David J. Esteban
Research in my lab focuses on two main areas. 1) The gut microbiome (the collection of microbes that reside in the gut) is known to impact, and be impacted by, the health of the host. The effects of microbial activity and host response to those microbes extends beyond the gut to the immune system and the nervous system. I am interested in the role of the gut microbiome in disease (cancer cachexia, and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and in host behavior. 2) Using a model sediment ecosystem, my lab has characterized the bacterial community dynamics in response to environmental conditions and we are exploring the structure and diversity of the viral community. To better understand the relationship between the viral and bacterial members of the these communities we are developing techniques to improve culturability of bacteria and their viruses from the environment.
- BSc, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- PhD, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri
- Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Research Interests
Research in my lab focuses on two main areas. 1) The gut microbiome (the collection of microbes that reside in the gut) is known to impact, and be impacted by, the health of the host. The effects of microbial activity and host response to those microbes extends beyond the gut to the immune system and the nervous system. I am interested in the role of the gut microbiome in disease (cancer cachexia, and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and in host behavior. 2) Using a model sediment ecosystem, my lab has characterized the bacterial community dynamics in response to environmental conditions and we are exploring the structure and diversity of the viral community. To better understand the relationship between the viral and bacterial members of the these communities we are developing techniques to improve culturability of bacteria and their viruses from the environment.
Teaching Interests
- Biol 106: Introduction to Biological Process
- Biol 205:Microbiology
- Biol 172/STS 172: Microbial Wars
- Biol 388: Virology
- Biol/Psych 385: Mad Dogs, Vampires, and Zombie Ants
Departments and Programs
Courses
STS 303 Senior Thesis
Selected Publications
Esteban, D.J., Hysa, B.*, and Bartow-McKenney, C.* Temporal and spatial distribution of microbial communities in Winogradsky columns. (2015) PLoS ONE 10(8): e0134588. doi:10.1371/journal. pone.0134588
Esteban, D.J, and Holloway, K. S. Mad dogs, vampires, and zombie ants: A multidisciplinary approach to teaching neuroscience, behavior, and microbiology. (2015) Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience Education. 13(2):A81-A87.
Rundell, E.A*, Banta, L.M, Ward, D. V., Watts, C.D., Birren, B., Esteban, D.J. 16S rRNA gene survey of microbial communities in Winogradsky columns. (2014) PLoS ONE 9(8): e104134. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0104134
Esteban, D.J., Upton, C., Bartow-McKenney, C.*, Buller, R.M.L, Chen, N., Schriewer, J., Lefkowitz, E., and Wang, C. Expression of a non-coding RNA in ectromelia virus is required for normal plaque formation. (2014) Virus Genes, 48(1):38-47.
Banta, L.M., Crespi, E.J., Nehm, R.M, Schwarz, J.A., Singer, S., Manduca, C.A., Bush, E.C., Collins, E.L., Constance, C.A., Dean, D., Esteban, D.J., Fox, S., McDaris, J., Paul, C.A., Quinan, G., Raley-Susman, K.M., Smith, M.L, Wallace, C.S., Withers, G.S., and Caporale, L. Integrating genomics research throughout the undergraduate curriculum: A collection of inquiry-based genomics lab modules. (2012) CBE Life Sciences Education. 11, 203-208.
Esteban, D. J., Parker, S., Schriewer, J., Hartzier, H., and Buller, R.M.L. Mousepox, a small animal model of smallpox. (2012) In Isaacs, S.N. (ed) Vaccinia Virus and Poxvirology: Methods and Protocols, Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 890, p 177-198. Humana Press, NY.
Esteban, D. J., and Hutchinson, A.P.* Genes in the terminal regions of orthopoxvirus genomes experience adaptive molecular evolution. (2011) BMC Genomics, 12:261.
Grants, Fellowships, Honors, Awards
In the Media
Photos
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