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Vagal Sensory Neuron Subtypes that Differentially Control Breathing

Published in Cell, 2015

In this paper, we identified genetically defined vagal sensory neuron subtypes that innervate the lung and control breathing.

Recommended citation: R. B. Chang, D. E. Strochlic, E. K. Williams, B. D. Umans, and S. D. Liberles. (2015). "Vagal Sensory Neuron Subtypes that Differentially Control Breathing." Cell. 161(3) 622–633.
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Fatty acids linked to cardiovascular mortality are associated with risk factors

Published in International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 2015

In this paper, we used genetic data, measured blood analytes, and survey data to disentangle contributions to cardiovascular disease risk.

Recommended citation: S. O. E. Ebbesson, V. S. Voruganti, P. B. Higgins, R. R. Fabsitz, L. O. Ebbesson, S. Laston, W. S. Harris, J. Kennish, B. D. Umans, H. Wang, R. B. Devereux, P. M. Okin, N. J. Weissman, J. W. MacCluer, J. G. Umans, and B. V. Howard. (2015). “"Fatty acids linked to cardiovascular mortality are associated with risk factors." International Journal of Circumpolar Health 74(1).
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Sensory Neurons that Detect Stretch and Nutrients in the Digestive System

Published in Cell, 2016

In this paper, we identified genetically defined vagal sensory neuron subtypes that innervate the stomach and small intestine, respond to gastrointestinal chemical and mechanical stimuli, and evoke gastrointestinal motor control outputs.

Recommended citation: E. K. Williams, R. B. Chang, D. E. Strochlic, B. D. Umans, B. B. Lowell, and S. D. Liberles. (2016). "Sensory Neurons that Detect Stretch and Nutrients in the Digestive System." Cell. 166(1) 209-221.
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Predictive MRI correlates of lesser metatarsophalangeal joint plantar plate tear

Published in Skeletal Radiology, 2016

In this paper, we designed and executed a study to identify simple MRI features that would accurately predict plantar plate tear injuries and help prioritize patients that would benefit from targeted diagnostic follow-up.

Recommended citation: R. L. Umans, B. D. Umans, H. Umans, and E. Elsinger. (2016). "Predictive MRI correlates of lesser metatarsophalangeal joint plantar plate tear." Skeletal Radiology. 45(7) 969-975.
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A Transposon Screen Identifies Genetic Determinants of Vibrio cholerae Resistance to High-Molecular-Weight Antibiotics

Published in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 2016

In this paper, we implemented a Tn-seq screening strategy to identify proteins required for bacterial outer membrane function.

Recommended citation: T. Dörr, F. Delgado, B. D. Umans, M. A. Gerding, B. M. Davis, and M. K. Waldor. (2016). "A Transposon Screen Identifies Genetic Determinants of Vibrio cholerae Resistance to High-Molecular-Weight Antibiotics." Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 60(8) 4757-4763.
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Genetic Determinants of Penicillin Tolerance in Vibrio cholerae

Published in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 2016

In this paper, we continued our prior investigation of Vibrio cholerae outer membrane assembly and integrity by applying Tn-seq to a post-antibiotic recovery paradigm.

Recommended citation: A. I. Weaver, S. G. Murphy, B. D. Umans, S. Tallavajhala, I. Onyekwere, S. Wittels, J.-H. Shin, M. VanNieuwenhze, M. K. Waldor, and T. Dörr. (2016). "Genetic Determinants of Penicillin Tolerance in Vibrio cholerae." Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 62(10):e01326-18
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Regions of very low H3K27me3 partition the Drosophila genome into topological domains

Published in PLoS ONE, 2017

In this paper, we used chromatin conformation capture (Hi-C) to examine features of Drosophila genome organization.

Recommended citation: S. El-Sharnouby, B. Fischer, J. P. Magbanua, B. Umans, R. Flower, S. W. Choo, S. Russell, and R. White. (2017). "Regions of very low H3K27me3 partition the Drosophila genome into topological domains." PLoS ONE. 12(3) e0172725.
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Nociceptor sensory neurons suppress neutrophil and γδ T cell responses in bacterial lung infections and lethal pneumonia

Published in Nature Medicine, 2018

In this paper, we used a cell type-specific ablation strategy to demonstrate an essential role for subsets of vagal sensory neurons in the response to lung bacterial infection.

Recommended citation: P. Baral, B. D. Umans, L. Li, A. Wallrapp, M. Bist, T. Kirschbaum, Y. Wei, Y. Zhou, V. K. Kuchroo, P. R. Burkett, B. G. Yipp, S. D. Liberles, and I. M. Chiu. (2018). "Nociceptor sensory neurons suppress neutrophil and γδ T cell responses in bacterial lung infections and lethal pneumonia." Nature Medicine. 24(4) 417-426.
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Neural Sensing of Organ Volume

Published in Trends in Neurosciences, 2018

In this review, we discuss neural mechanisms of volume sensing across three organ systems.

Recommended citation: B. D. Umans and S. D. Liberles. (2018). "Neural Sensing of Organ Volume." Trends in Neurosciences. 41(12) 911-924.
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An Airway Protection Program Revealed by Sweeping Genetic Control of Vagal Afferents

Published in Cell, 2020

In this paper, we identified and characterized a defined subset of sensory neurons that detects chemical stimuli in the larynx to evoke protective reflexes.

Recommended citation: S. L. Prescott*, B. D. Umans*, E. K. Williams, R. D. Brust, and S. D. Liberles. (2020). "An Airway Protection Program Revealed by Sweeping Genetic Control of Vagal Afferents." Cell. 181(3) 574-589.e14.
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Where Are the Disease-Associated eQTLs?

Published in Trends in Genetics, 2021

In this review, we discuss current challenges and potential future strategies for identifying gene regulatory effects contributing to human complex traits.

Recommended citation: B. D. Umans, A. Battle, and Y. Gilad. (2021). "Where Are the Disease-Associated eQTLs?" Trends in Genetics. 37(2) 109-124.
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Vagal TRPV1+ sensory neurons regulate myeloid cell dynamics and protect against influenza virus infection

Published in bioRxiv, 2024

In this manuscript, we extended prior work investigating the roles of vagal TRPV1+ neurons in pulmonary infections, looking here at roles in organizing the immune response to influenza.

Recommended citation: Daping Yang, Nicole Almanzar, Jingya Xia, Swalpa Udit, Stephen T Yeung, Camille Khairallah, Daisy A Hoagland, Benjamin D Umans, Nicole Sarden, Ozge Erdogan, Nadia Baalbaki, Anna Beekmayer-Dhillon, Juhyun Lee, Kimberly A Meerschaert, Stephen D Liberles, Bryan G Yipp, Ruth A Franklin, Kamal M Khanna, Pankaj Baral, Adam L Haber, Isaac M Chiu. (2024). "Vagal TRPV1+ sensory neurons regulate myeloid cell dynamics and protect against influenza virus infection" bioRxiv. 2024.08.21.609013.
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Oxygen-induced stress reveals context-specific gene regulatory effects in human brain organoids

Published in bioRxiv, 2024

In this manuscript, we used brain organoids to investigate how different cell types and environmental contexts influence gene regulation.

Recommended citation: Benjamin D Umans and Yoav Gilad (2024). "Oxygen-induced stress reveals context-specific gene regulatory effects in human brain organoids" bioRxiv. 2024.09.03.611030.
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Mapping Chromatin Interactions in the Drosophila Genome

Published: June 25, 2013

Deciphering sensory signals of the vagus nerve

Published: February 28, 2018

Sensory neuron populations contributing to airway protection

Published: March 11, 2019

Genetic Variation Influencing Brain Oxygen Stress Responses Contributes to Disease Risk

Published: August 12, 2024

Teaching experience 1

Undergraduate course, University 1, Department, 2014

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Teaching experience 2

Workshop, University 1, Department, 2015

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