Publications
A complete list of Dr. Howell’s publications can be found via PubMed or Google Scholar.
20 most recent publications:
Biofilm exopolysaccharides alter sensory-neuron-mediated sickness during lung infection. Granton E, Brown L, Defaye M, Moazen P, Almblad H, Randall TE, Rich JD, Geppert A, Abdullah NS, Hassanabad MF, Hiroki CH, Farias R, Nguyen AP, Schubert C, Lou Y, Andonegui G, Iftinca M, Raju D, Vargas MA, Howell PL, Füzesi T, Bains J, Kurrasch D, Harrison JJ, Altier C, Yipp BG. Cell. 2024 Apr 11;187(8):1874-1888.e14.
Binding of GTP to BifA is required for the production of Pel-dependent biofilms in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Van Loon JC, Whitfield GB, Wong N, O’Neal L, Henrickson A, Demeler B, O’Toole GA, Parsek MR, Howell PL. J Bacteriol. 2024 Feb 22;206(2):e0033123.
Metabolic Usage and Glycan Destinations of GlcNAz in E. coli. Eddenden A, Dooda MK, Morrison ZA, Shankara Subramanian A, Howell PL, Troutman JM, Nitz M. ACS Chem Biol. 2024 Jan 19;19(1):69-80.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm exopolysaccharides: assembly, function, and degradation. Gheorghita AA, Wozniak DJ, Parsek MR, Howell PL. FEMS Microbiol Rev. 2023 Nov 1;47(6):fuad060.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa AlgF is a protein-protein interaction mediator required for acetylation of the alginate exopolysaccharide. Low KE, Gheorghita AA, Tammam SD, Whitfield GB, Li YE, Riley LM, Weadge JT, Caldwell SJ, Chong PA, Walvoort MTC, Kitova EN, Klassen JS, Codée JDC, Howell PL. J Biol Chem. 2023 Nov;299(11):105314.
Structure of the bc1–cbb3 respiratory supercomplex from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Di Trani JM, Gheorghita AA, Turner M, Brzezinski P, Ädelroth P, Vahidi S, Howell PL, Rubinstein JL. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2023 Oct 3;120(40):e2307093120.
The Metabolic Usage and Glycan Destinations of GlcNAz in E. coli. Eddenden A, Dooda MK, Morrison ZA, Subramanian AS, Howell PL, Troutman JM, Nitz M. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2023 Aug 17:2023.08.17.553294.
Distinct types of multicellular aggregates in Pseudomonas aeruginosa liquid cultures. Melaugh G, Martinez VA, Baker P, Hill PJ, Howell PL, Wozniak DJ, Allen RJ. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes. 2023 Jul 28;9(1):52.
Small Molecule Inhibition of an Exopolysaccharide Modification Enzyme is a Viable Strategy To Block Pseudomonas aeruginosa Pel Biofilm Formation. Razvi E, DiFrancesco BR, Wasney GA, Morrison ZA, Tam J, Auger A, Baker P, Alnabelseya N, Rich JD, Sivarajah P, Whitfield GB, Harrison JJ, Melnyk RA, Nitz M, Howell PL. Microbiol Spectr. 2023 Jun 15;11(3):e0029623.
Glycoside hydrolase processing of the Pel polysaccharide alters biofilm biomechanics and Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence. Razvi E, Whitfield GB, Reichhardt C, Dreifus JE, Willis AR, Gluscencova OB, Gloag ES, Awad TS, Rich JD, da Silva DP, Bond W, Le Mauff F, Sheppard DC, Hatton BD, Stoodley P, Reinke AW, Boulianne GL, Wozniak DJ, Harrison JJ, Parsek MR, Howell PL. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes. 2023 Feb 2;9(1):7.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa aggregation and Psl expression in sputum is associated with antibiotic eradication failure in children with cystic fibrosis. AJ, Yau YCW, Park S, Eisha S, McDonald N, Parsek MR, Howell PL, Hoffman LR, Nguyen D, DiGiandomenico A, Rooney AM, Coburn B, Grana-Miraglia L, Wang P, Guttman DS, Wozniak DJ, Waters VJ. Sci Rep. 2022 Dec 12;12(1):21444.
Structure of the AlgKX modification and secretion complex required for alginate production and biofilm attachment in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. AA, Li YE, Kitova EN, Bui DT, Pfoh R, Low KE, Whitfield GB, Walvoort MTC, Zhang Q, Codée JDC, Klassen JS, Howell PL. Nat Commun. 2022 Dec 9;13(1):7631.
The Sia System and c-di-GMP Play a Crucial Role in Controlling Cell-Association of Psl in Planktonic P. aeruginosa. JE, O’Neal L, Jacobs HM, Subramanian AS, Howell PL, Wozniak DJ, Parsek MR. J Bacteriol. 2022 Dec 20;204(12):e0033522.
Bps polysaccharide of Bordetella pertussis resists antimicrobial peptides by functioning as a dual surface shield and decoy and converts Escherichia coli into a respiratory pathogen. AR, Gutierrez-Ferman JL, Yount KS, Love CF, Choi HG, Vargas MA, Raju D, Corps KN, Howell PL, Dubey P, Deora R. PLoS Pathog. 2022 Aug 15;18(8):e1010764.
The TPR domain of PgaA is a multifunctional scaffold that binds PNAG and modulates PgaB-dependent polymer processing. R, Subramanian AS, Huang J, Little DJ, Forman A, DiFrancesco BR, Balouchestani-Asli N, Kitova EN, Klassen JS, Pomès R, Nitz M, Howell PL. PLoS Pathog. 2022 Aug 5;18(8):e1010750.
Preclinical Evaluation of Recombinant Microbial Glycoside Hydrolases as Antibiofilm Agents in Acute Pulmonary Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection. H, Raju D, Corsini R, Lehoux M, Lacdao I, Gilbert S, Sivarajah P, Bamford NC, Baker P, Gravelat FN, Howell PL, Sheppard DC. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2022 Aug 16;66(8):e0005222.
The Pel polysaccharide is predominantly composed of a dimeric repeat of α-1,4 linked galactosamine and N-acetylgalactosamine. Le Mauff F, Razvi E, Reichhardt C, Sivarajah P, Parsek MR, Howell PL, Sheppard DC. Commun Biol. 2022 May 26;5(1):502. doi: 10.1038/s42003-022-03453-2. Erratum in: Commun Biol. 2022 Jun 24;5(1):624.
Co-Operative Biofilm Interactions between Aspergillus fumigatus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa through Secreted Galactosaminogalactan Exopolysaccharide. H, Le Mauff F, Gravelat FN, Snarr BD, Bamford NC, Van Loon JC, McKay G, Nguyen D, Howell PL, Sheppard DC. J Fungi (Basel). 2022 Mar 24;8(4):336.
Termination of Poly-N-acetylglucosamine (PNAG) Polymerization with N-Acetylglucosamine Analogues. ZA, Eddenden A, Subramanian AS, Howell PL, Nitz M. ACS Chem Biol. 2022 Nov 18;17(11):3036-3046.
The Pseudomonas aeruginosa homeostasis enzyme AlgL clears the periplasmic space of accumulated alginate during polymer biosynthesis. Gheorghita AA, Wolfram F, Whitfield GB, Jacobs HM, Pfoh R, Wong SS, Guitor AK, Goodyear MC, Berezuk AM, Khursigara CM, Parsek MR, Howell PL. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2022 Jan 3:101560.
Preclinical Evaluation of Recombinant Microbial Glycoside Hydrolases in the Prevention of Experimental Invasive Aspergillosis. Ostapska H, Raju D, Lehoux M, Lacdao I, Gilbert S, Sivarajah P, Bamford NC, Baker P, Nguyen TTM, Zacharias CA, Gravelat FN, Howell PL, Sheppard DC. mBio. 2021 Oct 26;12(5):e0244621. doi: 10.1128/mBio.02446-21.
Media
Microbial Shape-Shifters. UofTMed magazine – Winter 2025
Erum Razvi’s Ph.D. Defense with ASL Interpretation. YouTube Link
Battling biofilm to prevent dangerous lung infections – Published in Canadian Light Source News (February 15, 2023)
GlycoNet Webinar: Expolysachharide Synthesis ft. Lynne Howell – featured on Canadian Glycomics Network (GlycoNet)’s media channel (June 3, 2020)
Unlocking the Door to Potential Therapeutic Treatments for Serious Complications from Infections – Published in SickKids Newsroom (December 3, 2019)
Unlocking the Door to Potential Therapeutic Treatments for Serious Complications from Infections – Published in Canadian Light Source News (December 3, 2019)
Why Sugars Matter in Fighting Disease – GlycoNet panel discussion, YouTube (November 1, 2018)
New Tools for Biofilm Disruption – featured on the University of Toronto website (June 8, 2018)
Percer les défenses microbiennes – featured on Québec Science – Les 10 découvertes de l’année 2017 (April 1, 2018)
Antimicrobials research – featured on Canadian Glycomics Network (GlycoNet) YouTube (September, 2017)
Scientists find new way to attack antibiotic-resistant lung infections – featured on CBC News (August, 2017)
Pilus Machine: Rotary Motor – featured in the PDB Molecule of the Month (July, 2017)
Canadian team helps find way to break through armour of dangerous biofilms – featured in CTV National News TV and online (June 24, 2017)
Biofilms—the eradication has begun: Canadian scientists take a step forward in the fight against microbial armour – featured in the Sickkids Daily News (June 21, 2017)
Howell lab deduces the mechanism of type IV pilus motors – featured on Biochemistry, University of Toronto webpage (May 5, 2017)
Using Structure to Better Understand Biofilm Formation: An Interview with Lindsey Marmont – featured on Transcripts blog (April 24, 2017)
GlycoNet researchers tackle bacterial biofilm development and pathogenesis – featured on GlycoNET (Canadian Glycomics) (March 29, 2017)
US DoD awards US$1.5M to GlycoNet antimicrobial research program – featured on GlycoNet (Canadian Glycomics) (November 23, 2016)
Disassembling bacteria’s protective walls – featured on GlycoNet (Canadian Glycomics)
Sticky Bacterial Biofilms Dissolve on Contact with Sugar-Cutting Enzymes – featured on Scientific American website (August 1, 2016)
Enzymes found that can tear down bacterial biofilm walls – featured on Phys.org (May 23, 2016)
Enzymes bust bacterial biofilms – featured in Nature Research Highlights (Nature, Issue 440, Volume 533, May 26, 2016)
Turning the enemy against itself: SickKids-led study identifies enzymes that remove bacteria’s protective wall and enable their destruction – featured in Sickkids Newsroom.
GlycoNet researchers discover enzymes that can aid pulmonary infections and chronic wounds – featured on GlycoNet (Canadian Glycomics).
Scientists find way to break through bad bacteria’s defenses – featured in Science News
Breaking down the protective armour of the mold Aspergillus fumigatus – featured on GlycoNet (Canadian Glycomics)
Canadian breakthrough against a deadly fungus – featured on Radio Canada International, collaborator Dr. Don Sheppard interviewed
Building a better vaccine – Canadian Light Source news
Cover of the Journal of Biological Chemistry (November 2015)