Jonathon P. Audia

Dr. Jonathon P. Audia is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, where he directs the Infectious Disease and Immunology Module. His research focuses on pathogen-host interactions, particularly using Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Rickettsia prowazekii as model organisms to study lung infection biology, sepsis, and obligate intracellular parasitism. His lab employs vertically integrated approaches from molecular genetics to human patient samples.

• Baccalaureate & Master's: McMaster University
• PhD: University of South Alabama (Basic Medical Sciences)

Key research areas include:

• Pathogen-Host Interactions in critical infections
• Mechanisms of lung inflammation in sepsis
• Evolution of transport systems in Rickettsia
• Therapeutic discovery for antibiotic-resistant pathogens

Notable recent publications analyze:

• Pseudomonas virulence factors and inflammasome activation
• Secondary bacterial infections post-COVID-19
• Amyloid biomarkers in sepsis
• Rickettsial nutrient acquisition systems

The Audia Laboratory operates at the interface of microbial pathogenesis and host immune response, with particular emphasis on caspase-1 activation, endothelial cell dysfunction, and transport physiology in infectious diseases.

His work has implications for:

• Novel diagnostics for sepsis
• Therapeutics targeting pathogen metabolism
• Understanding post-infection complications