Nicole De Nisco

Nicole De Nisco

Assistant Professor - Biological Sciences
Tags: Microbiology Molecular Biology Infectious Disease Cell Biology Immunology Pathobiology

Professional Preparation

Doctor of Philosophy - Molecular Biology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology - 2013
Bachelor of Science - Biology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology - 2007

Research Areas

Dynamics of the urinary microbiome in postmenopausal women
Through projects funded by the NIDDK and the Welch Foundation the De Nisco lab studies host-pathogen-microbiome interactions that underlie recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) leveraging advanced imaging, whole genome metagenomic, and mass spectrometry-based metabolomic techniques. The De Nisco lab seeks to inform new therapies for recurrent UTI by interrogating spatial and metabolic relationship between the urinary microbiota and the human host. Available projects include 1) Spatial and temporal dynamics of the urogenital microbiome in postmenopausal women, 2) Metabolic interactions between the urinary microbiota and urogenital tract and 3) Utilization of Glycosaminoglycans by the Urinary Microbiota
Molecular basis of microbial pathogenesis and host response during recurrent urinary tract infection
The De Nisco lab investigates recurrent urinary tract infection (rUTI) as part of an ongoing clinical collaboration with the Department of Urology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. De Nisco’s research combines access to clinical samples with techniques from fields of molecular microbiology, cell biology and immunology to discover how both microbe and host contribute to this disease. Examples of available research projects include: 1) characterizing the host inflammatory response during rUTI and elucidating its role in recurrence 2) deciphering the virulence mechanisms of clinically-relevant rUTI pathogens 3) developing new whole cell bacterial vaccines against rUTI.

Publications

Inflammatory markers for improved recurrent UTI diagnosis in postmenopausal women 2024 - Journal Article
Complete genomes of Limosilactobacillus portuensis and Limosilactobacillus vaginalis isolated from the urine of postmenopausal women 2024 - Journal Article
VesiX cetylpyridinium chloride is rapidly bactericidal and reduces uropathogenic Escherichia coli bladder epithelial cell invasion in vitro 2024 - Journal Article
Inter-species diversity and functional genomic analyses of closed genome assemblies of clinically isolated, megaplasmid-containing Enterococcus raffinosus Er676 and ATCC49464 2023 - Other
Urinary Glycosaminoglycans are Associated with Recurrent UTI and Urobiome Ecology in Postmenopausal Women 2023 - Other
Letter to the Editor: Long‐term efficacy of complete trigonal electrofulguration for women with recurrent urinary tract infections by Leopoldo Ribeiro‐Filho et al. 2023 - Journal Article
Urinary Glycosaminoglycans Are Associated with Recurrent UTI and Urobiome Ecology in Postmenopausal Women 2023 - Journal Article
Complete genomes of Limosilactobacillus portuensis and Limosilactobacillus vaginalis isolated from the urine of postmenopausal women 2023 - Journal Article

News Articles

Study Details Bacteria’s Role in Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections
Study Details Bacteria’s Role in Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections A new finding by researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas and UT Southwestern Medical Center shows that several species of bacteria reside in bladder tissue of postmenopausal women who experience recurrent urinary tract infections (RUTIs).

The results, published online April 17 in the Journal of Molecular Biology, represent the first systematic analysis of biopsies from patients in this population. The findings provide a better understanding of the interaction between bacteria and host tissue, which might lead to more effective treatment strategies.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are irritating and painful, sometimes debilitatingly so. The majority of UTIs are caused by the bacterium Escherichia coli, which normally lives in human intestines but sometimes gets into the urinary tract, where it is not welcome.

Funding

Glycosaminoglycan Utilization and Metabolism by the Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract
- The Welch Foundation [2020/06–2023/06]
Identifying urogenital microbiota that can degrade vaginal estrogen therapy in postmenopausal women
- The Foundation for Women's Wellness []
Defining the dynamics of urobiome structure and function in postmenopausal women and its role in recurrent UTI susceptibility
- National Institutes of Health NIDDK []