Nancy Keller

Nancy Keller is a Professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology and the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her research spans fungal pathogenesis, secondary metabolism, and host-microbe interactions, with a focus on both plant and human pathogenic fungi such as Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus, and Penicillium expansum.

• Position: Professor
• Institution: University of Wisconsin–Madison
• School: School of Medicine and Public Health
• Department: Medical Microbiology & Immunology / Plant Pathology
• Email: npkeller@wisc.edu
• Location: 3476 Microbial Sciences Building, 1550 Linden Dr, Madison, WI 53706

Her research interests include fungal secondary metabolism, epigenetic regulation of biosynthetic gene clusters, mycotoxin production, and cross-kingdom communication via oxylipins and volatile metabolites. She has pioneered work on LaeA-mediated epigenetic control and heterologous expression systems for silent gene clusters. Her lab also develops microscale and zebrafish models to study A. fumigatus pathogenesis and antifungal strategies.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in understanding fungal metabolic pathways, chemical signaling, and their implications for drug discovery and host immunity. Themes include copper homeostasis, isocyanide biosynthesis, tryptophan metabolism, and microbial interactions, reflecting a systems-level approach to fungal biology.

Scientific Awards

• American Academy of Microbiology Fellow (2008)
• UW-Madison WARF Kellett Mid-Career Awardee (2007)
• American Phytopathological Society Fellow (2007)
• American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow (2005)
• Jack Berry ’17 Endowed Professorship, Texas A&M University (2000)

Nancy Keller has secured significant research funding and leads an active lab focused on elucidating fungal virulence mechanisms and natural product biosynthesis. She has mentored numerous students and collaborators, contributing to training the next generation of microbiologists. Her lab collaborates with teams such as the Huttenlocher lab on zebrafish infection models and develops innovative tools for fungal genetics and metabolomics.

The Keller Lab maintains a strong presence in both basic and translational research, with ongoing work on antifungal drug development, epigenetic manipulation of secondary metabolism, and the ecological roles of fungal metabolites. The lab's website and publications indicate sustained research output and engagement with the broader scientific community.