Education

PhD, University of Utah (2016)
Microbiology and Immunology
+ Zebrafish reveal variable effects of Escherichia coli during sepsis
+ Advisor: Matthew Mulvey

BS, University of Wisconin-Madison (2006)
Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Women’s Studies

Positions

Junior Group Leader (September 2020-present)
Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute. Jena, Germany.

Postdoctoral Fellow (2016-2020)
Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute. Jena, Germany.
Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg. Würzburg, Germany.
+ Research group of Oliver Kurzai

PhD Candidate (2010-2016)
University of Utah, Department of Pathology. Salt Lake City, UT.
+ Research group of Matthew Mulvey

Research Specialist (2007-2009)
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Neurology. Madison, WI.
+ Research group of Clive Svendsen

Undergraduate Laboratory Assistant (2005-2007)
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Entomology. Madison, WI.
+ Research group of Ken Raffa

Undergraduate Research Assistant (2004-2005)
University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Nursing. Madison, WI.
+ Research group of Barbara St. Pierre Schneider

Reseach Support

2020-24. DfG Excellence Cluster Balance of the Microverse Junior Research Group
2012-2014. NIAID T-32 Microbial Pathogenesis Training Grant

Awards

2021-22. Leibniz Mentoring Program
2021. Medac Research Prize
2018. International Society for Human and Animal Mycology Attendance Grant
2017. European Confederation of Medical Mycology Young Investigators Travel Award
2015. ASM Richard and Mary Finkelstein Travel Award
2015. University of Utah Graduate School Travel Award

Publications

Preprints & Submitted Manuscripts

None at present

Accepted Manuscripts

Barber AE, Sae-Ong T, Kang K, Seelbinder B, Li J, Walther G, Panagiotou G, Kurzai O. Aspergillus fumigatus pan-genome analysis identifies genetic variants associated with human infection. 2021. Nature Microbiology.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-021-00993-x

Barber AE, Riedel J, Sae-Ong T, Kang K, Brabetz W, Panagiotou G, Deising HB, Kurzai O. Effects of agricultural fungicide use on Aspergillus fumigatus abundance, antifungal susceptibility, and population structure. 2020. mBio.
https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.02213-20

Barber AE, Scheufen S, Walther G, Kurzai O, Schmidt V. Low Rate of Azole Resistance in Cases of Avian Aspergillosis in Germany. 2020. Medical Mycology.
https://doi.org/10.1093/mmy/myaa045

Hamprecht A, Barber AE, Mellinghoff SC, Thelen P, Walther G, Yu Y, Neurgaonkar P, Dandekar T, Cornely OA, Martin R, Kurzai O. Occurence of Candida auris in Germany is linked to prior exposure to foreign healthcare. 2019. Emerging Infectious Diseases. Sept;25(9).
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2509.190262

Barber AE, Weber M, Kaerger K, Goelz H, Walther G, Linde J, Duerschmidt D, Markert A, Guthke R, Kurzai O. Comparative genomics of serial Candida glabrata isolates and the rapid acquisition of echinocandin resistance during therapy. 2019. Antimicrobial Agents & Chemotherapy. Jan;63(2).
https://doi.org/10.1128/AAC.01628-18

Kjelstrüp CK, Barber AE, Norton JP, Mulvey MA, L’Abee-Lund TM. Escherichia coli O78 isolated from septicemic lambs shows high pathogenicity in a zebrafish model. 2017. Veterinary Research. Jan;48(1):3.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-016-0407-0

Barber AE, Fleming BA, Mulvey MA. Similarly Lethal Strains of Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli Trigger Markedly Diverse Host Responses in a Zebrafish Model of Sepsis. 2016. mSphere. Apr;1(2).
Featured on Episode 126 of the ASM Podcast “This Week in Microbiology”
https://doi.org/10.1128/mSphere.00062-16

Barber AE, Norton JP, Wiles TJ, Mulvey MA. Strengths and Limitations of Model Systems for the Study of Urinary Tract Infections. Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews. 2016. Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews. Mar;80(2):351-67.
https://doi.org/10.1128/MMBR.00067-15

Barber AE, Norton JP, Spivak AM, Mulvey MA. Urinary Tract Infections: Current and Emerging Management Strategies. 2013. Clinical Infectious Diseases. Sept;57(5):719-24.
https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/cit284

Debnath I., Norton JP, Barber AE, Ott EM, Dhakal BK, Kulesus RR, Mulvey MA. The Cpx Stress Response System Potentiates the Fitness and Virulence of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli. 2013. Infection & Immunity. May;81(5):1450-9.
https://doi.org/10.1128/IAI.01213-12

Ebert AD, Barber AE, Heins BM, Svendsen CN. Ex vivo Delivery of GDNF Maintains Motor Function and Prevents Neuronal Loss in a Transgenic Mouse Model of Huntington’s disease. 2010. Experimental Neurology. Jul;224(1):155-62.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expneurol.2010.03.005

Ebert AD, Beres AJ, Barber AE, Svendsen CN. Human Neural Progenitor Cells Over-expressing IGF-1 Protect Dopamine Neurons and Restore Function in a Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease. 2008. Experimental Neurology. Jan;209(1):213-223.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expneurol.2007.09.022