Branch Officers
President:
Dr. Aria Eshraghi
University of Florida
ariaeshraghi@ufl.edu
Dr. Eshraghi studies how highly virulent bacteria inject toxins into host cells to evade detection by the immune system and cause disease. His research group elucidates the mechanistic details of these pathways in remarkably pathogenic species within the genus Francisella. By understanding these mechanisms, Dr. Eshraghi’s trainees have discovered multiple drugs that block the growth and virulence of these deadly bacteria.
Vice President:
Dr. Bo-young Hong
Nova Southeastern University
bhong@nova.edu
https://md.nova.edu/our-team/faculty-directory/bo-young-hong.html
Dr. Hong is currently an associate professor in the School of Allopathic Medicine at the Nova Southeastern University. She teaches clinical microbiology and immunology. Her research interests include human microbiome in health and diseases.
Secretary:
Dr. Daniel Czyz (chiysh)
University of Florida
dczyz@ufl.edu
https://microcell.ufl.edu/about-us-/people/daniel-czyz/
Dr. Czyż is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Cell Science at the University of Florida. His research focuses on host-microbe interactions and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), with particular interests in bacteriophage therapy, the gut microbiome, and the role of microbes in neurodegenerative diseases. His laboratory combines fundamental microbiology with translational research to develop new approaches to combat AMR and microbiome-associated diseases. His work spans One Health, bridging human, animal, and plant health through interdisciplinary, clinical, and industry collaborations.
Treasurer:
Dr. Cory Krediet
Eckerd College
krediecj@eckerd.edu
https://kredietlab.eckerd.edu | @coryjkrediet
Dr. Krediet’s research interests lie in host-microbe interactions and specifically how mutualistic or commensal microbiota influence the host’s physiologic response to various abiotic and biotic stressors. These types of interactions are present in a wide array of systems ranging from humans and other vertebrates, to invertebrates and to plants. Tropical corals and the sea anemone Aiptasia, form mutualistic symbioses with dinoflagellate algae (in the family Symbiodiniaceae) and other microbial partners (bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi). Dr. Krediet’s research aims to better understand how associated microbiota affect the physiology of the coral holobiont and what mechanisms underpin the overall success of the symbiosis
Director of Communication:
Dr. Kirstie Franics
Mote Marine Laboratory
kfrancis@mote.org
https://mote.org/research/program/marine-microbiology/
Dr. Kirstie Francis recently advanced to Program Manager following a postdoctoral research fellowship at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, FL, where she established a new program focused on identifying marine microbial natural products with therapeutic and commercial potential. Her research encompasses the expansion and maintenance of the Mote Microbial Library through the sampling of unique environments, generation of a library of pre-fractionated extracts, screening for diverse bioactivities, and purification and structural elucidation of active compounds. Dr. Francis and her trainees have identified promising bioactivity within the pre-fractionated extract library through antimicrobial, cancer cell cytotoxicity, and algicide assays.
Membership Coordinator:
Dr. Terri Ellis
University of North Florida
terri.ellis@unf.edu
Dr. Ellis is an Associate Professor of Biology at the University of North Florida and a past President of FLASM. Her research investigates bacterial adaptation to environmental changes in both medical and environmental settings. Medical microbiology projects in her lab investigate adaptation of the nosocomial pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae to sub-MIC antibiotic exposures that modify the outer cell wall and capsule architecture. In addition to this, her lab also studies the applications of urease producing environmental bacteria for development as a mitigation strategy for coastal erosion.
Director at Large:
Dr. Xingmin Sun
University of South Florida
sun5@usf.edu
Dr. Sun is a Professor of Microbiology & Immunology in the Department of Molecular Medicine at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine. His research focuses on microbial pathogenesis, host immunity, vaccine development, and antimicrobial resistance, with expertise in Clostridioides difficile infection. His NIH-funded research has advanced the understanding of C. difficile pathogenesis and the development of novel vaccines and therapeutics. His work has been recognized with multiple USF research and innovation awards.
Director at Large:
Dr. Renee Fleeman
University of Central Florida
renee.fleeman@ucf.edu
Dr. Fleeman is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine, where she started her laboratory in the fall of 2022 and has successfully converted her NIH K99 Pathway to Independence Award to the R00 phase. Her lab's primary research focus is on exploring peptide interactions with bacterial polysaccharides produced by K. pneumoniae. This work not only contributes to our understanding of the fundamental biology of bacterial resistance to host antimicrobial peptides but also has the potential to inform the development of novel antimicrobial agents.
Past Presidents:
Kim James (Florida Gulf Coast University) 2024-2026
Terri Ellis (University of North Florida) 2022-2024
Julie Torruellas Garcia (Nova Southeastern University) 2020-2022
Kelly Rice (University of Florida) 2018-2020
Shannon Ulrich (St. Petersburg College) 2016-2018
Jamie Foster (University of Florida) 2014-2016
Mya Breitbart (University of South Florida) 2012-2014