Steven Fiester, Research Professor of Chemistry

Steven Fiester

Research Professor

Curriculum Vitae Website
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Steve Fiester joined the Department of Chemistry at Furman University in 2022. He additionally maintains appointments with the Department of Biological Sciences at Florida Gulf Coast University, the Florida State University College of Medicine Family and Internal Medicine Residency Programs at Lee Health, the School of Health Science Research at Clemson University and the Department of Pathology at Prisma Health. Prior to joining Furman, he served as an Associate Professor at the University of South Carolina, was a visiting faculty member at Miami University and coordinated the Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) training facility at Kent State University. Dr. Fiester is an internationally recognized microbiologist whose research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis and the development of new therapeutic strategies against multidrug-resistant pathogens. His work has been supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy, the Infectious Diseases Society of America and other organizations.

An active leader in the microbiology community, Dr. Fiester currently serves as Chair of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Branch Organization Subcommittee and as a member of both the ASM Membership Committee and ASM Branch Advisory Council. He has previously held leadership roles with the Florida, South Carolina, Connecticut Valley and Central New York ASM Branches, served as ASM Region I Planning Coordinator and was selected as an ASM Young Ambassador of Science. In recognition of his contributions to the profession, he received the ASM Peggy Cotter Award in 2020.

Dr. Fiester also contributes extensively to peer review. He has editorial responsibilities for Frontiers in Bacteriology, the Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education and Microorganisms while also regularly reviewing manuscripts for leading journals including Scientific Reports, Frontiers in Microbiology, PLoS ONE, BMC Microbiology, Microbial Pathogenesis and Future Microbiology. In addition, he has served as a grant reviewer for the National Science Foundation, the American Society for Microbiology, the Polish National Science Centre and the United Kingdom Research and Innovation Funding Service.

Education

  • Ph.D., Kent State University
  • B.S. Kent State University

Research Interests

Dr. Fiester's research investigates the molecular basis of virulence in multidrug-resistant ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter species), with a particular emphasis on Acinetobacter baumannii. This opportunistic Gram-negative pathogen is a major cause of hospital-acquired infections, including pneumonia, bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections, meningitis, wound infections and necrotizing fasciitis. The emergence of multidrug-resistant strains has made A. baumannii one of the most significant bacterial threats to public health, prompting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to classify it as an urgent antimicrobial resistance concern.

Although considerable attention has been devoted to understanding antibiotic resistance in A. baumannii, comparatively little is known about the molecular mechanisms that enable this organism to cause disease. Dr. Fiester's laboratory seeks to bridge this knowledge gap by defining the virulence pathways that contribute to infection and identifying novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of drug-resistant bacterial disease. Current research projects examine the mechanisms underlying bacterial cytotoxicity, iron acquisition within the host, outer membrane protein localization, secretion of virulence factors, stress response pathways and host-pathogen interactions. His laboratory has also challenged the long-standing view that A. baumannii is non-hemolytic, demonstrating that hemolytic activity represents a previously underappreciated determinant of bacterial virulence.

In addition to advancing our understanding of bacterial pathogenesis, Dr. Fiester's research provides undergraduate students with opportunities to participate in hypothesis-driven research using molecular biology, microbiology, cell biology and biochemical approaches. Students in the laboratory gain experience with modern experimental techniques while contributing to clinically-relevant projects with direct relevance to antimicrobial resistance and infectious disease.

Representative Publications

  • C Hathaway, SGM Eskander, JC Noyes, JW Fulcher, CMG Schammel and SE Fiester (2026). Aspergillus otitis externa with persistent tympanic membrane perforation in a young immunocompetent patient. Access Microbiology, 8(4) 001083-v5.
  • EK Goncalves, LA Ramos, A Seibert, LM Ribeiro, SL McDuffie, MC Murray and SE Fiester (2026). Acinetobacter baumannii: challenges presented by a drug-resistant pathogen. Frontiers in Bacteriology, 4 1-7.
  • E Wheibe, K Connolly, ME Ward, CMG Schammel, JT Grier and SE Fiester (2025). First responders and mental health intersection: what a case of suicide could teach us. International Paramedic Practice, 15(3) 81-87.
  • AT Sadek, Y Verma, A Shidhaye, N Bhatnagar, HC Meltzer, E Wheibe, K Connolly, C Lui, C Gutiérrez, B Arivett, R Relich, L Actis, S Fiester, MS Ramirez and J Grier (2025). Macrophage cellular and transcriptional responses to infection with necrotizing fasciitis-causing multidrug resistant isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii. The Journal of Immunology, 214(Supplement 1) 828-829.
  • EK Goncalves, WF Penwell, SE Fiester (2025). Combating the growing threat of Acinetobacter baumannii resistance. Antibiotics, 14(7), 694.
  • LE Jensen, MC Murray, E Wheibe, K Connolly, ME Ward, CMG Schammel, JT Grier and SE Fiester (2025). First responders and patients with suicidal ideation. Journal of Paramedic Practice, 17(7) 1-8.
  • E Wheibe, K Connolly, ME Ward, CMG Schammel, JT Grier and SE Fiester (2024). First responders and mental health intersection: what a case of suicide could teach us. Journal of Paramedic Practice, 17(4) 144-150.
  • M Ryan, M Stroud, Z Buchanan, A Rojas, MP Knapp, A Okinaga, T Connell, S Fiester, S Arce, JT Grier (2023). The immunomodulatory effects of E. coli heat-labile enterotoxins on the respiratory immune response. The Journal of Immunology, 210(Supplement 1) 156.
  • E Wheibe, K Connolly, RF Relich, SE Fiester and JT Grier (2022). Investigation of drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii virulence factors implicated in intracellular survival within differentiated THP-1 cells, American Journal of Clinical Pathology, 158(Supplement 1) 132.
  • RC Ellis, EK Roberts, JT Grier and SE Fiester (2022). Acinetobacter baumannii infections resistant to treatment: warning signs from the COVID-19 pandemic. Future Microbiology, 17(17) 1345-1347.;
  • MH Hyche, P Kent, CMG Schammel, M Devane, SE Fiester, M Call and J Knight (2022). Closing the brief case: Tropheryma whipplei infection resulting in neurological symptoms. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 60(8) 1-2.;
  • MH Hyche, P Kent, CMG Schammel, M Devane, SE Fiester, M Call and J Knight (2022). The brief case: Tropheryma whipplei infection resulting in neurological symptoms. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 60(8) 1-5.;
  • MA Knapp, TA Johnson, MK Ritter, RO Rainer, SE Fiester, JT Grier, TD Connell and S Arce (2021). Immunomodulatory regulation by heat-labile enterotoxins and potential therapeutic applications. Expert Review of Vaccines, 20(8) 975-987.;
  • ZC Overton-Hennessy, AM Devane, SE Fiester, N Schammel, CMG Schammel and JW Fulcher (2021). Ruptured splenic artery pseudoaneurysm causing hemorrhage into a pancreatic pseudocyst. The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, 43(1) 76-80.;
  • CW Evins, C Sutton, ST Withers, JT Grier, CMG Schammel, and SE Fiester (2021). Community-acquired extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing and extensively drug resistant Escherichia coli in a 28-year-old pyelonephritis patient lacking risk factors. Antibiotics, 10(5) 533.;
  • JT Grier, BA Arivett, MS Ramı́rez, RJ Chosed, JA Bigner, EJ Ohneck, ML Metz, CR Wood, S Arce, A Tartaro, RF Relich, LA Actis and SE Fiester (2021). Two Acinetobacter baumannii isolates obtained from a fatal necrotizing fasciitis infection display distinct genomic and phenotypic characteristics in comparison to type strains. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 11(2021) 249.;
  • GW Birsic, BE Hentschel, ZC Overton-Hennessy, ME Ward, SE Fiester and JW Fulcher (2021). Fatal coronary artery vasculitis with mixed features. The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, 42(3) 307-310.;
  • JA Bigner, SE Fiester, JW Fulcher, CMG Schammel, ME Ward, HE Burney, JF Wheeler, SK Wheeler and JM Teuber (2021). Glyphosate and polyoxyethyleneamine ingestion leading to renal, hepatic and pulmonary failure. The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, 42(3) 282-285.;
  • BA Arivett, A Charnot-Katsikas, C Bethel, SE Fiester and LA Actis (2020). Draft genome sequences of two Acinetobacter baumannii isolates from a fatal case of necrotizing fasciitis. Microbiology Resource Announcements, 9(13).;
  • AB Kennedy and SE Fiester (2020). Reduced performance on examinations following untimed short assessments, Studies in Educational Evaluation, 65(2020) 100835.;
  • DC Lee, SE Fiester, LA Madeline, JW Fulcher, ME Ward, CMG Schammel and RK Hakimi (2019). Acanthamoeba spp. and Balamuthia mandrillaris leading to fatal granulomatous amebic encephalitis, Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology, 1-6.;
  • JW Basinger, SE Fiester and JW Fulcher (2019). Mortality from neonatal herpes simplex viremia causing severe hepatitis, Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology, 1-4.;
  • GW Birsic, JW Fulcher and SE Fiester (2019). Embolization of endocardial vegetation with stroke presentation, The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, 40(1) 72-76. ;
  • K. Abernathy, S Fiester and JW Fulcher (2019). Miliary pattern MRSA sepsis following clandestine intravenous infusion, Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology, 15(2) 267-271.;
  • SE Fiester, BA Arivett, AC Beckett, BR Wagner, EJ Ohneck, R Schmidt, JT Grier and LA Actis (2019). Miltefosine reduces the cytolytic activity and virulence of Acinetobacter baumannii, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 63(1) e01409-18.;
  • J Basinger, SE Fiester and JW Fulcher (2018). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus parotitis leading to mortality in an adolescent male, The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, 39(3) 257-260.;
  • EJ Ohneck, BA Arivett, SE Fiester, CR Wood, ML Metz, GM Simeone and LA Actis (2018). Mucin acts as a nutrient source and a signal for the differential expression of genes coding for cellular processes and virulence factors in Acinetobacter baumannii, PLoS ONE, 13(1) e0190599.;
  • S Rumbo-Feal, A Pérez, TA Ramelot, BA Arivett, A Beceiro, JA Vallejo, L Álvarez-Fraga, M Merino, EJ Ohneck, SE Fiester, MA Kennedy, LA Actis, G Bou and M Poza (2017). Contribution of A. baumannii A1S_0114 gene to the interaction with eukaryotic cells and virulence, Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 7(108).;
  • SE Fiester, BA Arivett, RE Schmidt, AC Beckett, T Ticak, MV Carrier, R Ghosh, EJ Ohneck, ML Metz, MK Sellin-Jeffries and LA Actis (2016). Iron-regulated phospholipase C activity contributes to the cytolytic activity and virulence of Acinetobacter baumannii, PLoS ONE, 11(11) e0167068.;
  • BA Arivett, DC Ream, SE Fiester, D Kidane, and LA Actis (2016). Draft genome sequences of Acinetobacter baumannii isolates from wounded military personnel, Genome Announcements, 4(4) e00773-16.;
  • BA Arivett, DC Ream, SE Fiester, D Kidane and LA Actis (2016). Draft genome sequences of Escherichia coli isolates from wounded military personnel, Genome Announcements, 4(4) e00828-16.;
  • BA Arivett, DC Ream, SE Fiester, D Kidane and LA Actis (2016). Draft genome sequences of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from wounded military personnel, Genome Announcements, 4(4) e00829-16.;
  • BA Arivett, SE Fiester, EJ Ohneck, WF Penwell, C Kaufman, RF Relich and LA Actis (2015). Antimicrobial activity of gallium protoporphyrin IX against Acinetobacter baumannii strains displaying different antibiotic resistance phenotypes, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 59(12) 7657-7665.;
  • CM Harding, MA Nasr, RL Kinsella, NE Scott, LJ Foster, BS Weber, SE Fiester, LA Actis, EN Tracy, RS Munson Jr. and MF Feldman (2015). Acinetobacter strains carry two functional oligosaccharyltransferases, one dedicated exclusively to type IV pilin, and the other one dedicated to O-glycosylation of multiple proteins, Molecular Microbiology, 96(5) 1023-1041.;
  • BA Arivett, SE Fiester, DC Ream, D. Centron, M. Soledad Ramirez, M. Tolmasky and LA Actis (2015). Draft genome of the multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii A155 clinical isolate, Genome Announcements, 3(2) e00212-15.;
  • SE Fiester, CC Nwugo, WF Penwell, JM Neary, AC Beckett, BA Arivett, SC Geiger, RE Schmidt, PL Connerly, SM Menke, AP Tomaras and LA Actis (2015). Role of the carboxyl terminus of SecA in iron acquisition, protein translocation and virulence of the bacterial pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii, Infection and Immunity, 83(4) 1354-1365.;
  • BA Arivett, DC Ream, SE Fiester, K Mende, CK Murray, MG Thompson, S Kanduru, AM Summers, AL Roth, DV Zurawski and LA Actis (2015). Draft genomes of the Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 13883T clinical type strain and three multidrug resistant clinical isolates, Genome Announcements, 3(1) e01385-14.;
  • T Ticak, D Hariraju, M Bayron Arcelay, B Arivett, S Fiester and DJ Ferguson (2014). Isolation and characterization of a tetramethylammonium degrading Methanococcoides strain and a novel glycine betaine utilizing Methanolobus strain, Archives of Microbiology, 197(2) 197-209.;
  • SE Fiester, SF Evangelista, BA Arivett, DJ Adams, RE Redfern and CJ Woolverton (2014). The role of the liquid crystalline state in the bundling of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium flagella, Liquid Crystals, 41(9) 1277-1285.;
  • SE Fiester and LA Actis (2013). Stress responses in the human opportunistic pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii, Future Microbiology, 8(3) 353-365.;
  • SE Fiester, SL Helfinstine, TT Meilander and CJ Woolverton (2012). Administering needs-assessed bioterrorism curricula to public health professionals using active-learning strategies, Applied Biosafety: Journal of the American Biological Safety Association, 17(4) 181-187.;
  • S Fiester, S Helfinstine, J Redfearn, R Uribe and C Woolverton (2012). Electron beam irradiation dose dependently damages the Bacillus spore coat and spore membrane, International Journal of Microbiology, 2012(2012) 579593.;
  • S Fiester, A Jákli and C Woolverton (2011). Liquid crystal properties of a self-assembling viral coat protein. Liquid Crystals, 38(9) 1153-1157.;
  • S Fiester, J Redfearn, S Helfinstine, T Meilander and CJ Woolverton (2010). Lab safety and bioterrorism readiness curricula using active learning and hands-on strategies as continuing education for medical technologists, Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education, 11(1) 14-20.

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