Academic Degrees and Training

• N. I. H. Postdoctoral Fellowship, Washington University in St. Louis, 1987-1990
• Ph. D. in Microbiology, University of Kansas (1987)
• B. A. in Biology, Boston University (1982)

Teaching Experience

University of Kansas

• Introductory Microbiology Laboratory
• Microbial Genetics Laboratory
• Immunology Laboratory

Washington University in St. Louis

• Laboratory on DNA Manipulation

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

• Pathogenic Bacteriology
• Pathogenic Bacteriology Laboratory
• Mechanisms of Bacterial Pathogenesis
• Bacteriology
• Bacteriology Laboratory
• Bacterial Genetics
• Senior Seminar
• Graduate Seminar
• Microbiology and Immunology
• Microbiology

Staphylococcus aureus and Osteomyelitis

The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus is the most common organism associated with human osteomyelitis (infection of bone). The current focus of the laboratory is to examine the interaction between the bacterium and cultured normal mouse and human osteoblasts (cells involved in bone formation). We have demonstrated that osteoblasts actively internalize S. aureus strains both in tissue culture and in vivo, and that the bacteria remain viable in the intracellular environment. The osteoblast/bacterial association could be relevant to quiescent osteomyelitis, which is a form of the disease which recurs following apparently successful completion of antibiotic therapy.

Current work in the laboratory includes examination of S. aureus-induced cytokine expression and secretion, the use of modified S. aureus as a novel coating for bone-associated biomaterials, examination of the role of NO in the pathology of osteomyelitis, examination of the role of steroid hormones in susceptibility to S. aureus infections, and development of a novel nanoparticle-based antibiotic-delivery system to treat patients suffering from soft tissue and bone infections.

Selected Publications

• Somayaji, S. N., S. Ritchie, I. Marriott, and M. C. Hudson. 2008. Staphylococcus aureus Induces RANK-L and Prostaglandin E₂ Expression in Infected Murine Osteoblasts. Infect. Immun. (submitted).

• Reott, M. A. Jr, S. L. Ritchie-Miller, J. Anguita, and M. C. Hudson. 2008 (On-Line 12/07). TRAIL Expression is Induced in Both Osteoblasts Containing Intracellular Staphylococcus aureus and Uninfected Osteoblasts in Infected Cultures. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 278: 185-192.

• Rabinovich, M. M., S. N Somayaji, R. R. Pillai, M. C. Hudson, K. Ellington, M. Bosse, J. Horton, and K. E. Gonsalves. 2008. Active Polymer Nanoparticles: Delivery of Antibiotics. Proceedings of the Materials Research Society (in press).

• Pillai, Rajeev Raghavan, Shankari N. Somayaji, Monica Rabinovich, Michael C. Hudson, and Kenneth E. Gonsalves. 2008. Nafcillin Loaded PLGA Nanoparticles for Treatment of Osteomyelitis. J. Biomed. Mater. Res. (in press).

• Ellington, J. K., M. Harris, M. C. Hudson, S. Vishin, L. X. Webb, and R. Sherertz. 2006. Intracellular Staphylococcus aureus and Antibiotic Resistance: Implications for Treatment of Staphylococcal Osteomyelitis. J. Orthop. Res. 24: 87-93.

• Marriott, I., D. L. Gray, D. M. Rati, V. G. Fowler, Jr., M. E. Stryjewski, L. S. Levin, M. C. Hudson, and K. L. Bost. 2005. Osteoblasts Produce Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 in a Murine Model of Staphylococcus aureus Osteomyelitis and Infected Human Bone Tissue. Bone 37: 504-512.

• Marriott, I., D. L. Gray, S. L. Tranguch, V. G. Fowler, Jr., M Stryjewski, L. S. Levin, M. C. Hudson, and K. L. Bost. 2004. Osteoblasts Express the Inflammatory Cytokine Interleukin-6 in a Murine Model of Staphylococcus aureus Osteomyelitis and Infected Human Bone Tissue. Amer. J. Pathol. 164: 1399-1406.

• He, W., K. E. Gonsalves, N. Batina, D. B. Poker, E. Alexander, and M. Hudson. 2003. Micro/Nanomachining of of Polymer Surface for Promoting Osteoblast Cell Adhesion. Biomed. Microdevices 5: 101-108.

• Alexander, E. H., F. A. Rivera, I. Marriott, J. Anguita, K. L. Bost, and M. C. Hudson. 2003. Staphylococcus aureus-Induced Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand Expression Mediates Apoptosis and Caspase-8 Activation in Infected Osteoblasts. BMC Microbiol. 3: 5-15.

• Ellington, J. K., M. Harris, L. Webb, B. Smith, T. Smith, K. Tan, and M. Hudson. 2003. Intracellular Staphylococcus aureus. A Mechanism for the Indolence of Osteomyelitis. J. Bone Joint Surg. Br. 85: 918-921.
• Schrum, L. W., K. L. Bost, M. C. Hudson, and I. Marriott. 2003. Bacterial Infection Induces Expression of Functional MHC Class II Molecules in Murine and Human Osteoblasts. Bone 33: 812-821.
• Schrum, L. W., I. Marriott, B. R. Butler, E. K. Thomas, M. C. Hudson, and K. L. Bost. 2003. Functional CD40 Expression Induced Following Bacterial Infection of Mouse and Human Osteoblasts. Infect. Immun. 71: 1209-1216.
• Alexander, E. H., and M. C. Hudson. 2001. Factors Influencing the Internalization of Staphylococcus aureus and Impacts on the Course of Infections in Humans. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 56: 361-366.
• Bost, K. L., J. L. Bento, C. C. Petty, L. W. Schrum, M. C. Hudson, and I. Marriott. 2001. Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 Expression by Osteoblasts following Infection with Staphylococcus aureus or Salmonella. J. Interferon Cytokine Res. 21: 297-304.
• Alexander, E. H., J. L. Bento, F. M. Hughes, Jr., I. Marriott, M. C. Hudson, and K. L. Bost. 2001. Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enterica Serovar Dublin Induce Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand Expression by Normal Mouse and Human Osteoblasts. Infect. Immun. 69: 1581-1586.
• Ellington, J. K., A. Elhofy, K. L. Bost, and M. C. Hudson. 2001. Involvement of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathways in Staphylococcus aureus Invasion of Normal Osteoblasts. Infect. Immun. 69: 5235-5242.
• Bost, K. L., J. L. Bento, J. K. Ellington, I. Marriott, and M. C. Hudson. 2000. Induction of Colony-Stimulating Factor Expression following Staphylococcus or Salmonella Interaction with Mouse or Human Osteoblasts. Infect. Immun. 68: 5075-5083.
• Tucker, K. A., S. S. Reilly, C. S. Leslie, and M. C. Hudson. 2000. Intracellular Staphylococcus aureus Induces Apoptosis in Mouse Osteoblasts. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 186: 151-156.
• Jeray, K. J., D. M. Banks, L. S. Phieffer, E. S. Middlebrooks, K. P. Frankenburg, M. C. Hudson, J. F. Kellam, and M. J. Bosse. 2000. Evaluation of Standard Surgical Preparation Performed on Superficial Dermal Abrasions. J. Orthop. Trauma 14: 206-211.
• Reilly, S. S., M. C. Hudson, J. F. Kellam, and W. K. Ramp. 2000. In Vivo Internalization of Staphylococcus aureus by Embryonic Chick Osteoblasts. Bone 26: 63-70.
• Bost, K. L., W. K. Ramp, N. C. Nicholson, J. L. Bento, I. Marriott, and M. C. Hudson. 1999. Staphylococcus aureus Infection of Mouse or Human Osteoblasts Induces High Levels of IL-6 and IL-12 Production. J. Infect. Dis. 180: 1912-1920.
• Hudson, M. C., W. K. Ramp, and K. P. Frankenburg. 1999. Staphylococcus aureus Adhesion to Bone Matrix and Bone-Associated Biomaterials. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 173: 279-284.
• Ellington, J. K., S. S. Reilly, W. K. Ramp, M. S. Smeltzer, J. F. Kellam, and M. C. Hudson. 1999. Mechanisms of Staphylococcus aureus Invasion of Cultured Osteoblasts. Microb. Pathog. 26: 317-323.
• Spatafora, G. A., M. Sheets, R. June, D. Luyimbazi, K. Howard, R. Hulbert, M. El Janne, and M. C. Hudson. 1999. Regulated Expression of the Streptococcus mutans dlt Genes Correlates with Intracellular Polysaccharide Accumulation. J. Bacteriol. 181: 2363-2372.
• Grey, W. T., J. D. Lasker, R. Curtiss III, and M. C. Hudson. 1998. Examination of Streptococcal Gene Expression in the Mammalian Environment. Meth. Cell Sci. 20: 137-142.
• Tabor, O. B. Jr., M. J. Bosse, M. C. Hudson, K. G. Greene, M. T. Nousiainen, R. A. Meyer Jr., S. H. Sims, and J. F. Kellam. 1998. Does Bacteremia Occur During High Pressure Lavage of Contaminated Wounds? Clin. Orthop. 347: 117-121.
• Murakami, T., H. Murakami, W. K. Ramp, M. C. Hudson, and M. T. Nousiainen. 1997. Calcium Hydroxide Ameliorates Tobramycin Toxicity in Cultured Chick Tibiae. Bone 21: 411-418.
• Grey, W. T., R. Curtiss III, and M. C. Hudson. 1997. Expression of the Streptococcus mutans Fructosyltransferase Gene Within a Mammalian Host. Infect. Immun. 65: 2488-2490.
• Hoelscher, G. L., and M. C. Hudson. 1996. Characterization of an Unusual Fluoride-Resistant Streptococcus mutans Isolate. Curr. Microbiol. 32: 156-161.
• Hudson, M. C., W. K. Ramp, N. C. Nicholson, A. S. Williams, and M. T. Nousiainen. 1995. Internalization of Staphylococcus aureus by Cultured Osteoblasts. Microb. Pathog. 19: 409-419.
• McDougald, D., L. M. Simpson, J. D. Oliver, and M. C. Hudson. 1994. Transformation of Vibrio vulnificus by Electroporation. Curr. Microbiol. 28: 289-291.
• Hudson, M. C., and T. L. Reynolds. 1993. A Semi-Dry Capillary Blotting Procedure for Efficient and Quantitative Transfer of Nucleic Acids to Solid Supports. BioTechniques 14: 382-385.
• Wexler, D. L., M. C. Hudson, and R. A. Burne. 1993. Streptococcus mutans Fructosyltransferase (ftf) and Glucosyltransferase (gtfB/C) Operon Fusion Strains in Continuous Culture. Infect. Immun. 61: 1259-1267.
• Brauns, L. A., M. C. Hudson, and J. D. Oliver. 1991. Use of the Polymerase Chain Reaction in Detection of Culturable and Nonculturable Vibrio vulnificus cells. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 57: 2651-2655.
• Hudson, M. C., and R. Curtiss III. 1991. Use of Operon Fusions to Study Gene Expression in Streptococcus mutans. In: G. Dunny, P. Cleary, and L. McKay (eds.), Genetics and Molecular Biology of Streptococci, Lactococci, and Enterococci, p. 261-266, American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C.
• Hudson, M. C., and R. Curtiss III. 1990. Regulation of Expression of Streptococcus mutans Genes Important to Virulence. Infect. Immun. 58: 464-470.
• Hudson, M. C., and G. C. Stewart. 1986. Differential Utilization of Staphylococcus aureus Promoter Sequences by Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. Gene 48: 93-100.

Theses Directed

• Samantha Ritchie-Miller (Master of Science), 2007. Staphylococcus aureus Induces RANK-L and Prostaglandin E2 Expression during Osteoblast Infection
• Michael A. Reott Jr. (Master of Science), 2004. Staphylococcus aureus Induces TRAIL Expression in Both Osteoblasts Containing Intracellular S. aureus and Uninfected Osteoblasts
• Samantha L. Ritchie (Honors), 2003. TRAIL Receptor Expression in Staphylococcus aureus-Infected Human Bone
• Andy Phung (Honors), 2003. Cytokine Expression in Staphylococcus aureus-Infected Human Bone
• Emily H. Alexander (Doctor of Philosophy), 2002. Staphylococcus aureus Induces Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand Expression by Normal Mouse and Human Osteoblasts
• Andrea Rivera (Honors), 2002. Activation of Caspase-8 by Staphylococcus aureus-Infected Osteoblasts
• Sonia Vishin (Honors), 2001. Development of Antibiotic Resistance by Intracellular Staphylococcus aureus 
• J. Kent Ellington (Master of Science), 2000. Mechanisms of Staphylococcus aureus Invasion of Cultured Normal Mouse and Human Osteoblasts
• Jennifer L. Bento (Master of Science), 1999. The Role of Fibronectin Binding by Staphylococcus aureus in Internalization by Osteoblasts
• Christopher S. Leslie (Master of Science), 1999. Staphylococcus aureus Genes Induced During Osteoblast Invasion
• Karen A. Tucker (Honors), 1999. Intracellular Staphylococcus aureus Induces Apoptosis in Osteoblasts
• Kelly P. Frankenburg (Master of Science), 1998. Influence of Surface Structures and Exoproteins of Staphylococcus aureus on Association with Cultured Osteoblasts.
• J. Kent Ellington (Honors), 1998. Inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus Invasion of Cultured Osteoblasts.
• Eric E. Pullen (Honors), 1998. Glycocalyx Expression by Internalized Staphylococcus aureus Cells.
• Stephen B. King (Master of Science), 1997. Characterization of Two Plasmids from a Staphylococcus aureus Clinical Isolate Resistant to Multiple Antibiotics.
• Christopher S. Leslie (Honors), 1997. Stress Response and Cross Protection in Staphylococcus aureus.
• W. Todd Grey (Master of Science), 1996. Development of a Novel In Vivo System Measuring Streptococcus mutans Gene Expression within a Mammalian Host.
• Markku T. Nousiainen (Master of Science), 1995. Internalization of Staphylococcus aureus by Cultured Osteoblasts.
• Gretchen L. Clary (Master of Science), 1995. Characterization of an Unusual Fluoride-Resistant Streptococcus mutans Isolate.
• Christopher C. Boyles (Master of Science), 1994. Creation of a Tn916 Mutagenesis System for Clostridium perfringens.
• Mariam El Janne (Master of Science), 1993. Construction and Utilization of an Integration Vector to Characterize Promoters from Clostridium perfringens.
• Robert W. Lanning (Master of Science), 1993. Construction of an Integration Vector for Studies of Regulation of Gene Expression in Gram-Positive Bacteria.
• Kathy M. Monroe (Master of Science), 1992. Regulation of Expression of the Fructosyltransferase Gene of Streptococcus mutans.
• Alejandro Abuin (Honors), 1992. Evidence for the Existence of a Restriction-Modification System in Clostridium perfringens 3624A.
• Janice M. High (Honors), 1991. The Isolation and Characterization of a Fluoride-Resistant Mutant of Streptococcus mutans UAB576 (A Clinical Isolate).