Education

PhD, Immunology and Microbiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 2010

BS, Medical Technology, University of Michigan, 2005

Research Interest

The overall goal of my research is to explore mechanisms by which cellular stress responses regulate innate immunity to bacterial infection.  

Teaching Interest

I am interested in teaching topics that cover bacterial pathogenesis, immunology, molecular biology, and cell biology. I am also interested in mentoring students with different levels of education including undergraduate, veterinary, and graduate students. 

Awards & Honors

2016, The American Association of Immunology (AAI) Young Investigator Award

2015, Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference Selected Speaker Award

2006, Maize and Blue Award for Distinguished Scholarship (University of Michigan) 

Publications

Abuaita BH, Lawrence A-LE, Berger RP, Hill DR, Huang S, Yadagiri VK, et al. Comparative transcriptional profiling of the early host response to infection by typhoidal and non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars in human intestinal organoids. PLoS Pathog 2021;17:e1009987.

Abuaita BH, Sule GJ, Schultz TL, Gao F, Knight JS, O’Riordan MX. The IRE1α Stress Signaling Axis Is a Key Regulator of Neutrophil Antimicrobial Effector Function. J Immunol 2021. https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.2001321

Lawrence A-LE, Abuaita BH, Berger RP, Hill DR, Huang S, Yadagiri VK, et al. Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium SPI-1 and SPI-2 Shape the Global Transcriptional Landscape in a Human Intestinal Organoid Model System. MBio 2021;12.: https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.00399-21

Sule G, Abuaita BH, Steffes PA, Fernandes AT, Estes SK, Dobry C, et al. Endoplasmic reticulum stress sensor IRE1α propels neutrophil hyperactivity in lupus. J Clin Invest 2021;131.: https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI137866. 
Gao F, Reynolds MB, Passalacqua KD, Sexton JZ, Abuaita BH, O’Riordan MXD. The Mitochondrial Fission Regulator DRP1 Controls Post-Transcriptional Regulation of TNF-α. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020;10:593805.

Abuaita BH, Schultz TL, O’Riordan MX. Mitochondria-Derived Vesicles Deliver Antimicrobial Reactive Oxygen Species to Control Phagosome-Localized Staphylococcus aureus. Cell Host Microbe 2018;24:625–36.e5. 
Bronner DN, Abuaita BH, Chen X, Fitzgerald KA, Nuñez G, He Y, et al. Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Activates the Inflammasome via NLRP3- and Caspase-2-Driven Mitochondrial Damage. Immunity 2015;43:451–62.

Abuaita BH, Burkholder KM, Boles BR, O’Riordan MX. The Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Sensor Inositol-Requiring Enzyme 1α Augments Bacterial Killing through Sustained Oxidant Production. MBio 2015;6:e00705.

Runft DL, Mitchell KC, Abuaita BH, Allen JP, Bajer S, Ginsburg K, et al. Zebrafish as a natural host model for Vibrio cholerae colonization and transmission. Appl Environ Microbiol 2014;80:1710–7.

Abuaita BH, Withey JH. Bicarbonate Induces Vibrio cholerae virulence gene expression by enhancing ToxT activity. Infect Immun 2009;77:4111–20. 

All Publications in PubMed

Grant Funding

Relieving ER stress in lupus neutrophils, Lupus Research Alliance (LRA), Co-Investigator, 12/2019-11/2021. 
Control of neutrophil effector mechanisms by the IRE1-Caspase-2 signaling axis, NIH/NIAID R21, Co-Investigator, 06/2018-05/2020.

Induction of the macrophage unfolded protein response (UPR) by MRSA infection enhances anti- microbial function. American Heart Association-Midwest Affiliate Postdoctoral Fellowship, Principal Investigator, 07/2013-06/2015.