ZFIN ID: ZDB-PERS-020701-1
Neely, Melody N.
Email: melody.neely@maine.edu
URL:
Affiliation:
Address: Molecular and Biomedical Sciences 5735 Hitchner Hall University of Maine Orono, ME 04469
Country: United States
Phone: 207-581-1513
Fax:
ORCID ID:


BIOGRAPHY AND RESEARCH INTERESTS
The major research focus of my laboratory involves elucidating mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis using several streptococcal pathogens as virulence models. We have developed a unique animal model system for the study of infectious disease using the zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model host. Using the zebrafish infection model and different streptococcal pathogens, we can cause disease states in the zebrafish that are highly similar to those observed in human streptococcal infections. This allows us to study virulence mechanisms in vivo in a vertebrate host that has immune responses that parallel those of humans. In addition, genetic manipulation of the streptococcal strains allows us to determine what genes are required for different forms of disease.


PUBLICATIONS
Rajaei, A., Rowe, H.M., Neely, M.N. (2022) The LCP Family Protein, Psr, Is Required for Cell Wall Integrity and Virulence in Streptococcus agalactiae. Microorganisms. 10(2):
Shields, J.N., Hales, E.C., Ranspach, L.E., Luo, X., Orr, S., Runft, D., Dombkowski, A., Neely, M.N., Matherly, L.H., Taub, J., Baker, T.R., Thummel, R. (2019) Exposure of Larval Zebrafish to the Insecticide Propoxur Induced Developmental Delays that Correlate with Behavioral Abnormalities and Altered Expression of hspb9 and hspb11. Toxics. 7(4):
Mitchell, K.C., Breen, P., Britton, S., Neely, M.N., Withey, J.H. (2017) Quantifying Vibrio cholerae enterotoxicity in a zebrafish infection model.. Applied and environmental microbiology. 83(16)
Neely, M.N. (2017) The Zebrafish as a Model for Human Bacterial Infections. Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.). 1535:245-266
Rowe, H.M., Hanson, B.R., Runft, D.L., Li, Q., Firestine, S.M., Neely, M.N. (2015) Modification of the CpsA protein reveals a role in alteration of the Streptococcus agalactiae cell envelope. Infection and Immunity. 83(4):1497-506
Rowe, H.M., Withey, J.H., Neely, M.N. (2014) Zebrafish as a model for zoonotic aquatic pathogens. Developmental and comparative immunology. 46(1):96-107
Kortum, A.N., Rodriguez-Nunez, I., Yang, J., Shim, J., Runft, D., O'Driscoll, M.L., Haire, R.N., Cannon, J.P., Turner, P.M., Litman, R.T., Kim, C.H., Neely, M.N., Litman, G.W., and Yoder, J.A. (2014) Differential expression and ligand binding indicate alternative functions for zebrafish polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) and a family of pIgR-like (PIGRL) proteins. Immunogenetics. 66(4):267-279
Runft, D.L., Mitchell, K.C., Abuaita, B.H., Allen, J.P., Bajer, S., Ginsburg, K., Neely, M.N., and Withey, J.H. (2014) Zebrafish as a Natural Host Model for Vibrio cholerae Colonization and Transmission. Applied and environmental microbiology. 80(5):1710-1717
Harvie, E.A., Green, J.M., Neely, M.N., and Huttenlocher, A. (2013) Innate Immune Response to Streptococcus iniae Infection in Zebrafish Larvae. Infection and Immunity. 81(1):110-121
Hanson, B.R., Runft, D.L., Streeter, C., Kumar, A., Carion, T.W., and Neely, M.N. (2012) Functional analysis of the CpsA protein of Streptococcus agalactiae. Journal of bacteriology. 194(7):1668-1678
Allen, J.P., and Neely, M.N. (2011) The Streptococcus iniae transcriptional regulator CpsY is required for protection from neutrophil-mediated killing and proper growth in vitro. Infection and Immunity. 79(11):4638-48
Allen, J.P., and Neely, M.N. (2010) Trolling for the ideal model host: zebrafish take the bait. Future Microbiology. 5(4):563-569
Phelps, H.A., Runft, D.L., and Neely, M.N. (2009) Adult zebrafish model of streptococcal infection. Current protocols in microbiology. Chapter 9:Unit9D.1
Kizy, A.E., and Neely, M.N. (2009) First Streptococcus pyogenes Signature-Tagged Mutagenesis Screen Identifies Novel Virulence Determinants. Infection and Immunity. 77(5):1854-1865
Aleström, P., Begemann, G., Carvan, M.J. 3rd, Cheng, K.C., Crosier, K., Crosier, P., Ekker, S., Huttenlocher, A., Kawakami, K., Kelly, G., Korzh, V., Lieschke, G., Mione, M., Neely, M.N., Neuhauss, S., and Trede, N.S. (2008) Views on four key questions about zebrafish research. Zebrafish. 5(1):9-24
Phelps, H.A., and Neely, M.N. (2007) SalY of the Streptococcus pyogenes Lantibiotic Locus Is Required for Full Virulence and Intracellular Survival in Macrophages. Infection and Immunity. 75(9):4541-4551
Montanez, G.E., Neely, M.N., and Eichenbaum, Z. (2005) The streptococcal iron uptake (Siu) transporter is required for iron uptake and virulence in a zebrafish infection model. Microbiology (Reading, England). 151 (11):3749-3757
Miller, J.D., and Neely, M.N. (2005) Large-Scale Screen Highlights the Importance of Capsule for Virulence in the Zoonotic Pathogen Streptococcus iniae. Infection and Immunity. 73(2):921-934
Phelps, H.A., and Neely, M.N. (2005) Evolution of the Zebrafish Model: From Development to Immunity and Infectious Disease. Zebrafish. 2(2):87-103
Miller, J.D., and Neely, M.N. (2004) Zebrafish as a model host for streptococcal pathogenesis. Acta tropica. 91(1):53-68
Neely, M.N., Pfeifer, J.D., and Caparon, M. (2002) Streptococcus-zebrafish model of bacterial pathogenesis. Infection and Immunity. 70(7):3904-3914

NON-ZEBRAFISH PUBLICATIONS