Shauna McGillivray, Ph.D.

Professor & Associate Department Chair

s.mcgillivray@tcu.edu817-257-6178WIN 414

Program Affiliations

College of Science & Engineering Biology

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Education

BA, Biology, Chemistry & German, Concordia College, 1999

PhD, Biomedical Science, University of California-San Diego, 2006

Areas of Focus

Microbiology
Bacterial pathogenesis
Antibiotic resistance
Bacillus anthracis

Courses

Microbiology (BIOL 30304)
Scientific Communications (BIOL 60132 & 60001)

I have had a long-standing interest in understanding host-pathogen interactions, particularly between bacterial pathogens and the host innate immune system. In my lab, we use molecular and microbiological tools to identify and investigate the mechanism behind potential bacterial virulence genes. We primarily work with Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of the deadly disease anthrax, as well as with Staphylococcus aureus, the leading cause of skin and soft tissue infections. Currently, my lab studies a conserved intracellular bacterial protease called ClpXP and its role in virulence and antibiotic resistance. Loss of ClpXP renders B. anthracis unable to survive in the host and increases its susceptibility to antibiotics such as penicillin and host defenses such as antimicrobial peptides. My lab is also actively investigating potential new virulence factors using a combination of in vitro and in vivo screens utilizing our invertebrate infection model the waxworm Galleria mellonella. Lastly, my lab is also interested in the development of antimicrobial agents and we currently work with various collaborators to investigate the potential of new agents.

*denotes TCU undergraduate student, **denotes TCU graduate student

Johnson, D.**, J.M. Reeks**, A. Caron*, I. Tzoka, I. Ali*, S.M. McGillivray, Y.M. Strzhemechny, Influence of surface properties and microbial growth media on antibacterial action of ZnO. Coatings, v. 12, 1648. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12111648
Zou, L.**, C.R. Evans**, V.D. Do**,Q.P. Losefsky*, D.Q. Ngo*, and S.M. McGillivray, 2021, Loss of the ClpXP protease leads to decreased resistance to cell-envelope targeting antimicrobials in Bacillus anthracis Sterne. Frontiers in Microbiology, v. 12, 2247. https:/C/doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.719548
Reeks, J.M.**, I. Ali*, W.J. Moss, E. Davis, S.M. McGillivray, and Y.M. Strzhemechny, 2021, Microscale ZnO with controllable crystal morphology as a platform to study antibacterial action on Staphylococcus aureus. Biointerphases, v. 16, 031003. https://doi.org/10.1116/6.0000957
Malmquist, J.A.**, M.R. Rogan*, and S.M. McGillivray, 2019, Galleria mellonella as an infection model for Bacillus anthracis Sterne. Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol. v. 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2019.00360
Huang, Y.**, J.N. Alumasa, L.T. Callaghan*, R.S. Baugh*, C.D. Rae, K.C. Keiler and S.M. McGillivray, 2019, A small molecule inhibitor of trans-translation synergistically interacts with cathelicidin antimicrobial peptides to impair survival of Staphylococcus aureus, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, v. 63, p. e02362-18. https://doi.org/10.1128/AAC.02362-18
Claunch, K.C.**, M. Bush*, C.R. Evans**, J.A. Malmquist**, M.C. Hale and S.M. McGillivray, 2018, Transcriptional profiling of the clpX mutant in Bacillus anthracis reveals regulatory connection with the lrgAB operon, Microbiology, v. 164, p. 659-669. https://doi.org/10.1099/mic.0.000628

*denotes TCU undergraduate student, **denotes TCU graduate student, presenting individual is underlined

Delgado, M.*, A. Caron**, and S. M. McGillivray. Role of reactive oxygen species formation in the antimicrobial action of zinc oxide, 2023, Spring Meeting of the Texas Branch of the American Society of Microbiology. Abilene TX. Poster presentation.
Waite, K.*, S. Hona**, V. Do**, and S.M. McGillivray. Regulatory effects of loss of ClpX on the msrA chromosomal gene in Bacillus anthracis, 2023, Spring Meeting of the Texas Branch of the American Society of Microbiology. Abilene TX. Poster presentation.
Hona, S.**, K. Waite*, G. Ellis*, and S.M. McGillivray. Role of sigM and glpF on antimicrobial resistance and virulence in Bacillus anthracis, 2023, Spring Meeting of the Texas Branch of the American Society of Microbiology. Abilene TX. Poster presentation.
Hamilton, L.*, V. Adeleke*, Z. Rouseau*, L. Callaghan*, T. Kelly*, and S.M. McGillivray, Identifying novel mutants with increased susceptibility to H2O2 and reduced virulence in Bacillus anthracis Sterne, 2023, Spring Meeting of the Texas Branch of the American Society of Microbiology. Abilene TX. Poster presentation.
Wilson, L.*, V. Do**, and S.M. McGillivray. Role of ClpX in the stress response and virulence of Bacillus anthracis: protease or chaperone?, 2023, Spring Meeting of the Texas Branch of the American Society of Microbiology. Abilene TX. Oral presentation.
Caron, A.**, M. Delgado*, D. Johnson**, Y. Strzhemechny, S. M. McGillivray. Characterization of novel zinc oxide resistant Staphylococcus aureus mutants, 2023, Spring Meeting of the Texas Branch of the American Society of Microbiology. Abilene TX. Oral presentation.
Gallegos, K.**, J. Malmquist**, S. Baugh*, J. Manceras*, M. Greene*, and S. M. McGillivray. Characterization of the potential iron-acquisition gene dUTPase in Bacillus anthracis, 2023, Spring Meeting of the Texas Branch of the American Society of Microbiology. Abilene TX. Oral presentation.
Johnson, D.**, J. Reeks, A. Caron*, O. Castillo, K. Nguyen, M. Hattarki, S.M. McGillivray, Y.M Strzhemechny, 2022, Modifications of Surface Optoelectronics in ZnO Nano- and Microcrystals Following Exposure to Staphylococcus aureus and Bacterial Growth Media. AVS 68th International Symposium & Exhibition. Pittsburgh, PA. Poster presentation.
Reeks, J., D. Johnson**, A. Caron, S.M. McGillivray, Y.M. Strzhemechny, 2022, Response of ZnO micro- and nano-crystals to Staphylococcus aureus bacteria and bacterial growth media. 1st International Conference on Advanced Materials for Bio-Related Applications. Wrocław, Poland. Oral presentation.
Caron, A.*, I. Ali*, J. Reeks**, D. Johnson**, Y.M Strzhemechny, and S.M. McGillivray, 2022, Characterization of antibacterial mechanisms of zinc oxide in Staphylococcus aureus. 57th NCHC Annual Conference. Dallas, TX. Poster presentation.
Caron, A.*, J.M. Reeks**, D. Justin**, I. Ali*, M. Delgado*, Y.M. Strzhemechny, and S. M. McGillivray, 2022, Characterization of antibacterial mechanisms of zinc oxide in Staphylococcus aureus. Fall Meeting of the Texas Branch of the American Society of Microbiology. Houston TX. Poster presentation.
Hamilton, L.*, V. Adeleke*, Z. Rouseau*, L. Callaghan*, T. Kelly*, and S.M. McGillivray, 2022, Identifying novel mutants with increased susceptibility to H2O2 and reduced virulence in Bacillus anthracis Sterne. Fall Meeting of the Texas Branch of the American Society of Microbiology. Houston TX. Poster presentation.
Adeleke, V*, L. Hamilton*, and S. M. McGillivray, 2022, Identifying novel genes with increased susceptibility to reactive oxygen species in Bacillus anthracis Sterne. Spring Meeting of the Texas Branch of the American Society of Microbiology. Virtual Conference. Poster presentation.
Do, V.** and S. M. McGillivray, 2022, Role of ClpX in regulation of stress responses in Bacillus anthracis. Spring Meeting of the Texas Branch of the American Society of Microbiology. Virtual Conference. Poster presentation.
Kouretas, B*., L. Klingemann*, and S.M. McGillivray, 2022, Identification of novel virulence genes in Bacillus anthracis using invertebrate models of infection. Spring Meeting of the Texas Branch of the American Society of Microbiology. Virtual Conference. Poster presentation.
Caron, A*, I. Ali*, J.M. Reeks**, Y.M. Strzhemechny, and S.M. McGillivray, 2022, Characterization of antibacterial mechanisms of zinc oxide in Staphylococcus aureus, Spring Meeting of the Texas Branch of the American Society of Microbiology. Virtual Conference. Oral presentation.
Ali, I.*, A. Caron*, J.M. Reeks**, Y.M. Strzhemechny, and S.M. McGillivray, 2021, Mechanisms of zinc oxide antibacterial activity in Staphylococcus aureus. Heart of Texas Undergraduate Research Conference. Virtual Conference. Oral presentation.

My lab is regularly supported by intramural funds (RCAF, SERC) and occasionally by extramural sources (NIH).

American Society of Microbiology
Texas Association for Advisors of Health Professions

Last Updated: November 19, 2024

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