Evann Hilt

Evann Hilt is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at the University of Minnesota, contributing to research in clinical microbiology and infectious diseases. Their work is affiliated with the Medical School and focuses on microbial genomics and host-microbe interactions.

Their research interests center on the human microbiome, particularly in the urinary and vaginal tracts, and its role in health and disease. Key areas include microbiome dynamics, urinary tract infections, bladder microbiology, and metagenomic analysis. They also investigate emerging pathogens such as Borrelia miyamotoi and Capnocytophaga species, with an emphasis on genomic characterization and diagnostic innovation.

The recent publications show a strong trend toward genomic and metagenomic methods for characterizing microbial communities in clinical samples. Their work bridges clinical diagnostics with advanced sequencing technologies, particularly in understudied body sites like urine and vaginal microbiota. There is a clear focus on improving culture techniques and molecular detection of pathogens.

Scientific contributions include:

• Genome sequencing of pathogenic Capnocytophaga strains from blood infections
• Metagenomic pipeline for self-collected vaginal microbiome samples
• Investigation of tick-borne Borrelia miyamotoi in Minnesota
• Characterization of non-toxigenic Vibrio cholerae in soft tissue infections

Dr. Hilt has not listed any formal advisees or grant funding in the provided information. There is no mention of specific laboratories or research teams, though their collaborative publications suggest active engagement with clinical and microbiological research groups at the University of Minnesota.