Contact Information

Call us at: (614)355-3565

Fax us at: (614)722-2818

Email Jennifer L. Edwards, PhD

      Abigail Wexner Research Institute700 Childrens DriveColumbus, OH 43205 (map)

Learn more about Jennifer L. Edwards

Research

Lab(s)

Center for Microbial Pathogenesis

The focus of the Edwards laboratory is to elucidate the molecular/cellular mechanisms of neisserial pathogenesis, inclusive of those molecules contributing to colonization and disease progression. The lab is particularly interested in defining those host and bacterial factors that promote asymptomatic carriage/disease. In that N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis infections are limited to humans, the lab strives to mirror physiological conditions in experiments in which they routinely use primary human cells and clinically isolated bacteria. These investigative conditions most closely mimic the in vivo human environment and ensure that data generated are relevant to those host processes trigger during human disease. Although many of the lab’s queries are rooted in cellular microbiology, they use a wide variety of approaches to explore the numerous questions yet to be answered. By further elucidating at the molecular and cellular level the (host and bacterial) factors and responses that contribute to colonization and disease progression, it may be possible to identify new strategies for the detection (biomarkers and diagnostics), the intervention (new therapeutic agents), and the prevention (vaccine development) of neisserial infections that, in turn, will translate to better disease management and, ultimately, in improved women’s and children’s health. Current areas of interest include the following:

How do cyclic levels of steroid hormones and oxygen availability influence gonococcal infection of the lower female genital tract What are the mechanisms used by the pathogenic Neisseria to avoid killing by innate immune effectors during mucosal infection Further definition of the mechanism(s) by which meningococci associate with and invade the airway epithelium Mechanism by which gonococci associate with fetal and maternal membranes during pregnancy & how this relates to infection-induced adverse pregnancy outcomes What are the host and bacterial factors that contribute to ascending infection of the female reproductive tract

View My Publications Publications

                  Bazan JA, Tzeng YL, Bischof KM, Satola SW, Stephens DS, Edwards JL, Carter A, Snyder B, Turner AN. Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile for the US Neisseria meningitidis Urethritis Clade. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2023 Jan; 10: ofac661.

                


                  Shewell LK, Day CJ, De Bisscop X, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Repurposing Carbamazepine To Treat Gonococcal Infection in Women: Oral Delivery for Control of Epilepsy Generates Therapeutically Effective Levels in Vaginal Secretions. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2023 Jan 24; 67: e0096822.

                


                  Edwards JL, Balthazar JT, Esposito DLA, Ayala JC, Schiefer A, Pfarr K, Hoerauf A, Alt S, Hesterkamp T, Grosse M, Stadler M, Golparian D, Unemo M, Read TD, Shafer WM. Potent In Vitro and Ex Vivo Anti-Gonococcal Activity of the RpoB Inhibitor Corallopyronin A. mSphere. 2022 Sep 12;  e0036222.

                


                  Jen FE, Edwards JL, El-Deeb IM, Walker MJ, von Itzstein M, Jennings MP. Repurposing the Ionophore, PBT2, for Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae Infections. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2022 Aug 18;  e0231821.

                


                  Day CJ, Hardison RL, Spillings BL, Poole J, Jurcisek JA, Mak J, Jennings MP, Edwards JL. Complement Receptor 3 Mediates HIV-1 Transcytosis across an Intact Cervical Epithelial Cell Barrier: New Insight into HIV Transmission in Women. mBio. 2022 Jan 11;  e0217721.

                


                  Jen FE, Atack JM, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Complete Genome Sequences of Seven Neisseria gonorrhoeae Clinical Isolates from Mucosal and Disseminated Gonococcal Infections. Microbiol Resour Announc. 2021 Oct 28; 10: e0073421.

                


                  Jen FE, Atack JM, Zhang Y, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Complete Genome Sequence of Serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis Strain C311. Microbiol Resour Announc. 2021 Oct 21; 10: e0078821.

                


                  Jen FE, El-Deeb IM, Zalucki YM, Edwards JL, Walker MJ, von Itzstein M, Jennings MP. A drug candidate for Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease, PBT2, can be repurposed to render Neisseria gonorrhoeae susceptible to natural cationic antimicrobial peptides. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2021 Oct 11; 76: 2850-2853.

                


                  Poole J, Day CJ, Haselhorst T, Jen FE, Torres VJ, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Repurposed Drugs That Block the Gonococcus-Complement Receptor 3 Interaction Can Prevent and Cure Gonococcal Infection of Primary Human Cervical Epithelial Cells. mBio. 2020 Mar 3; 11: 

                


                  Chen NH, Ong CY, O'sullivan J, Ibranovic I, Davey K, Edwards JL, McEwan AG. Two Distinct L-Lactate Dehydrogenases Play a Role in the Survival of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Cervical Epithelial Cells. J Infect Dis. 2020 Jan 14; 221: 449-453.

                


                  Edwards JL, Jennings MP, Seib KL. Neisseria gonorrhoeae vaccine development: hope on the horizon? Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2018 Jun; 31: 246-250.

View More Publications

Biography

        Jennifer L. Edwards, PhD, is a Principal Investigator in the Center for Microbial Pathogenesis at the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital. She is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Edwards's NIH-funded research program focuses on the interaction of bacterial pathogens with host mucosal surfaces, with a specific interest in the molecular mechanisms contributing to asymptomatic disease and infectious disease disparity.

See Jennifer L. Edwards’s Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Academic and Clinical Areas

Center for Microbial Pathogenesis

Principal Investigator

Professional Experience

2010 - Present The Ohio State University, Associate Professor of Pediatrics2004 - 2010 The Ohio State University, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Contact Information

Call us at: (614)355-3565

Fax us at: (614)722-2818

Email Jennifer L Edwards

                    Abigail Wexner Research Institute700 Childrens DriveColumbus, OH 43205 (map)

Contact Information

Call us at: (614)355-3565

Fax us at: (614)722-2818

Email Jennifer L. Edwards, PhD

      Abigail Wexner Research Institute700 Childrens DriveColumbus, OH 43205 (map)

Learn more about Jennifer L. Edwards

Research

Lab(s)

Center for Microbial Pathogenesis

The focus of the Edwards laboratory is to elucidate the molecular/cellular mechanisms of neisserial pathogenesis, inclusive of those molecules contributing to colonization and disease progression. The lab is particularly interested in defining those host and bacterial factors that promote asymptomatic carriage/disease. In that N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis infections are limited to humans, the lab strives to mirror physiological conditions in experiments in which they routinely use primary human cells and clinically isolated bacteria. These investigative conditions most closely mimic the in vivo human environment and ensure that data generated are relevant to those host processes trigger during human disease. Although many of the lab’s queries are rooted in cellular microbiology, they use a wide variety of approaches to explore the numerous questions yet to be answered. By further elucidating at the molecular and cellular level the (host and bacterial) factors and responses that contribute to colonization and disease progression, it may be possible to identify new strategies for the detection (biomarkers and diagnostics), the intervention (new therapeutic agents), and the prevention (vaccine development) of neisserial infections that, in turn, will translate to better disease management and, ultimately, in improved women’s and children’s health. Current areas of interest include the following:

How do cyclic levels of steroid hormones and oxygen availability influence gonococcal infection of the lower female genital tract What are the mechanisms used by the pathogenic Neisseria to avoid killing by innate immune effectors during mucosal infection Further definition of the mechanism(s) by which meningococci associate with and invade the airway epithelium Mechanism by which gonococci associate with fetal and maternal membranes during pregnancy & how this relates to infection-induced adverse pregnancy outcomes What are the host and bacterial factors that contribute to ascending infection of the female reproductive tract

View My Publications Publications

                  Bazan JA, Tzeng YL, Bischof KM, Satola SW, Stephens DS, Edwards JL, Carter A, Snyder B, Turner AN. Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile for the US Neisseria meningitidis Urethritis Clade. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2023 Jan; 10: ofac661.

                


                  Shewell LK, Day CJ, De Bisscop X, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Repurposing Carbamazepine To Treat Gonococcal Infection in Women: Oral Delivery for Control of Epilepsy Generates Therapeutically Effective Levels in Vaginal Secretions. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2023 Jan 24; 67: e0096822.

                


                  Edwards JL, Balthazar JT, Esposito DLA, Ayala JC, Schiefer A, Pfarr K, Hoerauf A, Alt S, Hesterkamp T, Grosse M, Stadler M, Golparian D, Unemo M, Read TD, Shafer WM. Potent In Vitro and Ex Vivo Anti-Gonococcal Activity of the RpoB Inhibitor Corallopyronin A. mSphere. 2022 Sep 12;  e0036222.

                


                  Jen FE, Edwards JL, El-Deeb IM, Walker MJ, von Itzstein M, Jennings MP. Repurposing the Ionophore, PBT2, for Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae Infections. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2022 Aug 18;  e0231821.

                


                  Day CJ, Hardison RL, Spillings BL, Poole J, Jurcisek JA, Mak J, Jennings MP, Edwards JL. Complement Receptor 3 Mediates HIV-1 Transcytosis across an Intact Cervical Epithelial Cell Barrier: New Insight into HIV Transmission in Women. mBio. 2022 Jan 11;  e0217721.

                


                  Jen FE, Atack JM, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Complete Genome Sequences of Seven Neisseria gonorrhoeae Clinical Isolates from Mucosal and Disseminated Gonococcal Infections. Microbiol Resour Announc. 2021 Oct 28; 10: e0073421.

                


                  Jen FE, Atack JM, Zhang Y, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Complete Genome Sequence of Serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis Strain C311. Microbiol Resour Announc. 2021 Oct 21; 10: e0078821.

                


                  Jen FE, El-Deeb IM, Zalucki YM, Edwards JL, Walker MJ, von Itzstein M, Jennings MP. A drug candidate for Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease, PBT2, can be repurposed to render Neisseria gonorrhoeae susceptible to natural cationic antimicrobial peptides. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2021 Oct 11; 76: 2850-2853.

                


                  Poole J, Day CJ, Haselhorst T, Jen FE, Torres VJ, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Repurposed Drugs That Block the Gonococcus-Complement Receptor 3 Interaction Can Prevent and Cure Gonococcal Infection of Primary Human Cervical Epithelial Cells. mBio. 2020 Mar 3; 11: 

                


                  Chen NH, Ong CY, O'sullivan J, Ibranovic I, Davey K, Edwards JL, McEwan AG. Two Distinct L-Lactate Dehydrogenases Play a Role in the Survival of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Cervical Epithelial Cells. J Infect Dis. 2020 Jan 14; 221: 449-453.

                


                  Edwards JL, Jennings MP, Seib KL. Neisseria gonorrhoeae vaccine development: hope on the horizon? Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2018 Jun; 31: 246-250.

View More Publications

Biography

        Jennifer L. Edwards, PhD, is a Principal Investigator in the Center for Microbial Pathogenesis at the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital. She is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Edwards's NIH-funded research program focuses on the interaction of bacterial pathogens with host mucosal surfaces, with a specific interest in the molecular mechanisms contributing to asymptomatic disease and infectious disease disparity.

See Jennifer L. Edwards’s Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Academic and Clinical Areas

Center for Microbial Pathogenesis

Principal Investigator

Professional Experience

2010 - Present The Ohio State University, Associate Professor of Pediatrics2004 - 2010 The Ohio State University, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Contact Information

Call us at: (614)355-3565

Fax us at: (614)722-2818

Email Jennifer L Edwards

                    Abigail Wexner Research Institute700 Childrens DriveColumbus, OH 43205 (map)

Contact Information

Call us at: (614)355-3565

Fax us at: (614)722-2818

Email Jennifer L. Edwards, PhD

      Abigail Wexner Research Institute700 Childrens DriveColumbus, OH 43205 (map)

Learn more about Jennifer L. Edwards

Contact Information

  • Call us at:
  • (614)355-3565
  • Fax us at:
  • (614)722-2818
  • Email Jennifer L. Edwards, PhD
  • Abigail Wexner Research Institute700 Childrens DriveColumbus, OH 43205 (map)

Learn more about Jennifer L. Edwards

Research

Lab(s)

Center for Microbial Pathogenesis

The focus of the Edwards laboratory is to elucidate the molecular/cellular mechanisms of neisserial pathogenesis, inclusive of those molecules contributing to colonization and disease progression. The lab is particularly interested in defining those host and bacterial factors that promote asymptomatic carriage/disease. In that N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis infections are limited to humans, the lab strives to mirror physiological conditions in experiments in which they routinely use primary human cells and clinically isolated bacteria. These investigative conditions most closely mimic the in vivo human environment and ensure that data generated are relevant to those host processes trigger during human disease. Although many of the lab’s queries are rooted in cellular microbiology, they use a wide variety of approaches to explore the numerous questions yet to be answered. By further elucidating at the molecular and cellular level the (host and bacterial) factors and responses that contribute to colonization and disease progression, it may be possible to identify new strategies for the detection (biomarkers and diagnostics), the intervention (new therapeutic agents), and the prevention (vaccine development) of neisserial infections that, in turn, will translate to better disease management and, ultimately, in improved women’s and children’s health. Current areas of interest include the following:

How do cyclic levels of steroid hormones and oxygen availability influence gonococcal infection of the lower female genital tract What are the mechanisms used by the pathogenic Neisseria to avoid killing by innate immune effectors during mucosal infection Further definition of the mechanism(s) by which meningococci associate with and invade the airway epithelium Mechanism by which gonococci associate with fetal and maternal membranes during pregnancy & how this relates to infection-induced adverse pregnancy outcomes What are the host and bacterial factors that contribute to ascending infection of the female reproductive tract

View My Publications Publications

                  Bazan JA, Tzeng YL, Bischof KM, Satola SW, Stephens DS, Edwards JL, Carter A, Snyder B, Turner AN. Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile for the US Neisseria meningitidis Urethritis Clade. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2023 Jan; 10: ofac661.

                


                  Shewell LK, Day CJ, De Bisscop X, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Repurposing Carbamazepine To Treat Gonococcal Infection in Women: Oral Delivery for Control of Epilepsy Generates Therapeutically Effective Levels in Vaginal Secretions. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2023 Jan 24; 67: e0096822.

                


                  Edwards JL, Balthazar JT, Esposito DLA, Ayala JC, Schiefer A, Pfarr K, Hoerauf A, Alt S, Hesterkamp T, Grosse M, Stadler M, Golparian D, Unemo M, Read TD, Shafer WM. Potent In Vitro and Ex Vivo Anti-Gonococcal Activity of the RpoB Inhibitor Corallopyronin A. mSphere. 2022 Sep 12;  e0036222.

                


                  Jen FE, Edwards JL, El-Deeb IM, Walker MJ, von Itzstein M, Jennings MP. Repurposing the Ionophore, PBT2, for Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae Infections. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2022 Aug 18;  e0231821.

                


                  Day CJ, Hardison RL, Spillings BL, Poole J, Jurcisek JA, Mak J, Jennings MP, Edwards JL. Complement Receptor 3 Mediates HIV-1 Transcytosis across an Intact Cervical Epithelial Cell Barrier: New Insight into HIV Transmission in Women. mBio. 2022 Jan 11;  e0217721.

                


                  Jen FE, Atack JM, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Complete Genome Sequences of Seven Neisseria gonorrhoeae Clinical Isolates from Mucosal and Disseminated Gonococcal Infections. Microbiol Resour Announc. 2021 Oct 28; 10: e0073421.

                


                  Jen FE, Atack JM, Zhang Y, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Complete Genome Sequence of Serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis Strain C311. Microbiol Resour Announc. 2021 Oct 21; 10: e0078821.

                


                  Jen FE, El-Deeb IM, Zalucki YM, Edwards JL, Walker MJ, von Itzstein M, Jennings MP. A drug candidate for Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease, PBT2, can be repurposed to render Neisseria gonorrhoeae susceptible to natural cationic antimicrobial peptides. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2021 Oct 11; 76: 2850-2853.

                


                  Poole J, Day CJ, Haselhorst T, Jen FE, Torres VJ, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Repurposed Drugs That Block the Gonococcus-Complement Receptor 3 Interaction Can Prevent and Cure Gonococcal Infection of Primary Human Cervical Epithelial Cells. mBio. 2020 Mar 3; 11: 

                


                  Chen NH, Ong CY, O'sullivan J, Ibranovic I, Davey K, Edwards JL, McEwan AG. Two Distinct L-Lactate Dehydrogenases Play a Role in the Survival of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Cervical Epithelial Cells. J Infect Dis. 2020 Jan 14; 221: 449-453.

                


                  Edwards JL, Jennings MP, Seib KL. Neisseria gonorrhoeae vaccine development: hope on the horizon? Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2018 Jun; 31: 246-250.

View More Publications

Research

Lab(s)

Center for Microbial Pathogenesis

The focus of the Edwards laboratory is to elucidate the molecular/cellular mechanisms of neisserial pathogenesis, inclusive of those molecules contributing to colonization and disease progression. The lab is particularly interested in defining those host and bacterial factors that promote asymptomatic carriage/disease. In that N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis infections are limited to humans, the lab strives to mirror physiological conditions in experiments in which they routinely use primary human cells and clinically isolated bacteria. These investigative conditions most closely mimic the in vivo human environment and ensure that data generated are relevant to those host processes trigger during human disease. Although many of the lab’s queries are rooted in cellular microbiology, they use a wide variety of approaches to explore the numerous questions yet to be answered. By further elucidating at the molecular and cellular level the (host and bacterial) factors and responses that contribute to colonization and disease progression, it may be possible to identify new strategies for the detection (biomarkers and diagnostics), the intervention (new therapeutic agents), and the prevention (vaccine development) of neisserial infections that, in turn, will translate to better disease management and, ultimately, in improved women’s and children’s health. Current areas of interest include the following:

How do cyclic levels of steroid hormones and oxygen availability influence gonococcal infection of the lower female genital tract What are the mechanisms used by the pathogenic Neisseria to avoid killing by innate immune effectors during mucosal infection Further definition of the mechanism(s) by which meningococci associate with and invade the airway epithelium Mechanism by which gonococci associate with fetal and maternal membranes during pregnancy & how this relates to infection-induced adverse pregnancy outcomes What are the host and bacterial factors that contribute to ascending infection of the female reproductive tract

View My Publications Publications

                  Bazan JA, Tzeng YL, Bischof KM, Satola SW, Stephens DS, Edwards JL, Carter A, Snyder B, Turner AN. Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile for the US Neisseria meningitidis Urethritis Clade. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2023 Jan; 10: ofac661.

                


                  Shewell LK, Day CJ, De Bisscop X, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Repurposing Carbamazepine To Treat Gonococcal Infection in Women: Oral Delivery for Control of Epilepsy Generates Therapeutically Effective Levels in Vaginal Secretions. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2023 Jan 24; 67: e0096822.

                


                  Edwards JL, Balthazar JT, Esposito DLA, Ayala JC, Schiefer A, Pfarr K, Hoerauf A, Alt S, Hesterkamp T, Grosse M, Stadler M, Golparian D, Unemo M, Read TD, Shafer WM. Potent In Vitro and Ex Vivo Anti-Gonococcal Activity of the RpoB Inhibitor Corallopyronin A. mSphere. 2022 Sep 12;  e0036222.

                


                  Jen FE, Edwards JL, El-Deeb IM, Walker MJ, von Itzstein M, Jennings MP. Repurposing the Ionophore, PBT2, for Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae Infections. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2022 Aug 18;  e0231821.

                


                  Day CJ, Hardison RL, Spillings BL, Poole J, Jurcisek JA, Mak J, Jennings MP, Edwards JL. Complement Receptor 3 Mediates HIV-1 Transcytosis across an Intact Cervical Epithelial Cell Barrier: New Insight into HIV Transmission in Women. mBio. 2022 Jan 11;  e0217721.

                


                  Jen FE, Atack JM, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Complete Genome Sequences of Seven Neisseria gonorrhoeae Clinical Isolates from Mucosal and Disseminated Gonococcal Infections. Microbiol Resour Announc. 2021 Oct 28; 10: e0073421.

                


                  Jen FE, Atack JM, Zhang Y, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Complete Genome Sequence of Serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis Strain C311. Microbiol Resour Announc. 2021 Oct 21; 10: e0078821.

                


                  Jen FE, El-Deeb IM, Zalucki YM, Edwards JL, Walker MJ, von Itzstein M, Jennings MP. A drug candidate for Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease, PBT2, can be repurposed to render Neisseria gonorrhoeae susceptible to natural cationic antimicrobial peptides. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2021 Oct 11; 76: 2850-2853.

                


                  Poole J, Day CJ, Haselhorst T, Jen FE, Torres VJ, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Repurposed Drugs That Block the Gonococcus-Complement Receptor 3 Interaction Can Prevent and Cure Gonococcal Infection of Primary Human Cervical Epithelial Cells. mBio. 2020 Mar 3; 11: 

                


                  Chen NH, Ong CY, O'sullivan J, Ibranovic I, Davey K, Edwards JL, McEwan AG. Two Distinct L-Lactate Dehydrogenases Play a Role in the Survival of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Cervical Epithelial Cells. J Infect Dis. 2020 Jan 14; 221: 449-453.

                


                  Edwards JL, Jennings MP, Seib KL. Neisseria gonorrhoeae vaccine development: hope on the horizon? Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2018 Jun; 31: 246-250.

View More Publications

Research

Lab(s)

Center for Microbial Pathogenesis

The focus of the Edwards laboratory is to elucidate the molecular/cellular mechanisms of neisserial pathogenesis, inclusive of those molecules contributing to colonization and disease progression. The lab is particularly interested in defining those host and bacterial factors that promote asymptomatic carriage/disease. In that N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis infections are limited to humans, the lab strives to mirror physiological conditions in experiments in which they routinely use primary human cells and clinically isolated bacteria. These investigative conditions most closely mimic the in vivo human environment and ensure that data generated are relevant to those host processes trigger during human disease. Although many of the lab’s queries are rooted in cellular microbiology, they use a wide variety of approaches to explore the numerous questions yet to be answered. By further elucidating at the molecular and cellular level the (host and bacterial) factors and responses that contribute to colonization and disease progression, it may be possible to identify new strategies for the detection (biomarkers and diagnostics), the intervention (new therapeutic agents), and the prevention (vaccine development) of neisserial infections that, in turn, will translate to better disease management and, ultimately, in improved women’s and children’s health. Current areas of interest include the following:

How do cyclic levels of steroid hormones and oxygen availability influence gonococcal infection of the lower female genital tract What are the mechanisms used by the pathogenic Neisseria to avoid killing by innate immune effectors during mucosal infection Further definition of the mechanism(s) by which meningococci associate with and invade the airway epithelium Mechanism by which gonococci associate with fetal and maternal membranes during pregnancy & how this relates to infection-induced adverse pregnancy outcomes What are the host and bacterial factors that contribute to ascending infection of the female reproductive tract

View My Publications Publications

                  Bazan JA, Tzeng YL, Bischof KM, Satola SW, Stephens DS, Edwards JL, Carter A, Snyder B, Turner AN. Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile for the US Neisseria meningitidis Urethritis Clade. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2023 Jan; 10: ofac661.

                


                  Shewell LK, Day CJ, De Bisscop X, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Repurposing Carbamazepine To Treat Gonococcal Infection in Women: Oral Delivery for Control of Epilepsy Generates Therapeutically Effective Levels in Vaginal Secretions. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2023 Jan 24; 67: e0096822.

                


                  Edwards JL, Balthazar JT, Esposito DLA, Ayala JC, Schiefer A, Pfarr K, Hoerauf A, Alt S, Hesterkamp T, Grosse M, Stadler M, Golparian D, Unemo M, Read TD, Shafer WM. Potent In Vitro and Ex Vivo Anti-Gonococcal Activity of the RpoB Inhibitor Corallopyronin A. mSphere. 2022 Sep 12;  e0036222.

                


                  Jen FE, Edwards JL, El-Deeb IM, Walker MJ, von Itzstein M, Jennings MP. Repurposing the Ionophore, PBT2, for Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae Infections. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2022 Aug 18;  e0231821.

                


                  Day CJ, Hardison RL, Spillings BL, Poole J, Jurcisek JA, Mak J, Jennings MP, Edwards JL. Complement Receptor 3 Mediates HIV-1 Transcytosis across an Intact Cervical Epithelial Cell Barrier: New Insight into HIV Transmission in Women. mBio. 2022 Jan 11;  e0217721.

                


                  Jen FE, Atack JM, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Complete Genome Sequences of Seven Neisseria gonorrhoeae Clinical Isolates from Mucosal and Disseminated Gonococcal Infections. Microbiol Resour Announc. 2021 Oct 28; 10: e0073421.

                


                  Jen FE, Atack JM, Zhang Y, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Complete Genome Sequence of Serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis Strain C311. Microbiol Resour Announc. 2021 Oct 21; 10: e0078821.

                


                  Jen FE, El-Deeb IM, Zalucki YM, Edwards JL, Walker MJ, von Itzstein M, Jennings MP. A drug candidate for Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease, PBT2, can be repurposed to render Neisseria gonorrhoeae susceptible to natural cationic antimicrobial peptides. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2021 Oct 11; 76: 2850-2853.

                


                  Poole J, Day CJ, Haselhorst T, Jen FE, Torres VJ, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Repurposed Drugs That Block the Gonococcus-Complement Receptor 3 Interaction Can Prevent and Cure Gonococcal Infection of Primary Human Cervical Epithelial Cells. mBio. 2020 Mar 3; 11: 

                


                  Chen NH, Ong CY, O'sullivan J, Ibranovic I, Davey K, Edwards JL, McEwan AG. Two Distinct L-Lactate Dehydrogenases Play a Role in the Survival of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Cervical Epithelial Cells. J Infect Dis. 2020 Jan 14; 221: 449-453.

                


                  Edwards JL, Jennings MP, Seib KL. Neisseria gonorrhoeae vaccine development: hope on the horizon? Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2018 Jun; 31: 246-250.

View More Publications

Lab(s)

Center for Microbial Pathogenesis

The focus of the Edwards laboratory is to elucidate the molecular/cellular mechanisms of neisserial pathogenesis, inclusive of those molecules contributing to colonization and disease progression. The lab is particularly interested in defining those host and bacterial factors that promote asymptomatic carriage/disease. In that N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis infections are limited to humans, the lab strives to mirror physiological conditions in experiments in which they routinely use primary human cells and clinically isolated bacteria. These investigative conditions most closely mimic the in vivo human environment and ensure that data generated are relevant to those host processes trigger during human disease. Although many of the lab’s queries are rooted in cellular microbiology, they use a wide variety of approaches to explore the numerous questions yet to be answered. By further elucidating at the molecular and cellular level the (host and bacterial) factors and responses that contribute to colonization and disease progression, it may be possible to identify new strategies for the detection (biomarkers and diagnostics), the intervention (new therapeutic agents), and the prevention (vaccine development) of neisserial infections that, in turn, will translate to better disease management and, ultimately, in improved women’s and children’s health. Current areas of interest include the following:

How do cyclic levels of steroid hormones and oxygen availability influence gonococcal infection of the lower female genital tract What are the mechanisms used by the pathogenic Neisseria to avoid killing by innate immune effectors during mucosal infection Further definition of the mechanism(s) by which meningococci associate with and invade the airway epithelium Mechanism by which gonococci associate with fetal and maternal membranes during pregnancy & how this relates to infection-induced adverse pregnancy outcomes What are the host and bacterial factors that contribute to ascending infection of the female reproductive tract

View My Publications Publications

                  Bazan JA, Tzeng YL, Bischof KM, Satola SW, Stephens DS, Edwards JL, Carter A, Snyder B, Turner AN. Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile for the US Neisseria meningitidis Urethritis Clade. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2023 Jan; 10: ofac661.

                


                  Shewell LK, Day CJ, De Bisscop X, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Repurposing Carbamazepine To Treat Gonococcal Infection in Women: Oral Delivery for Control of Epilepsy Generates Therapeutically Effective Levels in Vaginal Secretions. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2023 Jan 24; 67: e0096822.

                


                  Edwards JL, Balthazar JT, Esposito DLA, Ayala JC, Schiefer A, Pfarr K, Hoerauf A, Alt S, Hesterkamp T, Grosse M, Stadler M, Golparian D, Unemo M, Read TD, Shafer WM. Potent In Vitro and Ex Vivo Anti-Gonococcal Activity of the RpoB Inhibitor Corallopyronin A. mSphere. 2022 Sep 12;  e0036222.

                


                  Jen FE, Edwards JL, El-Deeb IM, Walker MJ, von Itzstein M, Jennings MP. Repurposing the Ionophore, PBT2, for Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae Infections. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2022 Aug 18;  e0231821.

                


                  Day CJ, Hardison RL, Spillings BL, Poole J, Jurcisek JA, Mak J, Jennings MP, Edwards JL. Complement Receptor 3 Mediates HIV-1 Transcytosis across an Intact Cervical Epithelial Cell Barrier: New Insight into HIV Transmission in Women. mBio. 2022 Jan 11;  e0217721.

                


                  Jen FE, Atack JM, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Complete Genome Sequences of Seven Neisseria gonorrhoeae Clinical Isolates from Mucosal and Disseminated Gonococcal Infections. Microbiol Resour Announc. 2021 Oct 28; 10: e0073421.

                


                  Jen FE, Atack JM, Zhang Y, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Complete Genome Sequence of Serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis Strain C311. Microbiol Resour Announc. 2021 Oct 21; 10: e0078821.

                


                  Jen FE, El-Deeb IM, Zalucki YM, Edwards JL, Walker MJ, von Itzstein M, Jennings MP. A drug candidate for Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease, PBT2, can be repurposed to render Neisseria gonorrhoeae susceptible to natural cationic antimicrobial peptides. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2021 Oct 11; 76: 2850-2853.

                


                  Poole J, Day CJ, Haselhorst T, Jen FE, Torres VJ, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Repurposed Drugs That Block the Gonococcus-Complement Receptor 3 Interaction Can Prevent and Cure Gonococcal Infection of Primary Human Cervical Epithelial Cells. mBio. 2020 Mar 3; 11: 

                


                  Chen NH, Ong CY, O'sullivan J, Ibranovic I, Davey K, Edwards JL, McEwan AG. Two Distinct L-Lactate Dehydrogenases Play a Role in the Survival of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Cervical Epithelial Cells. J Infect Dis. 2020 Jan 14; 221: 449-453.

                


                  Edwards JL, Jennings MP, Seib KL. Neisseria gonorrhoeae vaccine development: hope on the horizon? Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2018 Jun; 31: 246-250.

View More Publications

Lab(s)

Center for Microbial Pathogenesis

The focus of the Edwards laboratory is to elucidate the molecular/cellular mechanisms of neisserial pathogenesis, inclusive of those molecules contributing to colonization and disease progression. The lab is particularly interested in defining those host and bacterial factors that promote asymptomatic carriage/disease. In that N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis infections are limited to humans, the lab strives to mirror physiological conditions in experiments in which they routinely use primary human cells and clinically isolated bacteria. These investigative conditions most closely mimic the in vivo human environment and ensure that data generated are relevant to those host processes trigger during human disease. Although many of the lab’s queries are rooted in cellular microbiology, they use a wide variety of approaches to explore the numerous questions yet to be answered. By further elucidating at the molecular and cellular level the (host and bacterial) factors and responses that contribute to colonization and disease progression, it may be possible to identify new strategies for the detection (biomarkers and diagnostics), the intervention (new therapeutic agents), and the prevention (vaccine development) of neisserial infections that, in turn, will translate to better disease management and, ultimately, in improved women’s and children’s health.

Lab(s)

Center for Microbial Pathogenesis

  • Center for Microbial Pathogenesis

Current areas of interest include the following:

  • How do cyclic levels of steroid hormones and oxygen availability influence gonococcal infection of the lower female genital tract
  • What are the mechanisms used by the pathogenic Neisseria to avoid killing by innate immune effectors during mucosal infection
  • Further definition of the mechanism(s) by which meningococci associate with and invade the airway epithelium
  • Mechanism by which gonococci associate with fetal and maternal membranes during pregnancy & how this relates to infection-induced adverse pregnancy outcomes
  • What are the host and bacterial factors that contribute to ascending infection of the female reproductive tract

View My Publications

                  Bazan JA, Tzeng YL, Bischof KM, Satola SW, Stephens DS, Edwards JL, Carter A, Snyder B, Turner AN. Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile for the US Neisseria meningitidis Urethritis Clade. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2023 Jan; 10: ofac661.

                


                  Shewell LK, Day CJ, De Bisscop X, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Repurposing Carbamazepine To Treat Gonococcal Infection in Women: Oral Delivery for Control of Epilepsy Generates Therapeutically Effective Levels in Vaginal Secretions. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2023 Jan 24; 67: e0096822.

                


                  Edwards JL, Balthazar JT, Esposito DLA, Ayala JC, Schiefer A, Pfarr K, Hoerauf A, Alt S, Hesterkamp T, Grosse M, Stadler M, Golparian D, Unemo M, Read TD, Shafer WM. Potent In Vitro and Ex Vivo Anti-Gonococcal Activity of the RpoB Inhibitor Corallopyronin A. mSphere. 2022 Sep 12;  e0036222.

                


                  Jen FE, Edwards JL, El-Deeb IM, Walker MJ, von Itzstein M, Jennings MP. Repurposing the Ionophore, PBT2, for Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae Infections. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2022 Aug 18;  e0231821.

                


                  Day CJ, Hardison RL, Spillings BL, Poole J, Jurcisek JA, Mak J, Jennings MP, Edwards JL. Complement Receptor 3 Mediates HIV-1 Transcytosis across an Intact Cervical Epithelial Cell Barrier: New Insight into HIV Transmission in Women. mBio. 2022 Jan 11;  e0217721.

                


                  Jen FE, Atack JM, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Complete Genome Sequences of Seven Neisseria gonorrhoeae Clinical Isolates from Mucosal and Disseminated Gonococcal Infections. Microbiol Resour Announc. 2021 Oct 28; 10: e0073421.

                


                  Jen FE, Atack JM, Zhang Y, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Complete Genome Sequence of Serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis Strain C311. Microbiol Resour Announc. 2021 Oct 21; 10: e0078821.

                


                  Jen FE, El-Deeb IM, Zalucki YM, Edwards JL, Walker MJ, von Itzstein M, Jennings MP. A drug candidate for Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease, PBT2, can be repurposed to render Neisseria gonorrhoeae susceptible to natural cationic antimicrobial peptides. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2021 Oct 11; 76: 2850-2853.

                


                  Poole J, Day CJ, Haselhorst T, Jen FE, Torres VJ, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Repurposed Drugs That Block the Gonococcus-Complement Receptor 3 Interaction Can Prevent and Cure Gonococcal Infection of Primary Human Cervical Epithelial Cells. mBio. 2020 Mar 3; 11: 

                


                  Chen NH, Ong CY, O'sullivan J, Ibranovic I, Davey K, Edwards JL, McEwan AG. Two Distinct L-Lactate Dehydrogenases Play a Role in the Survival of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Cervical Epithelial Cells. J Infect Dis. 2020 Jan 14; 221: 449-453.

                


                  Edwards JL, Jennings MP, Seib KL. Neisseria gonorrhoeae vaccine development: hope on the horizon? Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2018 Jun; 31: 246-250.

View More Publications

  • Bazan JA, Tzeng YL, Bischof KM, Satola SW, Stephens DS, Edwards JL, Carter A, Snyder B, Turner AN. Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile for the US Neisseria meningitidis Urethritis Clade. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2023 Jan; 10: ofac661.
  • Shewell LK, Day CJ, De Bisscop X, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Repurposing Carbamazepine To Treat Gonococcal Infection in Women: Oral Delivery for Control of Epilepsy Generates Therapeutically Effective Levels in Vaginal Secretions. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2023 Jan 24; 67: e0096822.
  • Edwards JL, Balthazar JT, Esposito DLA, Ayala JC, Schiefer A, Pfarr K, Hoerauf A, Alt S, Hesterkamp T, Grosse M, Stadler M, Golparian D, Unemo M, Read TD, Shafer WM. Potent In Vitro and Ex Vivo Anti-Gonococcal Activity of the RpoB Inhibitor Corallopyronin A. mSphere. 2022 Sep 12; e0036222.
  • Jen FE, Edwards JL, El-Deeb IM, Walker MJ, von Itzstein M, Jennings MP. Repurposing the Ionophore, PBT2, for Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae Infections. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2022 Aug 18; e0231821.
  • Day CJ, Hardison RL, Spillings BL, Poole J, Jurcisek JA, Mak J, Jennings MP, Edwards JL. Complement Receptor 3 Mediates HIV-1 Transcytosis across an Intact Cervical Epithelial Cell Barrier: New Insight into HIV Transmission in Women. mBio. 2022 Jan 11; e0217721.
  • Jen FE, Atack JM, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Complete Genome Sequences of Seven Neisseria gonorrhoeae Clinical Isolates from Mucosal and Disseminated Gonococcal Infections. Microbiol Resour Announc. 2021 Oct 28; 10: e0073421.
  • Jen FE, Atack JM, Zhang Y, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Complete Genome Sequence of Serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis Strain C311. Microbiol Resour Announc. 2021 Oct 21; 10: e0078821.
  • Jen FE, El-Deeb IM, Zalucki YM, Edwards JL, Walker MJ, von Itzstein M, Jennings MP. A drug candidate for Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s disease, PBT2, can be repurposed to render Neisseria gonorrhoeae susceptible to natural cationic antimicrobial peptides. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2021 Oct 11; 76: 2850-2853.
  • Poole J, Day CJ, Haselhorst T, Jen FE, Torres VJ, Edwards JL, Jennings MP. Repurposed Drugs That Block the Gonococcus-Complement Receptor 3 Interaction Can Prevent and Cure Gonococcal Infection of Primary Human Cervical Epithelial Cells. mBio. 2020 Mar 3; 11:
  • Chen NH, Ong CY, O’sullivan J, Ibranovic I, Davey K, Edwards JL, McEwan AG. Two Distinct L-Lactate Dehydrogenases Play a Role in the Survival of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Cervical Epithelial Cells. J Infect Dis. 2020 Jan 14; 221: 449-453.
  • Edwards JL, Jennings MP, Seib KL. Neisseria gonorrhoeae vaccine development: hope on the horizon? Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2018 Jun; 31: 246-250.

Biography

        Jennifer L. Edwards, PhD, is a Principal Investigator in the Center for Microbial Pathogenesis at the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital. She is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Edwards's NIH-funded research program focuses on the interaction of bacterial pathogens with host mucosal surfaces, with a specific interest in the molecular mechanisms contributing to asymptomatic disease and infectious disease disparity.

See Jennifer L. Edwards’s Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Biography

        Jennifer L. Edwards, PhD, is a Principal Investigator in the Center for Microbial Pathogenesis at the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital. She is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Edwards's NIH-funded research program focuses on the interaction of bacterial pathogens with host mucosal surfaces, with a specific interest in the molecular mechanisms contributing to asymptomatic disease and infectious disease disparity.

See Jennifer L. Edwards’s Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Biography

        Jennifer L. Edwards, PhD, is a Principal Investigator in the Center for Microbial Pathogenesis at the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital. She is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Edwards's NIH-funded research program focuses on the interaction of bacterial pathogens with host mucosal surfaces, with a specific interest in the molecular mechanisms contributing to asymptomatic disease and infectious disease disparity.

See Jennifer L. Edwards’s Curriculum Vitae (CV)

        Jennifer L. Edwards, PhD, is a Principal Investigator in the Center for Microbial Pathogenesis at the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital. She is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Edwards's NIH-funded research program focuses on the interaction of bacterial pathogens with host mucosal surfaces, with a specific interest in the molecular mechanisms contributing to asymptomatic disease and infectious disease disparity.

See Jennifer L. Edwards’s Curriculum Vitae (CV)

See Jennifer L. Edwards’s Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Academic and Clinical Areas

Center for Microbial Pathogenesis

Principal Investigator

Academic and Clinical Areas

Center for Microbial Pathogenesis

Principal Investigator

Academic and Clinical Areas

Center for Microbial Pathogenesis

Principal Investigator

Center for Microbial Pathogenesis

Principal Investigator

  • Center for Microbial Pathogenesis
  • Principal Investigator

Professional Experience

2010 - Present The Ohio State University, Associate Professor of Pediatrics2004 - 2010 The Ohio State University, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Professional Experience

2010 - Present The Ohio State University, Associate Professor of Pediatrics2004 - 2010 The Ohio State University, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Professional Experience

2010 - Present The Ohio State University, Associate Professor of Pediatrics2004 - 2010 The Ohio State University, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

2010 - Present The Ohio State University, Associate Professor of Pediatrics2004 - 2010 The Ohio State University, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

2010 - Present The Ohio State University, Associate Professor of Pediatrics

Contact Information

Call us at: (614)355-3565

Fax us at: (614)722-2818

Email Jennifer L Edwards

                    Abigail Wexner Research Institute700 Childrens DriveColumbus, OH 43205 (map)

Contact Information

Call us at: (614)355-3565

Fax us at: (614)722-2818

Email Jennifer L Edwards

                    Abigail Wexner Research Institute700 Childrens DriveColumbus, OH 43205 (map)

Contact Information

Call us at: (614)355-3565

Fax us at: (614)722-2818

Email Jennifer L Edwards

                    Abigail Wexner Research Institute700 Childrens DriveColumbus, OH 43205 (map)

Call us at: (614)355-3565

Fax us at: (614)722-2818

Email Jennifer L Edwards

                    Abigail Wexner Research Institute700 Childrens DriveColumbus, OH 43205 (map)

Call us at: (614)355-3565

Fax us at: (614)722-2818

Email Jennifer L Edwards

                    Abigail Wexner Research Institute700 Childrens DriveColumbus, OH 43205 (map)

Call us at: (614)355-3565

Fax us at: (614)722-2818

Email Jennifer L Edwards

                    Abigail Wexner Research Institute700 Childrens DriveColumbus, OH 43205 (map)
  • Call us at:
  • (614)355-3565
  • Fax us at:
  • (614)722-2818
  • Email Jennifer L Edwards
  • Abigail Wexner Research Institute700 Childrens DriveColumbus, OH 43205 (map)