Ana Flores-Mireles
@afloresmireles.bsky.social
Janet C. and Jeffrey A. Hawk Collegiate Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences University of Notre Dame. Microbial pathogenesis, catheter-associated UTIs, inflammation and immunology
Introducing Dr. Alyssa La Bella!!🎓✨ Felipe and I couldn’t not be prouder of you!! You’ve done such an incredible work throughout your PhD studies, and your research has been crucial to advancing our understanding of fungal urinary tract infections!!! Congratulations, Doctor! @felipehst.bsky.social
A nice summary of @afloresmireles.bsky.social and our lab recent story published in PNAS. link.growkudos.com/1e9je0l4g74
A fungal catheter-associated UTI virulent program
How does the fungus Candida albicans cause life-threatening catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs)? Despite being very common, fungal CAUTIs have been neglected and thus little is known...
link.growkudos.com
Ever wonder how fungal infections take hold in the bladder? 🔬. Our new research sheds light on fungal virulence in human and mouse models during catheterization! alabella14.bsky.social, @nickgervais.bsky.social, @felipehst.bsky.social, @shapirorebecca.bsky.social www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
The unique Efg1 fungal virulence regulon in the catheterized bladder environment | PNAS
Urinary catheterization, a frequent procedure in hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities, is a primary driver of nosocomial infec...
pnas.org
Mark your calendars! Only one more month until #UTIHour #UTISky 📅 Monday July 20th 🕜 1:30 pm New York Time 🗣️ hosted by @lauraamike.bsky.social check out the website utiga.org/upcoming for more info!
The most rewarding accomplishment as a PI is too see my students get their PhD degree and succeed!! I am so proud of you guys, Kurt Kohler and Christopher Gager!!!
Well deserved it!!!
Felipe H Santiago-Tirado@felipehst.bsky.social · 3mo agoIts official! I have been promoted to Associate professor with tenure! Like many things in life, it required a "village" to achieve this. Many thanks to past & current members of the lab, and all that stood by me all this way, especially my partner in crime @afloresmireles.bsky.social Cheers!!!
Its official! I have been promoted to Associate professor with tenure! Like many things in life, it required a "village" to achieve this. Many thanks to past & current members of the lab, and all that stood by me all this way, especially my partner in crime @afloresmireles.bsky.social Cheers!!!
A wonderful collaboration. Very excited about the other stories in the pipeline and the future of this project!
Ana Flores-Mireles@afloresmireles.bsky.social · 4mo agoFighting back against superbugs! 🥊 Check out our latest study on how liquid-infused silicone catheters are slashing C. auris infections. 🦠🛡️ 👇 Thanks to Alyssa La Bella, Hope Akegbe, Felipe H Santiago Tirado, and Caitlin Howell!!! 🙌🔬 @notredame.bsky.social @globaluti.bsky.social
Fighting back against superbugs! 🥊 Check out our latest study on how liquid-infused silicone catheters are slashing C. auris infections. 🦠🛡️ 👇 Thanks to Alyssa La Bella, Hope Akegbe, Felipe H Santiago Tirado, and Caitlin Howell!!! 🙌🔬 @notredame.bsky.social @globaluti.bsky.social
Liquid-infused silicone catheters reduce fungal burden and inflammation in Candidozyma auris bladder infections | mSphere
This research addresses the critical public health challenge posed by the emergence of Candidozyma auris, elucidating its pathogenesis in the urinary tract, the second-most common yet understudied reservoir. Here, we find that C. auris exhibits plasticity in its ability to form biofilms in urine and cause uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) and catheter-associated UTIs (CAUTIs). Importantly, we show that our liquid-infused silicone (LIS) catheters effectively disrupt this cycle by reducing fungal burden, preventing systemic spread, and dampening the damaging host inflammatory response. This work establishes the urinary tract as a critical niche for systemic entry and provides a validated strategy for infection prevention. Urinary catheters make C. auris dangerous, but this liquid-infused silicone coating is fighting back.
journals.asm.org
Check out our latest study on how liquid-infused silicone catheters are slashing C. auris infections. 🦠🛡️ 👇 Thanks to @alabella14.bsky.social, Hope Akegbe, @felipehst.bsky.social and Caitlin Howell!!! 🙌🔬https://journals.asm.org/eprint/HADAAD7RC3YXX3RB4SAE/full
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journals.asm.org
Great #UTICONF26 conference!!I Such an awesome time to see my mentor, Scott Hultgren, and my scientific siblings and colleagues!! ##UTIs #UTIsky
The Flores-Mireles lab representing at the Amazing #UTICONF26!!! I am so proud of my students, @alabella14.bsky.social , @jonjmolina.bsky.social, Kurt Kohler, and Ellsa Wongso!!! Specially congratulations to Alyssa and Kurt for wining awards for their presentation and poster!!! ##UTIs #UTIsky
Really grateful to be part of this amazing community. The conference has been absolutely fantastic, with incredible science, thoughtful discussions, and a great reminder of why we do what we do. Cherry on top: the poster award! 🎉 @globaluti.bsky.social 🙌
Prof Jenny Rohn@jennyrohn.bsky.social · 4mo agoHuge congrats to @microberamon.bsky.social for winning a poster prize at #UTIConf2026 for presenting P-FLO, his innovative urine-flow human urothelial model! #UTISky
It is my absolute pleasure to introduce Dr. Kurt Kohler. Congratulations on a highly successful PhD defense!
Only one more month until the Clinical and Scientific Advances in UTI Conference in #nashville utiga.org/2026-6th-csa...
Urinary Tract Infection Global Alliance
No membership fees Join now!
utiga.org
Ever wonder what really goes down in the microscopic battleground of a catheter-associated UTI? 🦠⚔️ Our new review unpacks the Host-Pathogen Interactions during CAUTIs. Thank you, Kurt Kohler and Alyssa La Bella @alabella14.bsky.social for putting this together!!! pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....
Host Pathogen Interactions during Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections
As a leading cause of healthcare-associated infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) present a unique challenge due to the high prevalence of multidrug-resistant and polymicrobial pathogens. Distinct from uncomplicated UTIs, the insertion of a urinary catheter provokes tissue damage that triggers inflammation, plasma extravasation, and the deposition of host fibrinogen. This inflammatory response drives the robust recruitment of immune cells and plasma extravasation, leading to the accumulation of fibrinogen─a key coagulation protein─on the device and bladder epithelium. This fibrinogen-rich environment creates a unique niche for intricate host–pathogen interactions. Crucially, uropathogens exploit these deposits to establish persistent biofilms, while the protein scaffold simultaneously modulates host immunity. Understanding these mechanisms, particularly the role of fibrinogen-binding adhesins, is vital for developing targeted, antimicrobial-sparing therapeutics. In this perspective, we examine the strategies uropathogens employ to persist in the catheterized bladder, the corresponding host immune response, and emerging strategies to prevent CAUTI.
pubs.acs.org
Happy to share our recent publication in #naturecommunications A lot of really nice work by @jmduranramirez.bsky.social and thanks to our collaborators @chelsamicro.bsky.social and Blake (not on sm) for helping get this across the line nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
🔬We are rethinking UTIs through the #gutbladderaxis The gut serves as a reservoir for uropathogens and influences bladder immunity too! Join @globaluti.bsky.social for #UTIHour. 📆 Feb 17th 🕐 4 PM EST 👤 @henryschreiber.bsky.social 🗣️ Drs. Mark Schembri, Manita Guragain, and Ben Olson
🦠 Did you know the health of the gut and bladder are connected? Disruptions in the gut can influence bladder health, infection risk, and recurrence #GutBladderAxis 🔍 Come find out who’s at risk @globaluti.bsky.social Feb #UTIHour hosted by @henryschreiber.bsky.social 📅 Feb 17th 🕟 4pm New York Time
Great interview with @afloresmireles.bsky.social !
LUF@liveutifree.bsky.social · 7mo agoBladder cancer is linked to prolonged inflammation, and catheters cause inflammation, is there a simple way to reduce this risk while also minimizing the risk of catheter-associated UTIs? Dr. Ana Flores-Mireles @afloresmireles.bsky.social joined us to share her research.https://youtu.be/AC2xddCqu7Y
Bladder cancer is linked to prolonged inflammation, and catheters cause inflammation, is there a simple way to reduce this risk while also minimizing the risk of catheter-associated UTIs? Dr. Ana Flores-Mireles @afloresmireles.bsky.social joined us to share her research.https://youtu.be/AC2xddCqu7Y
If you still haven't submitted travel award applications, you have until MONDAY, 1/12, 11:59pm Pacific time! Get your applications in this weekend!
UTI Global Alliance@globaluti.bsky.social · 7mo agoAttention postdocs, medical fellows, and residents of #UTISky and #IDsky! Abstract submission for travel awards to our April UTI conference, #UTICONF26, are due on January 12. The general abstract submission deadline is February 16. Submit your applications at utiga.org!
Don’t miss out on travel awards to #CSAUTI deadline is Monday!
UTI Global Alliance@globaluti.bsky.social · 7mo agoIf you still haven't submitted travel award applications, you have until MONDAY, 1/12, 11:59pm Pacific time! Get your applications in this weekend!
Don't miss this fun and informative interview with the great @afloresmireles.bsky.social with the patient advocacy organization Live UTI Free! They talk all the way from marine biology, to good microbes, bad microbes, and UTIs and CAUTIs - a little bit for everyone! Only 30 really enjoyable mins!
LUF@liveutifree.bsky.social · 7mo agoWhy do catheters increase the risk of UTI? Dr. Ana Flores-Mireles @afloresmireles.bsky.social joined Melissa Kramer for an interview to share how her own scientific discoveries could lead to long term solutions for patients who are catheterized. Watch now: https://f.mtr.cool/ikdehrkthw
Why do catheters increase the risk of UTI? Dr. Ana Flores-Mireles @afloresmireles.bsky.social joined Melissa Kramer for an interview to share how her own scientific discoveries could lead to long term solutions for patients who are catheterized. Watch now: https://f.mtr.cool/ikdehrkthw
Everyone, please join me in welcoming Dr. Christopher Gager! 🎓 Congratulations, Gager! I am beyond proud of you—you did an absolutely amazing job, and you deserve every bit of this success!
Check out our latest preprint!!!!
Felipe H Santiago-Tirado@felipehst.bsky.social · 9mo agoPreprint alert: the latest from my collaboration with the great @afloresmireles.bsky.social, @shapirorebecca.bsky.social , and Ilse Jacobsen (not in BS). You can find it here: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... A small thread below (1/3)
Preprint alert: the latest from my collaboration with the great @afloresmireles.bsky.social, @shapirorebecca.bsky.social , and Ilse Jacobsen (not in BS). You can find it here: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... A small thread below (1/3)
The Unique Efg1 Fungal Virulence Regulon in the Catheterized Bladder Environment
Urinary catheterization, a common procedure in hospitals and nursing home facilities, is a primary driver of hospital-acquired infections (HAI). These devices frequently lead to catheter-associated ur...
biorxiv.org
Only a few more days! Check out our speaker highlights 👇 to find out more!
UTI Global Alliance@globaluti.bsky.social · 10mo ago#UTIsky, say hello to our third #UTIhour speaker Dr. Manita Guragain, PhD! 👋 Dr. Guragain is a research microbiologist at the US Department of Agriculture (#USDA) agricultural research service, where she studies non-diarrheagenic foodbourne pathogens ( 🦠 in 🥩🍗🍖) 🧵 👇
