Doctorate at University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States
Professional Profile
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🎓Educational Background
B.S. in Biology
University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany (1995)
M.A. in Biology
Portland State University, Portland, OR (1997)
Ph.D. in Environmental & Molecular Toxicology
University of Wisconsin-Madison (2004)
Postdoctoral Fellowship in Food Microbiology & Toxicology
University of Wisconsin-Madison (2005-2007)
💼Professional Experience
Research Associate Professor
Department of Bacteriology, UW-Madison (July 2023 – present)
Limited PI Status
Department of Bacteriology, UW-Madison
(2013, 2015, 2018, and renewed in 2021)
Instructional Staff
Bacteriology, UW-Madison (Spring 2020)
Senior Scientist
Bacteriology, UW-Madison (2016-2023)
Associate Scientist
Bacteriology, UW-Madison (2012-2016)
Researcher
Bacteriology, UW-Madison (2010-2012)
Associate Researcher
Bacteriology, UW-Madison (2007-2010)
Research Associate
Food Microbiology and Toxicology, UW-Madison (2005-2007)
Research Assistant
Environmental & Molecular Toxicology, UW-Madison (1998-2004)
Teaching Assistant
Environmental & Molecular Toxicology, UW-Madison (2001)
🔬Research Interests
Botulinum Neurotoxin research and its applications in treating diseases.
Development of vaccines against botulism.
Investigation of the mechanisms of bacterial toxin action.
Food safety, specifically detection and analysis of foodborne pathogens.
🏆Grants and Awards:
Past
NIH Grants:
Participated in and co-managed multiple NIH-funded projects focused on botulinum neurotoxin research, including studies on novel therapeutic approaches, vaccine development, and toxin characterization.
Agilent Microarray Award (2013):
Received a small grant to test Agilent’s microarray platform.
USDA Agricultural Research Service Grants:
Co-investigator on projects related to the development of detection technologies and therapeutics for botulinum neurotoxins.
Current
NIH R01AI118389 (2020-2025):
Vaccines Against Botulism (co-PI)
NIH R01AI139306-01A1 (2019-2024):
Characteristics of Botulinum Neurotoxins that Determine Potency (PI)
USDA Agricultural Research Service (2020-2025):
Development of Detection Technologies and Therapeutics for Botulinum Neurotoxins (co-PI)
WEDC-SEED (D2P):
Optimization of botulinum neurotoxin production for pharmaceutical use (PI)
📝Publication Top Noted
Botulinum neurotoxin X lacks potency in mice and in human neurons
Authors: Gregg, B.M., Matsumura, T., Wentz, T.G., Fujinaga, Y., Pellett, S.
Journal: mBio
Year: 2024
Recent Developments in Vaccine Design: From Live Vaccines to Recombinant Toxin Vaccines
Authors: Gupta, S., Pellett, S.
Journal: Toxins
Year: 2023
Special Issue: Gram-Positive Bacterial Toxins
Authors: Sharma, S., Pellett, S., Morse, S.A.
Journal: Microorganisms
Year: 2023
Botulinum Neurotoxin A4 Has a 1000-Fold Reduced Potency Due to Three Single Amino Acid Alterations in the Protein Receptor Binding Domain
Authors: Tepp, W.H., Bradshaw, M., Gardner, A.P., Barbieri, J.T., Pellett, S.
Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Year: 2023
Transformation of a Metal Chelate into a “Catch and Anchor” Inhibitor of Botulinum A Protease
Authors: Lin, L., Patel, E.N., Nielsen, A.L., Pellett, S., Janda, K.
Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Year: 2023
How Botulinum Neurotoxin Light Chain A1 Maintains Stable Association with the Intracellular Neuronal Plasma Membrane
Authors: Gardner, A.P., Barbieri, J.T., Pellett, S.
Journal: Toxins
Year: 2022