Helene Andrews-Polymenis

Helene Andrews-Polymenis, DVM, PhD, is a Professor and Presidential Impact Fellow in the Department of Microbial Pathogenesis & Immunology at the Texas A&M University School of Medicine. Her research focuses on understanding the genetic determinants of Salmonella pathogenesis, particularly in host-pathogen interactions and bacterial virulence mechanisms. She leads a multidisciplinary lab investigating Salmonella’s ability to colonize hosts and evade immune responses, with applications in infectious disease prevention.

Education:

• AB in Biology, Brown University (1989)
• PhD, Tufts University (1999)
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (Cum Laude), Texas A&M University (2001)

Research Interests: Dr. Andrews-Polymenis studies Salmonella enterica pathogenesis, leveraging genetic screens and animal models to identify genes critical for infection. Her work emphasizes host adaptation, bacterial metabolism, and the role of host genetics in infection outcomes. Recent studies include investigations into microbiota-derived nutrients, host immune tolerance, and genetic determinants of disease severity.

Awards:

• Junior Faculty Research Excellence Award (Texas A&M Health Science Center)
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Cum Laude (Texas A&M University)

Lab Activities: Her lab includes researchers, postdocs, and students working on projects such as the Collaborative Cross mouse model for host genetics studies, microbiota-host interactions, and Salmonella virulence gene identification. Current lab members include Dr. Lydia Bogomolnaya (Assistant Professor for Research), graduate students Kristin Scoggin and Aravindh Nagarajan, and undergraduates in the TAMU programs.

Grants & Future Work: Ongoing projects explore novel antibacterial compounds, Salmonella colonization in avian models, and the role of host genetics in tolerance to pathogens like MRSA and Salmonella. The lab collaborates with institutions to advance translational research in infectious disease prevention.