Postdoctoral Fellow - Ophthalmology, Microbiology, and Immunobiology
Harvard Medical School - 2012
Kelli Palmer
Fellow, Cecil H. and Ida Green Chair in Systems Biology Science
Associate Professor - Biological Sciences
Professional Preparation
Ph.D. - Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
University of Texas at Austin - 2008
University of Texas at Austin - 2008
B.S. - Microbiology
University of Oklahoma - 2003
University of Oklahoma - 2003
Research Areas
Research Interests
I study antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria. My current research focuses on: 1) mechanisms contributing to antibiotic resistance, with particular focus on the interactions of resistance plasmids with CRISPR-Cas systems, and 2) using in vivo-relevant growth substrates to characterize the physiology of pathogenic bacteria. The long-term goal of my research is novel antimicrobial development.Publications
Characterization of presumptive vancomycin-resistant enterococci recovered during infection control surveillance in Dallas, Texas, USA 2021 - Journal Article
Molecular characterization of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium isolates collected from the Dallas, Texas area 2021 - Other
Streptococcus pneumoniae, S. pyogenes, and S. agalactiae membrane phospholipid remodeling in response to human serum 2021 - Other
Streptococcus agalactiae MprF synthesizes a novel cationic glycolipid that promotes brain entry and meningitis 2020 - Other
Streptococcus pneumoniae, S. mitis, and S. oralis produce a phosphatidylglycerol-dependent, ltaS-independent glycerophosphate-linked glycolipid 2020 - Other
Characterization of presumptive vancomycin-resistant enterococci recovered during infection control surveillance in Dallas, Texas 2020 - Other
Chromosomal Resistance to Metronidazole in Clostridioides difficile Can Be Mediated by Epistasis between Iron Homeostasis and Oxidoreductases 2020 - Journal Article
Chromosomal Resistance to Metronidazole in Clostridioides difficile can be Mediated by Epistasis Between Iron Homeostasis and Oxidoreductases 2020 - Journal Article
Awards
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Outstanding NS&M Teacher Award - [2017]
News Articles
Microbiologist Aims to Thwart Antibiotic Resistance
Dr. Kelli Palmer is running her own laboratory as an assistant professor of molecular and cell biology at The University of Texas at Dallas. Her work focuses on a better understanding of how bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics. One approach she is taking involves sequencing entire genomes of different bacterial species to identify and characterize genetic mutations that lead to antibiotic resistance. She also is investigating the role genetic material called plasmids and transposons play in conferring resistance. These tiny bits of DNA often encode antibiotic resistance genes, and they can be transferred from bacteria that are drug-resistant to bacteria that are not. Understanding this process might lead to more effective ways to curtail the spread of antibiotic resistance, Palmer said.
Biologist Investigates How Gene-Swapping Bacteria Evade Antibiotics
A scientific peek into bacteria boudoirs is revealing how “sex” among disease-causing microbes can lead different species or strains to become resistant to antibiotic medications.Dr. Kelli Palmer, assistant professor of biological sciences at The University of Texas at Dallas, is conducting research aimed at understanding the underlying mechanisms by which bacteria acquire antibiotic resistance genes from one another.