Shana Leopold, PhD
Associate Research ScientistCards
About
Research
Publications
2026
Commensal-derived acetylcholine enhances mucosal immune education
Song D, Duncan-Lowey B, Khetrapal V, Hamchand R, Deng T, Brown H, Wu A, Martin A, Bauer K, Zhao Y, Nguyen M, Sonnert N, Leopold S, Wu Q, Crawford J, Palm N. Commensal-derived acetylcholine enhances mucosal immune education. Nature 2026, 1-10. PMID: 42236946, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-026-10592-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCommensal strainsHost-microbiota mutualismResistance to enteric infectionsB. breve strainsGerm-free miceBacterial culture mediumIn vivoHost physiologyPediococcus strainsPediococcus pentosaceusBifidobacterium strainsBacterial enzymesMicrobiota compositionB. breveMucosal immune defenceMetabolic reprogrammingBifidobacterium breveDietary substratesMicrobiota metabolismImmune defenceIntestinal immunoglobulin AMicrobiotaEnteric infectionsBifidobacteriumCulture medium
2025
Translocating gut pathobiont Enterococcus gallinarum induces TH17 and IgG3 anti-RNA–directed autoimmunity in mouse and human
Gronke K, Nguyen M, Fuhrmann H, Santamaria de Souza N, Schumacher J, Pereira M, Löschberger U, Brinkhege A, Becker N, Yang Y, Sonnert N, Leopold S, Martin A, von Münchow-Klein L, Pessoa Rodrigues C, Cansever D, Hallet R, Richter K, Schubert D, Daniel G, Dylus D, Forkel M, Schwinge D, Schramm C, Redanz S, Lassen K, Manfredo Vieira S, Piali L, Palm N, Bieniossek C, Kriegel M. Translocating gut pathobiont Enterococcus gallinarum induces TH17 and IgG3 anti-RNA–directed autoimmunity in mouse and human. Science Translational Medicine 2025, 17: eadj6294. PMID: 39908347, DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adj6294.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSystemic lupus erythematosusAutoimmune diseasesToll-like receptor 8Gut pathobiontsHuman adaptive immune responseLong-term sequelaeAdaptive immune responsesHuman T cellsChronic autoimmune diseaseHuman monocyte activationContribution to autoimmunityAutoimmune hepatitisAutoantibody titersAnti-E.Autoimmune pathophysiologyLupus modelT-helperLifelong immunosuppressionTargeted therapyT cellsDisease activityLupus erythematosusAutoantibody responseMonocyte activationImmune response
2024
Longitudinal profiling of the microbiome at four body sites reveals core stability and individualized dynamics during health and disease
Zhou X, Shen X, Johnson J, Spakowicz D, Agnello M, Zhou W, Avina M, Honkala A, Chleilat F, Chen S, Cha K, Leopold S, Zhu C, Chen L, Lyu L, Hornburg D, Wu S, Zhang X, Jiang C, Jiang L, Jiang L, Jian R, Brooks A, Wang M, Contrepois K, Gao P, Rose S, Tran T, Nguyen H, Celli A, Hong B, Bautista E, Dorsett Y, Kavathas P, Zhou Y, Sodergren E, Weinstock G, Snyder M. Longitudinal profiling of the microbiome at four body sites reveals core stability and individualized dynamics during health and disease. Cell Host & Microbe 2024, 32: 506-526.e9. PMID: 38479397, PMCID: PMC11022754, DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2024.02.012.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHost healthMicrobiome dynamicsBacterial taxaBody sitesMicrobiome stabilityIndividual taxaHuman microbiomeMicrobial compositionMicrobial dynamicsMulti-OmicsNasal microbiomeMicrobiomeDisrupt interactionsMolecular markersBody-sitesTaxaHostMetabolic diseasesOral microbiomeInsulin-resistant individualsIndividual-specificTemporal dynamicsClinical featuresComprehensive viewClinical markers
2023
Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC): Environmental-Vehicle-Human Interface
Correa-Martinez C, Leopold S, Köck R, Kossow A, Bauwens A, Mellmann A. Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC): Environmental-Vehicle-Human Interface. 2023, 355-372. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-27164-9_9.ChaptersHemolytic uremic syndromeShiga toxin-producing E. coliEnterohemorrhagic E. coliContamination of meatContamination of plantsFarm environmentToxin-producing E. coliAnimal reservoirsNon-O157 strainsHost-related factorsSevere intestinal diseaseFood chainPathogenic subgroupSignificant clinical concernMajor reservoirBovine fecesTransmission routesUremic syndromeEHEC serotype O157Intestinal diseaseHerdsEnterohemorrhagic Escherichia coliImplementation of measuresOutbreak identificationClinical concern
2022
Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC): Environmental-Vehicle-Human Interface
Correa-Martinez C, Leopold S, Köck R, Kossow A, Bauwens A, Mellmann A. Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC): Environmental-Vehicle-Human Interface. 2022, 1-19. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-85877-3_9-1.ChaptersHemolytic uremic syndromeShiga toxin-producing E. coliEnterohemorrhagic E. coliContamination of meatContamination of plantsFarm environmentToxin-producing E. coliAnimal reservoirsNon-O157 strainsHost-related factorsSevere intestinal diseaseFood chainPathogenic subgroupSignificant clinical concernMajor reservoirBovine fecesTransmission routesUremic syndromeEHEC serotype O157Intestinal diseaseHerdsEnterohemorrhagic Escherichia coliImplementation of measuresOutbreak identificationClinical concern
2014
Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC): Environmental-Vehicle-Human Interface
Karch H, Leopold S, Kossow A, Mellmann A, Köck R, Bauwens A. Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC): Environmental-Vehicle-Human Interface. 2014, 235-248. DOI: 10.1007/978-94-017-9457-2_9.ChaptersBacterial Whole-Genome Sequencing Revisited: Portable, Scalable, and Standardized Analysis for Typing and Detection of Virulence and Antibiotic Resistance Genes
Leopold S, Goering R, Witten A, Harmsen D, Mellmann A. Bacterial Whole-Genome Sequencing Revisited: Portable, Scalable, and Standardized Analysis for Typing and Detection of Virulence and Antibiotic Resistance Genes. Journal Of Clinical Microbiology 2014, 52: 2365-2370. PMID: 24759713, PMCID: PMC4097726, DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00262-14.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIntensive care unitMethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureusEffective infection controlInfection controlEpidemiological investigationsWhole-genome sequencingAntibiotic resistanceMultidrug-resistant nosocomial pathogenAntibiotic resistance profilesToxin gene profilesMRSA casesMRSA clustersCare unitRegular screeningNosocomial infectionsDetection of virulenceMajor burdenNosocomial pathogenS. aureus proteinSusceptibility profilesResistance profilesClonal clustersWGS resultsTransmission eventsBacterial whole-genome sequencing
2013
Evolution of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O26 Based on Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms
Bletz S, Bielaszewska M, Leopold S, Köck R, Witten A, Schuldes J, Zhang W, Karch H, Mellmann A. Evolution of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O26 Based on Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms. Genome Biology And Evolution 2013, 5: 1807-1816. PMID: 24105689, PMCID: PMC3814194, DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evt136.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLineage and Genogroup-Defining Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of Escherichia coli O157:H7
Jung W, Bono J, Clawson M, Leopold S, Shringi S, Besser T. Lineage and Genogroup-Defining Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of Escherichia coli O157:H7. Applied And Environmental Microbiology 2013, 79: 7036-7041. PMID: 24014531, PMCID: PMC3811523, DOI: 10.1128/aem.02173-13.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSingle nucleotide polymorphismsNew sequencing dataNucleotide polymorphismsSequencing dataImportant reservoir hostsLineagesE. coli O157Typing panelZoonotic human pathogenColi O157H7 genotypesHuman pathogensRelevant lineagesLineage groupsReservoir hostsHuman clinical isolatesCattle isolatesBovine sourcesSNPsEscherichia coli O157IsolatesPolymorphismStx genesGenogroupsH7Phylogeny and phenotypes of clinical and environmental Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli O174
Zhang W, Nadirk J, Kossow A, Bielaszewska M, Leopold S, Witten A, Fruth A, Karch H, Ammon A, Mellmann A. Phylogeny and phenotypes of clinical and environmental Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli O174. Environmental Microbiology 2013, 16: 963-976. PMID: 24034719, DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12234.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAnti-Bacterial AgentsBacterial AdhesionCattleCell LineChlorocebus aethiopsDrug Resistance, Multiple, BacterialEscherichia coli ProteinsGenotypeHumansIntestinal MucosaMolecular Sequence DataMultilocus Sequence TypingPhenotypePhylogenyShiga ToxinShiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coliVero CellsConceptsDifferent clinical outcomesHaemolytic uremic syndromeMultilocus sequence typingClinical outcomesUremic syndromeStx genotypesH antigensShiga toxinO174Animal reservoirsSequence typingIntimin geneDifferent serotypesVirulence factorsAdherence capacitySerotypesNegative STECSTECSequence typesPhenotypic heterogeneityNon-motile isolatesToxinIsolate originVirulence lociDifferent genotypes