRULENCE, 7(8), 882-894. doi:10.1080/21505594.2016.1168550
2015
Schutte, K. M., Fisher, D. J., Burdick, M. D., Mehrad, B., Mathers, A. J., Mann, B. J., . . . Hughes, M. A. (2016). Escherichia coli Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex Is an Important Component of CXCL10-Mediated Antimicrobial Activity. INFECTION AND IMMUNITY, 84(1), 320-328. doi:10.1128/IAI.00552-15
Santiago, A. E., Mann, B. J., Qin, A., Cunningham, A. L., Cole, L. E., Grassel, C., . . . Barry, E. M. (2015). Characterization of Francisella tularensis Schu S4 defined mutants as live-attenuated vaccine candidates. PATHOGENS AND DISEASE, 73(6). doi:10.1093/femspd/ftv036
2014
Richard, K., Mann, B., Stocker, L., Barry, E., Qin, A., Cole, L., . . . Vogel, S. (2014). Novel vaccination strategy: Francisella tularensis vaccines based on functionalized catanionic vesicles. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, 192.
Qin, A., Zhang, Y., Clark, M. E., Rabideau, M. M., Barea, L. R. M., & Mann, B. J. (2014). FipB, an Essential Virulence Factor of Francisella tularensis subsp tularensis, Has Dual Roles in Disulfide Bond Formation. JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY, 196(20), 3571-3581. doi:10.1128/JB.01359-13
Reed, D. S., Smith, L. P., Cole, K. S., Santiago, A. E., Mann, B. J., & Barry, E. M. (2014). Live Attenuated Mutants of Francisella tularensis Protect Rabbits against Aerosol Challenge with a Virulent Type A Strain. INFECTION AND IMMUNITY, 82(5), 2098-2105. doi:10.1128/IAI.01498-14
Mandapati, K., Gorla, S. K., House, A. L., McKenney, E. S., Zhang, M., Rao, S. N., . . . Hedstrom, L. (2014). Repurposing Cryptosporidium Inosine 5â²-Monophosphate Dehydrogenase Inhibitors as Potential Antibacterial Agents. ACS MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS, 5(8), 846-850. doi:10.1021/ml500203p
2013
Richard, K., Mann, B. J., Stocker, L., Barry, E. M., Qin, A., Cole, L. E., . . . Vogel, S. N. (2014). Novel Catanionic Surfactant Vesicle Vaccines Protect against Francisella tularensis LVS and Confer Significant Partial Protection against F-tularensis Schu S4 Strain. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY, 21(2), 212-226. doi:10.1128/CVI.00738-13
Moreau, G. B., & Mann, B. J. (2013). Adherence and uptake of Francisella into host cells. VIRULENCE, 4(8), 826-832. doi:10.4161/viru.25629
Chong, A., Child, R., Wehrly, T. D., Rockx-Brouwer, D., Qin, A., Mann, B. J., & Celli, J. (2013). Structure-Function Analysis of DipA, a Francisella tularensis Virulence Factor Required for Intracellular Replication. PLOS ONE, 8(6). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0067965
2011
Cole, L. E., Mann, B. J., Shirey, K. A., Richard, K., Yang, Y., Gearhart, P. J., . . . Vogel, S. N. (2011). Role of TLR signaling in Francisella tularensis-LPS-induced, antibody-mediated protection against Francisella tularensis challenge. JOURNAL OF LEUKOCYTE BIOLOGY, 90(4), 787-797. doi:10.1189/jlb.0111014
Ark, N. M., & Mann, B. J. (2011). Impact of Francisella tularensis pilin homologs on pilus formation and virulence. MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS, 51(3), 110-120. doi:10.1016/j.micpath.2011.05.001
Qin, A., Scott, D. W., Rabideau, M. M., Moore, E. A., & Mann, B. J. (2011). Requirement of the CXXC Motif of Novel Francisella Infectivity Potentiator Protein B FipB, and FipA in Virulence of F. tularensis subsp tularensis. PLOS ONE, 6(9). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0024611
2010
Gilchrist, C. A., Moore, E. S., Zhang, Y., Bousquet, C. B., Lannigan, J. A., Mann, B. J., & Petri, W. A. J. (2010). Regulation of Virulence of Entamoeba histolytica by the URE3-BP Transcription Factor. MBIO, 1(1). doi:10.1128/mBio.00057-10
Ahmad, S., Hunter, L., Qin, A., Mann, B. J., & van Hoek, M. L. (2010). Azithromycin effectiveness against intracellular infections of Francisella. BMC MICROBIOLOGY, 10. doi:10.1186/1471-2180-10-123