Borlee Lab

The Borlee laboratory, as part of the Center for Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases (CVID) and Center for Metabolism of Infectious Diseases (C4MInD) at Colorado State University, studies environmental sensing and regulation of bacterial behaviors in the context of host-pathogen interactions and host-associated bacterial communities. Biofilm formation is one such behavioral response that allows bacteria to survive stressful conditions in the environment and persist during chronic infections in humans. We study a variety of bacterial pathogens and endosymbionts of mosquitoes and midges. Our primary focus has been on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia pseudomallei as they are highly amenable to genetic, molecular, and developmental studies of biofilm formation and pathogenicity. The laboratory conducts research on the unanswered questions concerning the composition, function, and developmental control of biofilm matrix components and their role during infection of P. aeruginosa and B. pseudomallei. Some additional areas of research in the laboratory include c-di-GMP-mediated gene regulation, biofilm-associated disease, quorum sensing, antibiotic resistance, and development of strategies to prevent and treat infections (e.g. vaccines, drug therapies, and paratransgenic control of vector borne diseases).

research project

Building biofilms to study the functions of molecules that are unique to biofilm metabolism.

Developing biofilm as visualized with confocal microscopy.

research project

Develop paratransgenic approaches to interfere with viral replication

Goal: Characterize the microbiomes of arthropods (e.g. mosquitoes and midges) to develop paratransgenic approaches to alter vector competency.

research project

Understand and interfere with biofilm-associated infections

Goal: Characterize the growth, regulation, and physiology of biofilms and devise strategies to disrupt biofilm-associated infections.

view project
research project

Defend against Burkholderia pseudomallei infections

Goal: Develop a vaccine to prevent Burkholderia pseudomallei infections in addition to therapeutics to rapidly treat melioidosis in patients that become infected.

Publications

TetR-like regulator BP1026B_II1561 controls aromatic amino acid biosynthesis and intracellular pathogenesis in Burkholderia pseudomallei.
McMillan IA, Norris MH, Heacock-Kang Y, Zarzycki-Siek J, Sun Z, Hartney BA, Filipowska LK, Islam MN, Crick DC, Borlee BR, Hoang TT. Front Microbiol. 2024 Aug 15;15:1441330. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1441330. eCollection 2024. PMID: 39211319

Serosurveillance of Coxiella burnetii in feral swine populations of Hawai’i and Texas identifies overlap with human Q fever incidence.
McMillan IA, Norris MH, Golon SJ, Franckowiak GA, Grinolds JM, Goldstein SM, Phelps DM, Bodenchuk MJ, Leland BR, Bowen RA, Brown VR, Borlee BR. J Clin Microbiol. 2024 Oct 16;62(10):e0078024. doi: 10.1128/jcm.00780-24. Epub 2024 Aug 27. PMID: 39189735

Upper-level inter-disciplinary microbiology CUREs increase student’s scientific self-efficacy, scientific identity, and self-assessed skills.
Borlee GI, Kinkel T, Broeckling B, Borlee BR, Mayo C, Mehaffy C. J Microbiol Biol Educ. 2024 Apr 25;25(1):e0014023. doi: 10.1128/jmbe.00140-23. Epub 2023 Dec 15.PMID: 38661401

Feral Swine as Indirect Indicators of Environmental Anthrax Contamination and Potential Mechanical Vectors of Infectious Spores.
Maison RM, Priore MR, Brown VR, Bodenchuk MJ, Borlee BR, Bowen RA, Bosco-Lauth AM.Pathogens. 2023 Apr 20;12(4):622. doi: 10.3390/pathogens12040622.PMID: 37111508

Disruption of c-di-GMP Signaling Networks Unlocks Cryptic Expression of Secondary Metabolites during Biofilm Growth in Burkholderia pseudomallei.
Borlee GI, Mangalea MR, Martin KH, Plumley BA, Golon SJ, Borlee BR. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2022 Apr 26;88(8):e0243121. doi: 10.1128/aem.02431-21. Epub 2022 Mar 31. PMID: 35357191

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People

Brad Borlee Headshot
Brad Borlee, Ph.D.

Lab Principal Investigator [PI]
Associate Professor

Eleah Flockhart Headshot
Eleah Flockhart

Graduate Researcher

Sam Golon
Sam Golon, M.S.

Graduate Researcher

Amr Ramadan

Graduate Researcher

Tesha headshot
Tesha Sooklal

Graduate Researcher

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contact information

Office: Research Innovation Center (RIC) room D122

Lab: Research Innovation Center (RIC) room D143

(970) 492-4415