Ann E. Jerse

Ann E. Jerse is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), School of Medicine, located in Bethesda, MD. Her research focuses on the adaptation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to the female reproductive tract, animal modeling of gonococcal and gonococcal-chlamydial infections, antibiotic resistance and microbial fitness, and the development of novel anti-infectives and vaccines.

Education:

• B.A. Medical Technology, Indiana State University (1979)
• Ph.D. Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA (1983)
• Post-doctoral Fellow, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (1991-1993)

Dr. Jerse's research program centers on understanding gonococcal pathogenesis through murine genital tract infection models. She investigates bacterial adaptation mechanisms, host immune responses to primary and repeat infections, and the impact of co-infections with Chlamydia trachomatis. Her work on lipid A modifications and efflux pump systems provides critical insights into immune evasion and antibiotic resistance evolution. Current projects explore the fitness costs of resistance mutations and strategies for novel vaccine development against this increasingly resistant pathogen.

Analysis of her 2006-2014 publications reveals consistent focus on molecular mechanisms of gonococcal virulence, with emphasis on bacterial surface structures (opacity proteins, lipid A), host receptor interactions (TLR4, CEACAMs), and translational applications for combating antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea. Her research bridges microbiology, immunology, and infectious disease therapeutics through rigorous in vivo modeling.

Dr. Jerse maintains active collaboration with researchers across institutions including University of North Carolina and University of Rochester. Her publication record in journals like Infection and Immunity, Journal of Infectious Diseases, and mBio demonstrates significant contributions to the field despite absence of listed awards in the provided text.

Mentorship is evident through co-authorship with junior researchers on multiple publications, though specific student names aren't provided. Research is likely supported by federal grants targeting antimicrobial resistance and STI pathogenesis. Her laboratory continues developing advanced murine models to evaluate vaccine candidates and therapeutic interventions against multidrug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae.