Michael Federle
Professor, College of Pharmacy - Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy
Director, Center for Biomolecular Sciences
Affiliate, Center for Biomolecular Sciences
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About Heading link
Overview:
I have spent over 25 years studying, researching, and mentoring in the field of molecular microbiology and bacterial pathogenesis. In 2008, I established an independent research laboratory at the University of Illinois at Chicago, focusing on chemical signaling in Gram-positive bacterial pathogens. My laboratory has helped to identify a widespread protein family characterized as cytoplasmic pheromone receptors. It is our mission to identify signaling pathways in Gram-positive pathogens (including Streptococcus pyogenes, S. pneumoniae, S. agalactiae, and S. mutans), characterize their benefits in bacterial survival or pathogenesis, and elucidate mechanisms of signaling interference as potential anti-virulence strategies. My training began at the University of Wisconsin, where I earned a bachelor’s degree in genetics. I spent three years working as a laboratory specialist in the labs of Dr. Frederick Blattner (Wisconsin, 2004-2005) and Dr. June R. Scott (Emory, 2005-2007). I completed my PhD in 2002 in the Microbiology and Molecular Genetics graduate program at Emory University under the mentorship of Dr. June Scott; my thesis was based on the characterization of the CovRS twocomponent signal transduction system in the human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes. My postdoctoral training at Princeton University was under the mentorship of Dr. Bonnie Bassler. I helped to elucidate the molecular mechanism of autoinducer-2 sensory transduction through the LuxPQ receptor of Vibrio harveyi. Now, as a professor in the departments of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, and Microbiology and Immunology, I am the principle investigator of several research grants and lead a lab comprised of six graduate students and two postdoctoral scientists. I enjoy teaching to both graduate and professional students at UIC.
Teaching and Supervision Heading link
PhD Thesis Research (MIM 599), 1/8/2024 – 4/26/2024
PSCI Ph.D. Thesis Research (PSCI 599), 1/8/2024 – 4/26/2024
PhD Thesis Research (MIM 599), 8/21/2023 – 12/1/2023
PDAT 4: Immunology/Respiratory (PHAR 504), 8/21/2023 – 12/1/2023
Host Responses to Microbes (MIM 554), 8/21/2023 – 12/1/2023
PSCI Ph.D. Thesis Research (PSCI 599), 8/21/2023 – 12/1/2023
PDAT 4: Immunology/Respiratory (PHAR 504), 8/21/2023 – 12/1/2023
PSCI Ph.D. Thesis Research (PSCI 599), 6/12/2023 – 8/4/2023
PhD Thesis Research (MIM 599), 5/15/2023 – 8/4/2023
Selected Grants
UIC Portal to Biomedical Research Careers (UIC PBRC) PREP, National Institutes of Health (National Institute of General Medical Sciences)., 2/1/2024 - 1/31/2029, Obligated Amount: $415994; Anticipated Amount: $2079970
Determining the mechanism and impact of streptococcal RaS-RiPPs on the human oral microbiome, National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research)., 8/1/2023 - 7/31/2025, Obligated Amount: $111701; Anticipated Amount: $223402
Discovery of a pigment produced by Streptococcus pyogenes, National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)., 3/1/2023 - 2/28/2025, Obligated Amount: $193496; Anticipated Amount: $423776
Macrophage Immunosuppression by Quorum-Induced Streptococcus pyogenes, National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)., 7/1/2022 - 6/30/2026, Obligated Amount: $1311528; Anticipated Amount: $2362683
Antipsychotic Associated Acquisition of Antimicrobial Resistance Mechanisms in Gut Microbiota, Hans W. Vahlteich Research Award., 2/28/2022 - 2/28/2023, Obligated Amount: $50000; No Anticipated Amount Set
Norway-India-Brazil-Canada-USA: Partnership for excellence in education, research and innovation in biofilm and antibiotic resistance, Univ of Oslo., 1/1/2021 - 12/31/2026, Obligated Amount: $33480; Anticipated Amount: $33480
Chemical profiling of bacterial-fungal interactions to elucidate mechanisms of growth and survival in multi-domain microbial communities, National Institutes of Health (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)., 1/1/2020 - 12/31/2020, Obligated Amount: $46016; Anticipated Amount: $46016
Transcriptomic and Genomic Differences of Group A Streptococcus in Humans: Acute Infection Versus Carriage, State University of New York - Binghampton., 7/10/2019 - 6/30/2023, Obligated Amount: $45843; Anticipated Amount: $45843
Novel Biofilm Inhibitors of Oral Streptococci, National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research)., 7/1/2019 - 6/30/2024, Obligated Amount: $691270; Anticipated Amount: $691270
Selected Publications
Wilkening, Reid V, Langouët-Astrié, Christophe, Severn, Morgan M, Federle, Michael J, Horswill, Alexander R. (2023). Identifying genetic determinants of Streptococcus pyogenes-host interactions in a murine intact skin infection model. Cell Reports, 42, (11), 113332. doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113332.
Nepomuceno, Vanessa M, Tylor, Kaitlyn M, Carlson, Skylar, Federle, Michael J, Murphy, Brian T, Morales, Tiara Perez. (2023). A Streptomyces tendae Specialized Metabolite Inhibits Quorum Sensing in Group A Streptococcus. Microbiology Spectrum, 11, (4), e05279-e05222. doi:10.1128/spectrum.05279-22.
Hu, Duoyi, Laczkovich, Irina, Federle, Michael J, Morrison, Donald A. (2023). Identification and Characterization of Negative Regulators of Rgg1518 Quorum Sensing in Streptococcus pneumoniae. Journal of Bacteriology, 205, (7), e00087-e00023. doi:10.1128/jb.00087-23.
Rued, Britta E, Federle, Michael J. (2023). The ComRS-SigX Pathway Regulates Natural Transformation in Streptococcus ferus. Journal of Bacteriology, 205, (6), e00089-e00023. doi:10.1128/jb.00089-23.
Resko, Zachary J, Anderson, Caleb M, Federle, Michael J, Alonzo, Francis. (2023). A Staphylococcal Glucosaminidase Drives Inflammatory Responses by Processing Peptidoglycan Chains to Physiological Lengths. Infection and Immunity, 91, (2), e00500-e00522. doi:10.1128/iai.00500-22.
Rued, Britta E, Anderson, Caleb M, Federle, Michael J. (2022). The Proteomic and Transcriptomic Landscapes Altered by Rgg2/3 Activity in Streptococcus pyogenes. Journal of Bacteriology, 204, (11), e00175-e00122. doi:10.1128/jb.00175-22.
Chang, Jennifer C, Wilkening, Reid V, Rahbari, Kate M, Federle, Michael J. (2022). Quorum Sensing Regulation of a Major Facilitator Superfamily Transporter Affects Multiple Streptococcal Virulence Factors. Journal of Bacteriology, 204, (9), e00176-e00122. doi:10.1128/jb.00176-22.
Laczkovich, Irina, Mangano, Kyle, Shao, Xinhao, Hockenberry, Adam J, Gao, Yu, Mankin, Alexander, Vázquez-Laslop, Nora, Federle, Michael J. (2022). Discovery of Unannotated Small Open Reading Frames in Streptococcus pneumoniae D39 Involved in Quorum Sensing and Virulence Using Ribosome Profiling. mBio, 13, (4), e01247-e01222. doi:10.1128/mbio.01247-22.
Kyono, Yasuhiro, Ellezian, Lori, Hu, YueYue, Eliadis, Kanella, Moy, Junlone, Hirsch, Elizabeth B, Federle, Michael J, Flowers, Stephanie A. (2022). The Atypical Antipsychotic Quetiapine Promotes Multiple Antibiotic Resistance in Escherichia coli. Journal of Bacteriology, 204, (5), e00102-e00122. doi:10.1128/jb.00102-22.
Professional Leadership
Ad Hoc Reviewer, American Society for Microbiology, 3/31/2021 - Present
Special Emphasis Panel, National Institutes of Health, 7/2019 - 7/2019
NIH F13 Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Fellowship Panel, National Institutes of Health, 7/2018 - 7/2018
NIH ZRG1 IDM-B 80 Special Emphasis Panel, National Institutes of Health, 3/2018 - 3/2018
NIH Bacterial Pathogenesis Study Section, National Institutes of Health, 10/2016 - 10/2016
NIH ZRG1 IDM-B 80 Special Emphasis Panel, National Institutes of Health, 3/2016 - 3/2016
NIH ZRG1 IDM-B 80 Special Emphasis Panel, National Institutes of Health, 3/2015 - 3/2015
Planning Committee, American Society for Microbiology, 10/2014 - 10/2014
NIH, ZRG1 IDM-B 80 Special Emphasis Panel, National Institutes of Health, 7/2013 - 7/2013
Notable Honors
2020, ASM American Academy of Microbiology Fellow, American Society of Microbiology
2014, Rising Star Researcher, University of Illinois at Chicago
2014, ASM Distinguished Lecturer,
Education
Degrees:
Ph.D., Emory University, United States, 2002
B.S., University of Wisconsin–Madison, United States, 1994
Postgraduate Training:
Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Research Associate, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, United States, 2008