Kenneth L. Brockman

Kenneth L. Brockman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at the Medical College of Wisconsin. His research focuses on understanding the role of the phasevarion regulatory system in bacterial pathogens such as Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catharrhalis, and Neisseria species. He investigates how phasevarion-mediated epigenetic changes influence bacterial pathogenesis, including biofilm formation, adherence to host cells, and resistance to immune defenses. His work utilizes murine and chinchilla models to study bacterial-viral co-infections and respiratory tract infections.

Education: PhD in Microbiology and Electron Microscopy from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2014).

Research Interests
Dr. Brockman’s primary focus is on the phasevarion’s role in modulating gene expression across the bacterial chromosome via the modA gene. His studies explore how this system affects pathogen survival in host environments, including resistance to innate immune cells and persistence in chronic infections like cystic fibrosis. His lab employs advanced techniques such as RNA sequencing, animal disease modeling, and primary cell culture to dissect microbial-host interactions.

Labs & Teams: The Brockman Lab at MCW focuses on translational research aimed at developing novel therapeutic strategies targeting bacterial pathogenesis mechanisms. Key areas include understanding virulence factor regulation and host immune evasion tactics.