M. B. Ballard

This study shows that gestational diabetes increases GBS perinatal infection by altering maternal immunity and vaginal microbiota, using a murine model.

This study evaluates a humanized microbiota mouse model to understand how vaginal microbiota composition influences susceptibility to urogenital pathogens, finding that certain bacterial taxa correlate with reduced pathogen levels but show inconsistent in vitro and in vivo effects.

This study shows that phage resistance in UPEC arises quickly in the urinary environment but comes with fitness costs that reduce bacterial growth and virulence.