Gunn Lab Staff
John Gunn, PhD
Principal Investigator
John.Gunn@NationwideChildrens.org
John S. Gunn, PhD, is a principal investigator in the Center for Microbe and Immunity Research at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. He is also a professor in the Department of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Gunn is an associate director of the Ohio State Infectious Diseases Institute and the faculty director of the Biomedical Science Major. Dr. Gunn received his undergraduate degree from Bowling Green State University and obtained his doctorate from The University of Maryland. His postdoctoral studies were performed at Harvard Medical School and The University of Washington. The research program of the Gunn Lab studies host-microbe interactions in the gram-negative pathogen Salmonella that leads to both acute and chronic disease. Their primary focus is determining the molecular mechanisms underlying chronic carriage of Salmonella Typhi in the gallbladder, which is mediated by biofilm formation on gallstones. Typhoid fever, caused by S. Typhi, is a global disease that disproportionately affects children.
Alonso Cruz-Cruz, MS
Research Associate
Alonso.Cruz-Cruz@NationwideChildrens.org
Alonso received a bachelor's degree in experimental biology and an master's degree in cell biology from CINVESTAV in Mexico City, Mexico. His master thesis explored stimuli to resuscitate persistent intracellular Salmonella from B cells/macrophages. These stimuli restore the metabolic and ribosomal activity of the bacteria, making them susceptible to conventional antibiotics. Alonso's current research in the Gunn Lab focuses on identifying and describing cecal Salmonella biofilms as well as the immune response using our current murine model. In his spare time, he enjoys dancing, music, cooking, cycling and wrestling. Favorite lab instrument: Microscope.
Juan Gonzalez-Paredes, PhD
Research Scientist
Juan.Gonzalezparedes@NationwideChildrens.org
Juan was born in Bogotá, Colombia, and received his doctorate at the International Centre for genetic engineering and biotechnology in Trieste, Italy. His work in the Gunn Lab focuses on the host-microbe interactions that allow chronic Typhoid carriage in the gallbladder, the native gallbladder microbiome and how the microflora interacts with Salmonella. Outside the lab, Juan enjoys photography, grilling, soccer and hanging out with his dogs.
Erin Vasicek, PhD
Research Scientist
Erin.Vasicek@NationwideChildrens.org
Erin grew up in Rochester, NY, received her bachelor’s degree in molecular genetics from The Ohio State University, and her doctorate from The University of Tennessee Health Science Center where she focused on signal transduction and transcriptional regulation pathways essential for azole resistance in Candida albicans. Her work in the Gunn Lab focuses on understanding the roles of the extracellular matrix components in Salmonella spp biofilms and chronic carriage. When not in the lab, Erin enjoys cooking, reading, live music, her cats Merry & Pippin and traveling.
Aliyah Bennett
Graduate Researcher
Aliyah.Bennett@NationwideChildrens.org
Aliyah grew up in New York City, New York and received her bachelor’s degree in medical technology from the University at Buffalo. She is currently a MD-PhD student in the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Her doctoral thesis project focuses on understanding the efficacy and mechanism of action of novel anti-biofilm compounds in treating chronic typhoid fever and other chronic biofilm-mediated infections.
Allysa Cole, DVM
Graduate Researcher
Allysa.Cole@NationwideChildrens.org
Allysa received her doctor of veterinary medicine at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She is in the Veterinary Anatomic Pathology combined training program at The Ohio State University. Her doctoral thesis research is focused on characterizing a novel murine model of chronic typhoid fever and the host-pathogen interactions within the chronically infected gallbladder. Allysa has three Siberian Huskies, which means she is constantly covered in fur, and in her free time she likes to read and play video/board games.
Jake Maziarz
Research Intern
Jake.Maziarz@NationwideChildrens.org
Jake is an undergraduate student at The Ohio State University studying neuroscience with a minor in microbiology. One of Jake’s projects focuses on the role of extracellular DNA and cellulose in the extracellular matrix of Salmonella biofilms. He is also researching the role bile plays in the invasion of Salmonella Typhimurium and Typhi into host epithelial cells.
Madeline Nelson
Research Intern
Madeline.Nelson2@NationwideChildrens.org
Madeline is pursuing a bachelor of science in biology with a minor in biochemistry at The Ohio State University. She plans to enter a doctorate program in biochemistry. Her research in the Gunn Lab is supported by the MARC T34 Scholarship. Her current work aims to investigate the role of small molecules to treat chronic typhoid infections.
Alyia Rogers
Research Aide
Alyia.Rogers@NationwideChildrens.org
Alyia grew up in Columbus, Ohio and is currently attending The Ohio State University to receive her bachelor’s degree in biology. She is interested in pursuing a career in primary care medicine following the completion of her undergraduate degree. In the lab, Alyia assists with preparing materials to be used by colleagues for experiments. Outside of the lab, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family.