Matthew M. Ramsey
Buras, Louisiana (Defunct)
Research interestsI study multi-species interactions in Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa). Aa is an opportunistic pathogen that is only isolated from the mammalian oral cavity. Because of its specialization to this environment, Aa is in constant proximity to other members of the normal flora found there. Thus, we believe that Aa is an ideal model organism to study multi-species interactions between bacteria. Our work so far has demonstrated that Aa utilizes a metabolite (hydrogen peroxide) produced by a dominant member of the normal flora (Streptococcus spp.) To induce expression of a gene who’s product is involved in resistance to innate immunity from the host. This interaction demonstrates that Aa may utilize the metabolic activity of its neighbors to anticipate an incoming immune response.
Personal descriptionI was born and raised in the coastal city of Buras, Louisiana. In 2000 I received a B.S. from Louisiana Tech University in Biology, upon which I left to obtain my M.S. in Microbiology from the University of Oklahoma. Afterwards I spent several years as the administrator of a microscopy and flow cytometry core facility at a private research hospital before I returned to graduate school in 2005 to obtain my PhD which I am currently pursuing.
Publications
Ramsey, M.*, Boulette, M.*, Jorth, P., Whiteley, M. (*Co-first authors) In Press. Metabolite Sensing in a Model Polymicrobial Community. Genomic Inquiries into Oral Bacterial Communities. Edited by Paul Kolenbrander, ASM Press, Washington DC, USA.
Ramsey, M., Korgaonkar, A., Whiteley, M. In Press. Quorum Signaling in Bacteria. Encyclopedia of Microbiology, 3rd Edition. Elsevier Publishing, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Ramsey, M., Whiteley, M. 2009. Polymicrobial interactions stimulate resistance to host innate immunity through metabolite perception. PNAS. 106(5):1578-1583. PMCID: PMC2629492 **
Chen J., Wu M., Sezate S.A., Matsumoto H., Ramsey M., McGinnis J.F. 2008. Interaction of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in the light-induced rod alpha-transducin translocation. J. Neurochem. 104(5):1280-92. PMID: 18028335
Ramsey, M., Whiteley, M. 2004 Pseudomonas aeruginosa attachment and biofilm development in dynamic environments. Mol. Microbiol. 53(4): 1075-1087. PMID: 15306012
Chang I.S., Groh J.L., Ramsey M., Ballard J.D., Krumholz L.R. 2004. Differential expression of Desulfovibrio vulgaris genes in response to Cu(II) and Hg(II) toxicity. Appl. Envrion. Microbiol. 70(3):1847-51. PMID: 15006815
Bausch, C. Ramsey, M., Conway, T. 2004. Transcriptional organization and regulation of the L-idonic acid pathway (GntII system) in Escherichia coli. J. Bacteriol. 186(5):1388-97. PMID: 14973046
Qa'Dan M., Ramsey M., Daniel J., Spyres L.M., Safiejko-Mroczka B., Ortiz-Leduc W., Ballard J.D. 2002. Clostridium difficile toxin B activates dual caspase-dependent and caspase-independent apoptosis in intoxicated cells. Cell Microbiol. 4(7):425-34. PMID: 12102688
** Noted in Februrary 5, 2009 Nature as the Microbiology Research Highlight.
“Polymicrobial Interactions Enhance Innate Immune Resistance” *
Matthew Ramsey, Marvin Whiteley
2009 2nd Annual Co-infections Meeting. St. Judes Hospital, Memphis, TN
“Bacterial Dinner Conversations” *
Matthew Ramsey, Stacie Brown and Marvin Whiteley
2008 Texas Branch ASM Meeting, Austin, TX
“Multi-Species Interaction Induces Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans To Resist Innate Immunity” *
Matthew Ramsey, Marvin Whiteley
2008 International Pasteurellaceae Conference, Sorrento, Italy
“Multi-species Interactions: The anticipation is (not) killing me” *
Matthew Ramsey, Marvin Whiteley
2008 Wind River Conference On Prokaryotic Biology, Estes Park, CO
“Hydrogen Peroxide Induces Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans to Resist Host Innate Immunity” *
Matthew Ramsey, Marvin Whiteley
2007 Texas Branch ASM Meeting, Huntsville, TX
“Processing of Intermediate Filaments in Clostridium difficile TcdB Intoxicated HeLa Cells”
Matthew Ramsey, Lea Spyres, Maen Qa'Dan, Jeremy Daniel, Jimmy Ballard
2002 ASM General Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT
*Oral Presentation
Awards2009 Graduate Dean’s Prestigious Fellowship Supplement, University of Texas, Austin, TX.
2009 Patricia Johnston Endowed Fellowship in Biological Sciences. University of Texas, Austin, TX.
2009 Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Pre-Doctoral Fellowship - NIH / NIDCR F31 DE019995-01.
2008 2nd Place, Student Poster Awards at the International Pasteurellaceae conference. Sorrento, Italy.
2008 Recipient of the A.P. Bradie Endowed Fellowship Travel Grant to the Wind River Conference for Prokaryotic Biology, Estes Park, CO.
2007 Winner, S.E. Sulkin Award for Outstanding Presentation in Medical Microbiology. Texas Branch ASM meeting, Huntsville, TX.
1996-2000 Centennial Scholarship Recipient, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA.
