My research is on the biology and pathogenic lifestyles of the cystic fibrosis respiratory pathogens: Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cenocepacia.  The focus has been to understand the mechanisms of regulating the alternative sigma factor (AlgU/RpoE), which directs gene expression leading to the ability of the organisms to adapt and survive.  In P.aeruginosa, AlgU controls the biosynthesis of the exopolysaccharide known as alginate by P.aeruginosa (see representative publication below).  

My studies upon regulation of alginate, have lead me deeper into thinking about how these important phenotypes are regulated systemically. I am very interested in how bacteria sense environmental stress and respond. 

In my current appointment, I plan to investigate similar stress response systems in Bordetella pertussis.  Due to the fact the bacterial species I study can evade the host immune system and are many times multi-drug resistant, I have begun to investigate the utility of predatory bacteria as living antibiotics to clear bacterial infections.   

F.H. Damron,M. Barbier, E. S.McKenney, M. J. Schurr and J. B. Goldberg. Genes Required forand Effects of Inducible Alginate Overproduction by Growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on PIAAMV. Journal of Bacteriology 195:4020-4036. PMID 23794622

M.Barbier, J. P. Owings, I. Martinez-Ramos, F.H. Damron, R. Gomila, J.Blazquez, J. B. Goldberg, and S. Alberti. 2013. Lysine Trimethylation of EF-TuMimics Platelet-Activating Factor To Initiate Pseudomonas aeruginosa Pneumonia. MBio 4. PMID 23653444

F.H.Damron,E. S. McKenney, M. Barbier, G. W. Liechti, H. P.Schweizer, and J. B. Goldberg. 2013. Construction of Mobilizable Mini-Tn7 Vectors for Bioluminescent Detection of Gram-Negative Bacteria and Single-Copy Promoter lux Reporter Analysis. Applied Environmental Microbiology 79:4149-53. PMID 23584769

T.R.Withers, F. H. Damron, Y. Yin, H.Yu.  Truncation of type IV pilin induces mucoidy in Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO579. 2013.  Microbiology Open 2:459-70. PMID 23533140

F.H.Damron, E.McKenney, H. P. Schweizer, J.B. Goldberg. 2013. Construction of a Broad-Host-Range Tn7-Based Vector for Single-Copy PBAD-Controlled Gene Expression in Gram-Negative Bacteria. Applied Environmental Microbiology 79: 718-721. PMID 23124231

F.H.Damron and J. B. Goldberg. 2012. Proteolytic regulation of alginate overproduction in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Molecular Microbiology 84:595-607.  PMID 22497280

F.H. Damron,J. P. Owings, Y.Okkotsu, J. J. Varga, J. R. Schurr, J. B. Goldberg, M. J.Schurr and H. D. Yu. 2012. Analysis of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Regulon Controlled by the Sensor Kinase KinB and Sigma Factor RpoN. Journal of Bacteriology 194:1317-1330. PMID 22210761

J. Rao*, F. H.Damron*, M. Basler,  A. DiGiandomenico, N. E. Sherman, J.W. Fox,J.Mekalanos, and J. B. Goldberg. 2011. Proteomic analysis of nonmucoid and mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates from a cystic fibrosis patient. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. 2: 162 *J.R. and F.H.D contributed equally to this publication. PMID21863142

F. H. Damron, M. R. Davis Jr., T. R. Withers, R. K. Ernst, J. B.Goldberg, G. Yu,and H. D. Yu. 2011. Vanadate and triclosan synergistically induce alginate overproduction by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO1.  Molecular Microbiology. 81:554-570. PMID21631603

F.H. Damronand H.D. Yu. 2011. Pseudomonas aeruginosa MucD regulates alginate pathway through activation of MucA degradation via MucP proteolytic activity. Journal of Bacteriology. 193, 286-291. PMID 21036998

F.H. Damron, J.Napper, M.A.Teter and H.D. Yu.  2009. Lipotoxin F of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isan AlgU-dependent and alginate-independent outer membrane protein involved in resistance to oxidative stress and adhesion to A549 human lung epithelia Microbiology 155, 1028 - 1038.  PMID 19332805

F. H.Damron, D. Qiu and H.D. Yu. 2009. The Pseudomonas aeruginosa sensor kinase KinB negatively controls alginate production through AlgW-dependent MucA proteolysis. Journal of Bacteriology 191, 2285-2295. PMID 19168621

D.Qiu*, F. H.Damron*, T.Mima, H.P. Schweizer, H.D. Yu.2008. PBAD-Based shuttle vectors for functional analysis of toxic and highly regulated genes in Pseudomonas and Burkholderia spp. and other bacteria.  Applied Environmental Microbiology.74:7422-7426.* D.Q. and F.H.D contributed equally to this publication.  PMID 18849445