Charles Kaspar
Professor of Bacteriology
Evolution and transmission of enteric pathogens
(608) 263-6936
3554 Microbial Sciences Building

- 16 Methods for Detecting Microbial Pathogens in Food and Water April 15, 2024 Charles W Kaspar, Carmen Tartera Methods in microbiology
- A Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in lptG Increases Tolerance to Bile Salts, Acid, and Staining of Calcofluor-Binding Polysaccharides in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium E40 June 21, 2021 Taylor A Wahlig, Eliot Stanton, Jared J Godfrey, Andrew J Stasic, Amy C L Wong, Charles W Kaspar Frontiers in microbiology
- Chronological set of E. coli O157:H7 bovine strains establishes a role for repeat sequences and mobile genetic elements in genome diversification August 19, 2020 Eliot Stanton, Taylor A Wahlig, Dongjin Park, Charles W Kaspar BMC genomics
- Genome Sequences of 14 Escherichia coli O157:H7 Strains Isolated before and during the Time Frame of the 2018 Multistate Outbreak Associated with Romaine Lettuce July 18, 2020 Eliot Stanton, Sara Wagner, Kelsey R Florek, Charles W Kaspar Microbiology resource announcements
- Validation of Pepperoni Processes for Control of Escherichia coli O157:H7 ‡ June 15, 2019 Jay C Hinkens, Nancy G Faith, Timothy D Lorang, Phillip Bailey, Dennis Buege, Charles W Kaspar, John B Luchansky Journal of food protection
- Escherichia coli O157: H7 Acid Tolerance and Survival in Apple Cider May 25, 2019 Leslie Garland Miller, Charles W Kaspar Journal of food protection
- Cutting Boards of Plastic and Wood Contaminated Experimentally with Bacteria May 23, 2019 Nese O Ak, Dean O Cliver, Charles W Kaspar Journal of food protection
- Decontamination of Plastic and Wooden Cutting Boards for Kitchen Use May 23, 2019 Nese O Ak, Dean O Cliver, Charles W Kaspar Journal of food protection
- Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium ATCC 14028S is tolerant to plant defenses triggered by the flagellin receptor FLS2 January 3, 2019 Taylor A Wahlig, Brianna J Bixler, Oswaldo Valdés-López, Kirankumar S Mysore, Jiangqi Wen, Jean-Michel Ané, Charle W Kaspar FEMS microbiology letters
- Genome Sequence of the Extremely Acidophilic Fungus Acidomyces richmondensis FRIK2901 December 12, 2018 Matthew D Rosienski, Mi-Kyung Lee, Jae-Hyuk Yu, Charles W Kaspar, John G Gibbons Microbiology resource announcements
- Phosphate and carbohydrate facilitate the formation of filamentous Salmonella enterica during osmotic stress October 17, 2018 Joshua M Lensmire, Zachary L Pratt, Amy C L Wong, Charles W Kaspar Microbiology (Reading, England)
- Evaluating the efficacy of beef slaughter line interventions by quantifying the six major non-O157 Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli serogroups using real-time multiplex PCR January 2, 2017 Kaushi S T Kanankege, Kelly S Anklam, Catherine M Fick, Megan J Kulow, Charles W Kaspar, Barbara H Ingham, Andrew Milkowski, Dörte Döpfer Food microbiology
- Gene markers of generic Escherichia coli associated with colonization and persistence of Escherichia coli O157 in cattle August 13, 2014 Sonia A Gomez, Megan Kulow, Kelly S Anklam, Donjin Park, Charles W Kaspar, Renata Ivanek, Dörte Döpfer Preventive veterinary medicine
- RpoS impacts the lag phase of Salmonella enterica during osmotic stress July 3, 2014 Megan Shiroda, Zach L Pratt, Dorte Döpfer, Amy C L Wong, Charles W Kaspar FEMS microbiology letters
- Transmission of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in cattle is influenced by the level of environmental contamination April 16, 2014 R Gautam, M Kulow, D Park, T K Gonzales, J Dahm, M Shiroda, A J Stasic, D Döpfer, C W Kaspar, R Ivanek Epidemiology and infection
- Response of Medicago truncatula seedlings to colonization by Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli O157:H7 February 20, 2014 Dhileepkumar Jayaraman, Oswaldo Valdés-López, Charles W Kaspar, Jean-Michel Ané PloS one
- Phylogenetic characterization of Escherichia coli O157 : H7 based on IS629 distribution and Shiga toxin genotype January 16, 2014 Eliot Stanton, Dongjin Park, Dörte Döpfer, Renata Ivanek, Charles W Kaspar Microbiology (Reading, England)
- Evolution of the Stx2-encoding prophage in persistent bovine Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains January 1, 2013 Dongjin Park, Eliot Stanton, Kristin Ciezki, Daniel Parrell, Matthew Bozile, Daniel Pike, Steven A Forst, Kwang Cheol Jeong, Renata Ivanek, Dörte Döpfer, Charles W Kaspar Applied and environmental microbiology
- Prevalent and persistent Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains on farms are selected by bovine passage December 26, 2012 Kwang Cheol Jeong, Osamu Hiki, Min Young Kang, Dongjin Park, Charles W Kaspar Veterinary microbiology
- Growth and survival parameter estimates and relation to RpoS levels in serotype O157:H7 and non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli September 25, 2012 T D Mand, D Döpfer, B Ingham, C Ané, C W Kaspar Journal of applied microbiology
- Differences in colonization and shedding patterns after oral challenge of cattle with three Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains September 11, 2012 Megan J Kulow, Tina K Gonzales, Kelly M Pertzborn, James Dahm, Bret A Miller, Dongjin Park, Raju Gautam, Charles W Kaspar, Renata Ivanek, Dörte Döpfer Applied and environmental microbiology
- Osmotic and desiccation tolerance in Escherichia coli O157:H7 requires rpoS (σ(38)) August 28, 2012 Andrew J Stasic, Amy C Lee Wong, Charles W Kaspar Current microbiology
- Characterization of osmotically induced filaments of Salmonella enterica July 17, 2012 Zachary L Pratt, Bingming Chen, Charles J Czuprynski, Amy C L Wong, Charles W Kaspar Applied and environmental microbiology
- Validation of pepperoni process for control of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli May 9, 2012 Kathleen A Glass, Charles W Kaspar, Jeffrey J Sindelar, Andrew L Milkowski, Brian M Lotz, Jihun Kang, Nancy G Faith, Elena Enache, A I Kataoka, Craig Henry Journal of food protection
- Rapid and reliable detection of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli by real-time multiplex PCR April 11, 2012 Kelly S Anklam, Kaushi S T Kanankege, Tina K Gonzales, Charles W Kaspar, Dörte Döpfer Journal of food protection
- Survival and virulence of Salmonella enterica serovar enteritidis filaments induced by reduced water activity January 31, 2012 Robert R Stackhouse, Nancy G Faith, Charles W Kaspar, Charles J Czuprynski, Amy C Lee Wong Applied and environmental microbiology
- A high-throughput open-array qPCR gene panel to identify, virulotype, and subtype O157 and non-O157 enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli September 20, 2011 Tina K Gonzales, Megan Kulow, Dong-Jin Park, Charles W Kaspar, Kelly S Anklam, Kelly M Pertzborn, Kristen D Kerrish, Renata Ivanek, Dörte Döpfer Molecular and cellular probes
- Effectiveness of environmental decontamination as an infection control measure June 17, 2011 M Bani-Yaghoub, R Gautam, D Döpfer, C W Kaspar, R Ivanek Epidemiology and infection
- Reduction of Escherichia coli O157:H7 shedding in cattle by addition of chitosan microparticles to feed February 22, 2011 Kwang Cheol Jeong, Min Young Kang, Jihun Kang, David J Baumler, Charles W Kaspar Applied and environmental microbiology
- Molybdate treatment and sulfate starvation decrease ATP and DNA levels in Ferroplasma acidarmanu December 5, 2008 David J Baumler, Kai-Foong Hung, Kwang Cheol Jeong, Charles W Kaspar Archaea (Vancouver, B.C.)
- Acid stress damage of DNA is prevented by Dps binding in Escherichia coli O157:H7 October 17, 2008 Kwang Cheol Jeong, Kai Foong Hung, David J Baumler, Jeffrey J Byrd, Charles W Kaspar BMC microbiology
- Production of methanethiol and volatile sulfur compounds by the archaeon "Ferroplasma acidarmanus" October 5, 2007 David J Baumler, Kai-Foong Hung, Kwang Cheol Jeong, Charles W Kaspar Extremophiles : life under extreme conditions
- Isolation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from the gall bladder of inoculated and naturally-infected cattle September 29, 2006 K C Jeong, M Y Kang, C Heimke, J A Shere, I Erol, C W Kaspar Veterinary microbiology
- H-NS controls metabolism and stress tolerance in Escherichia coli O157:H7 that influence mouse passage August 17, 2006 Irfan Erol, Kwang-Cheol Jeong, David J Baumler, Boris Vykhodets, Sang Ho Choi, Charles W Kaspar BMC microbiology
- Enhancement of acid tolerance in Zymomonas mobilis by a proton-buffering peptide August 8, 2006 David J Baumler, Kai F Hung, Jeffrey L Bose, Boris M Vykhodets, Chorng M Cheng, Kwang-Cheol Jeong, Charles W Kaspar Applied biochemistry and biotechnology
- Reduction of acid tolerance by tetracycline in Escherichia coli expressing tetA(C) is reversed by cations June 6, 2006 Kai F Hung, Jeffrey J Byrd, Jeffrey L Bose, Charles W Kaspar Applied and environmental microbiology
- dps expression in Escherichia coli O157:H7 requires an extended -10 region and is affected by the cAMP receptor protein April 1, 2006 Kwang-Cheol Jeong, David J Baumler, Charles W Kaspar Biochimica et biophysica acta
- Sulfate requirement for heterotrophic growth of "Ferroplasma acidarmanus" strain fer1 May 3, 2005 David J Baumler, Kwang-Cheol Jeong, Brian G Fox, Jillian F Banfield, Charles W Kaspar Research in microbiology
- Temperature-dependent genome degradation in the coccoid form of Campylobacter jejuni March 3, 2005 Judith F Hudock, Adam C Borger, Charles W Kaspar Current microbiology
- Tetraether-linked membrane monolayers in Ferroplasma spp: a key to survival in acid July 20, 2004 Jennifer L Macalady, Martha M Vestling, David Baumler, Nick Boekelheide, Charles W Kaspar, Jillian F Banfield Extremophiles : life under extreme conditions
- Characterization of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from downer and healthy dairy cattle in the upper Midwest region of the United States August 7, 2003 C M Byrne, I Erol, J E Call, C W Kaspar, D R Buege, C J Hiemke, P J Fedorka-Cray, A K Benson, F M Wallace, J B Luchansky Applied and environmental microbiology
- Shedding of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in dairy cattle housed in a confined environment following waterborne inoculation March 28, 2002 J A Shere, C W Kaspar, K J Bartlett, S E Linden, B Norell, S Francey, D M Schaefer Applied and environmental microbiology
- Effectiveness of spraying with tween 20 and lactic acid in decontaminating inoculated Escherichia coli O157:H7 and indigenous Escherichia coli biotype I on beef January 26, 2002 Mehmet Calicioglu, Charles W Kaspar, Dennis R Buege, John B Luchansky Journal of food protection
- Contribution of dps to acid stress tolerance and oxidative stress tolerance in Escherichia coli O157:H7 August 31, 2000 S H Choi, D J Baumler, C W Kaspar Applied and environmental microbiology
- Role of rpoS in acid resistance and fecal shedding of Escherichia coli O157:H7 February 2, 2000 S B Price, C M Cheng, C W Kaspar, J C Wright, F J DeGraves, T A Penfound, M P Castanie-Cornet, J W Foster Applied and environmental microbiology
- Survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in ground-beef patties during storage at 2, -2, 15 and then -2 degrees C, and -20 degrees C November 26, 1999 S E Ansay, K A Darling, C W Kaspar Journal of food protection
- Lethality of a heat- and phosphate-catalyzed glucose by-product to Escherichia coli O157:H7 and partial protection conferred by the rpoS regulon May 29, 1999 J J Byrd, A M Cheville, J L Bose, C W Kaspar Applied and environmental microbiology
- Comparative survival of Salmonella typhimurium DT 104, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli O157:H7 in preservative-free apple cider and simulated gastric fluid April 1, 1999 A M Roering, J B Luchansky, A M Ihnot, S E Ansay, C W Kaspar, S C Ingham International journal of food microbiology
- Viability of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in salami following conditioning of batter, fermentation and drying of sticks, and storage of slices August 26, 1998 N G Faith, N Parniere, T Larson, T D Lorang, C W Kaspar, J B Luchansky Journal of food protection
- Survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in full- and reduced-fat pepperoni after manufacture of sticks, storage of slices at 4 degrees C or 21 degrees C under air and vacuum, and baking of slices on frozen pizza at 135, 191 and 246 degrees C August 26, 1998 N G Faith, R K Wierzba, A M Ihnot, A M Roering, T D Lorang, C W Kaspar, J B Luchansky Journal of food protection
- Longitudinal study of Escherichia coli O157:H7 dissemination on four dairy farms in Wisconsin April 18, 1998 J A Shere, K J Bartlett, C W Kaspar Applied and environmental microbiology
- Genomic comparisons and Shiga toxin production among Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolates from a day care center outbreak and sporadic cases in southeastern Wisconsin March 21, 1998 S Gouveia, M E Proctor, M S Lee, J B Luchansky, C W Kaspar Journal of clinical microbiology
- Survey of retail cheeses, dairy processing environments and raw milk for Escherichia coli O157:H7 August 1, 1997 S E Ansay, C W Kaspar Letters in applied microbiology
- Association of multiple-antibiotic-resistance profiles with point and nonpoint sources of Escherichia coli in Apalachicola Bay July 1, 1997 S Parveen, R L Murphree, L Edmiston, C W Kaspar, K M Portier, M L Tamplin Applied and environmental microbiology
- Genomic analyses of Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4 strains from Austria and phage type 8 strains from the United States February 1, 1997 C Buchrieser, R Brosch, O Buchrieser, A Kristl, J B Luchansky, C W Kaspar Zentralblatt fur Bakteriologie : international journal of medical microbiology
- Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and ribotype profiles of clinical and environmental Vibrio vulnificus isolates October 1, 1996 M L Tamplin, J K Jackson, C Buchrieser, R L Murphree, K M Portier, V Gangar, L G Miller, C W Kaspar Applied and environmental microbiology
- Prevalence and clonal nature of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on dairy farms in Wisconsin May 1, 1996 N G Faith, J A Shere, R Brosch, K W Arnold, S E Ansay, M S Lee, J B Luchansky, C W Kaspar Applied and environmental microbiology
- rpoS regulation of acid, heat, and salt tolerance in Escherichia coli O157:H7 May 1, 1996 A M Cheville, K W Arnold, C Buchrieser, C M Cheng, C W Kaspar Applied and environmental microbiology
- Genomic analysis using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of Escherichia coli O157: H7 isolated from dairy calves during the United State National Dairy Heifer Evaluation Project (1992-1992) February 1, 1996 M S Lee, C W Kaspar, R Brosch, J Shere, J B Luchansky Veterinary microbiology
- Use of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis to link sporadic cases of invasive listeriosis with recalled chocolate milk August 1, 1995 M E Proctor, R Brosch, J W Mellen, L A Garrett, C W Kaspar, J B Luchansky Applied and environmental microbiology
- Starvation- and stationary-phase-induced acid tolerance in Escherichia coli O157:H7 May 1, 1995 K W Arnold, C W Kaspar Applied and environmental microbiology
- Multiple Vibrio vulnificus strains in oysters as demonstrated by clamped homogeneous electric field gel electrophoresis March 1, 1995 C Buchrieser, V V Gangar, R L Murphree, M L Tamplin, C W Kaspar Applied and environmental microbiology
- Molecular characterization of Yersinia enterocolitica by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and hybridization of DNA fragments to ail and pYV probes December 1, 1994 C Buchrieser, S D Weagant, C W Kaspar Applied and environmental microbiology
- Clamped homogenous electric fields (CHEF) gel-electrophoresis of DNA restriction fragments for comparing genomic variations among strains of yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia spp November 1, 1994 C Buchrieser, O Buchrieser, A Kristl, C W Kaspar Zentralblatt fur Bakteriologie : international journal of medical microbiology
- Evaluation of lactic acid bacterium fermentation products and food-grade chemicals to control Listeria monocytogenes in blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) meat September 1, 1994 A J Degnan, C W Kaspar, W S Otwell, M L Tamplin, J B Luchansky Applied and environmental microbiology
- An improved direct viable count for the enumeration of bacteria in milk December 1, 1993 C Buchrieser, C W Kaspar International journal of food microbiology
- Comparison and genomic sizing of Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolates by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis September 1, 1993 K D Harsono, C W Kaspar, J B Luchansky Applied and environmental microbiology
- Effects of temperature and salinity on the survival of Vibrio vulnificus in seawater and shellfish August 1, 1993 C W Kaspar, M L Tamplin Applied and environmental microbiology
- Enzyme immunoassay for identification of Vibrio vulnificus in seawater, sediment, and oysters April 1, 1991 M L Tamplin, A L Martin, A D Ruple, D W Cook, C W Kaspar Applied and environmental microbiology
- Antibiotic resistance indexing of Escherichia coli to identify sources of fecal contamination in water December 1, 1990 C W Kaspar, J L Burgess, I T Knight, R R Colwell Canadian journal of microbiology
- Direct detection of Salmonella spp. in estuaries by using a DNA probe April 1, 1990 I T Knight, S Shults, C W Kaspar, R R Colwell Applied and environmental microbiology
- Enzyme-capture assay for rapid detection of Escherichia coli in oysters January 1, 1989 S M Holt, P A Hartman, C W Kaspar Applied and environmental microbiology
- Production and specificity of monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal antibodies to Escherichia coli October 1, 1987 C W Kaspar, P A Hartman The Journal of applied bacteriology
- Coagglutination and enzyme capture tests for detection of Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase, beta-glucuronidase, and glutamate decarboxylase May 1, 1987 C W Kaspar, P A Hartman, A K Benson Applied and environmental microbiology
Our research is primarily focused on the transmission and evolution of two zoonotic pathogens, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) and Salmonella. These pathogens reside in the intestinal tracts of animal hosts where they encounter diverse microbial communities, fluctuating nutrient levels, and myriad host factors. Transmission between hosts requires these pathogens to survive varied environmental conditions. The general stress protection system, regulated by the alternative sigma factor σs, is known to play a central role in environmental persistence and transmission. Acid and desiccation tolerance are two transmission-associated phenotypes that are dependent upon σs –regulated genes. We are also investigating the role of prophage in fitness. EHEC harbor multiple lambda-like prophage and cryptic phage remnants in their genome that facilitate genomic rearrangements, gene duplications, and deletions by homologous recombination. We are investigating how these phage-mediated genomic rearrangements influence the persistence of EHEC in its bovine host and the environment. The goals of our research are to use results from these fundamental studies in the development of strategies to reduce pathogen transmission.
Microbiology 325: Food Microbiology