Match tier
Listed
Presence
Current · Arkansas
Last published
2026
Sources
OpenAlex · ORCID
Refreshed
2026-10-09
J
Jon S. Blevins
Federal Grant PI
High Impact
Professor and Interim Chair
Also affiliated: Oklahoma State University (2005); Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (2005); The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (2004–2010)
26 h-index
50 pubs
3,334 cited
Research Areas
Biomedical Subjects
Biography and Research Information
OverviewAI-generated summary
Jon S. Blevins' research program focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of bacterial gene regulation and pathogenesis, with a particular emphasis on medically relevant bacterial species. His work has investigated regulatory systems in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, contributing to the fields of microbial genetics and infectious disease research.
Blevins has received significant federal funding from the NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to support his studies on spirochetes, including the development of genetic manipulation systems for *Borrelia duttonii* and the investigation of cyclic di-AMP and cyclic di-GMP signaling pathways in tick-borne relapsing fever *Borrelia* species. His research also extends to *Staphylococcus aureus*, where he has studied the roles of regulatory genes like *sarA* and *agr* in biofilm formation and pathogenesis, as well as the contribution of adhesins to diseases such as osteomyelitis. His publications include work on gene expression in *S. aureus* biofilms and molecular diagnostics for staphylococcal infections.
With an h-index of 26 and over 3,300 citations across 51 publications, Blevins is recognized as a highly cited researcher. He collaborates with colleagues at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, including Clay D. Jackson-Litteken, Wanfeng Guo, C. Tyler Ratliff, and Madeleine G. Scott.
Metrics
- h-index: 26
- Publications: 50
- Citations: 3,334
Positions
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Professor and Interim Chair publications 1999–2026University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Microbiology and Immunology Institutional directory
Selected Publications
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Defining strain variation in the maintenance of Borrelia turicatae during hyperparasitism and transovarial transmission in the tick vector (2026)
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Yersinia pestis plasminogen activator protease is regulated by the PhoP/PhoQ two-component system (2025)
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Yersinia pestis BipA is a novel regulator of pesticin and a type 6 secretion system (2025)
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The plasmid-encoded members of paralogous gene family 52 are dispensable to the enzootic cycle of Borrelia burgdorferi (2024)
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Borrelia burgdorferi BB0346 is an Essential, Structurally Variant LolA Homolog that is Primarily Required for Homeostatic Localization of Periplasmic Lipoproteins (2024)
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Development and validation of systems for genetic manipulation of the Old World tick-borne relapsing fever spirochete, Borrelia duttonii (2024)
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Characterization of the arthropod associated lipoprotein (Alp) in the tick-mammalian transmission cycle of Borrelia turicatae (2022)
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The Diadenylate Cyclase CdaA Is Critical for Borrelia turicatae Virulence and Physiology (2021)
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The BB0345 Hypothetical Protein of Borrelia burgdorferi Is Essential for Mammalian Infection (2020)
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Assessing the Contribution of an HtrA Family Serine Protease During Borrelia turicatae Mammalian Infection (2019)
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The RpoS Gatekeeper in Borrelia burgdorferi: An Invariant Regulatory Scheme That Promotes Spirochete Persistence in Reservoir Hosts and Niche Diversity (2019)
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Infection of Primary Human Alveolar Macrophages Alters Staphylococcus aureus Toxin Production and Activity (2019)
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DksA Controls the Response of the Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi to Starvation (2018)
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DksA controls the response of the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi to starvation (2018)
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Generation of Conditional Mutants in Borrelia burgdorferi (2017)
Federal Grants 3 $891,450 total
NIH
Contact PI
Aug 2022 - Jul 2027
Cyclic di-AMP-dependent signaling in tickborne relapsing fever Borrelia
NIH
Contact PI
Mar 2021 - Feb 2025
NIH
Contact PI
Feb 2020 - Jan 2023
Grants & Funding
As listed on this researcher's institutional profile. Federal awards with verified records are shown above.
- Virulence Mechanisms of Multifunctional Borrelial Proteins NIH/Nat. Inst. of Allergy & Infectious Diseases via East Carolina University
- New genetic approaches analyzing Borrelia burgdorferi NIH
- Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Host Inflammatory Responses NIH
- Studying the roles of dinucleotide second messenger molecules in the pathogenesis of the tickborne relapsing fever spirochete, Borrelia turicatae UAMS College of Medicine
- Rrp2-dependent gene regulation in Borrelia burgdorferi NIH
- Blevins Start Up Account UAMS College of Medicine
- RpoS-mediated virulence regulation in Borrelia burgdorferi NIH
Collaboration Network
Top Collaborators
Ashley M. Groshong
National Institutes of Health (US)
10 shared publications
- The RpoS Gatekeeper in Borrelia burgdorferi: An Invariant Regulatory Scheme That Promotes Spirochete Persistence in Reservoir Hosts and Niche Diversity
- Rrp2, a Prokaryotic Enhancer-Like Binding Protein, Is Essential for Viability of Borrelia burgdorferi
- Insights into the Biology of Borrelia burgdorferi Gained Through the Application of Molecular Genetics
- Identification of Lysine Residues in the Borrelia burgdorferi DbpA Adhesin Required for Murine Infection
- DksA Controls the Response of the Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi to Starvation
Showing 5 of 10 shared publications
Mark S. Smeltzer
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
6 shared publications
In database
- Mutation of sarA in Staphylococcus aureus Limits Biofilm Formation
- The staphylococcal accessory regulator (sar ) represses transcription of the Staphylococcus aureus collagen adhesin gene (cna ) in an agr‐independent manner
- Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus SarA Binding Sites
- SaeRS-Dependent Inhibition of Biofilm Formation in Staphylococcus aureus Newman
- Effects of sarA inactivation on the intrinsic multidrug resistance mechanism of Staphylococcus aureus
Showing 5 of 6 shared publications
Clay D. Jackson-Litteken
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
5 shared publications
In database
- The Diadenylate Cyclase CdaA Is Critical for Borrelia turicatae Virulence and Physiology
- Assessing the Contribution of an HtrA Family Serine Protease During Borrelia turicatae Mammalian Infection
- The BB0345 Hypothetical Protein of Borrelia burgdorferi Is Essential for Mammalian Infection
- Characterization of the arthropod associated lipoprotein (Alp) in the tick-mammalian transmission cycle of Borrelia turicatae
- Development and validation of systems for genetic manipulation of the Old World tick-borne relapsing fever spirochete, Borrelia duttonii
Brendan P. Moore
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
4 shared publications
In database
- Identification of Lysine Residues in the Borrelia burgdorferi DbpA Adhesin Required for Murine Infection
- BB0238, a Presumed Tetratricopeptide Repeat-Containing Protein, Is Required during Borrelia burgdorferi Mammalian Infection
- The BB0345 Hypothetical Protein of Borrelia burgdorferi Is Essential for Mammalian Infection
- The plasmid-encoded members of paralogous gene family 52 are dispensable to the enzootic cycle of Borrelia burgdorferi
Job E. López
Baylor College of Medicine (US)
4 shared publications
- The Diadenylate Cyclase CdaA Is Critical for Borrelia turicatae Virulence and Physiology
- Assessing the Contribution of an HtrA Family Serine Protease During Borrelia turicatae Mammalian Infection
- Characterization of the arthropod associated lipoprotein (Alp) in the tick-mammalian transmission cycle of Borrelia turicatae
- Defining strain variation in the maintenance of Borrelia turicatae during hyperparasitism and transovarial transmission in the tick vector
Xiuli Yang
Wenzhou Medical University (CN)
3 shared publications
- Rrp2, a Prokaryotic Enhancer-Like Binding Protein, Is Essential for Viability of Borrelia burgdorferi
- Insight into the Dual Functions of Bacterial Enhancer-Binding Protein Rrp2 of Borrelia burgdorferi
- Insight into the Dual Functions of Bacterial Enhancer-Binding Protein Rrp2 of Borrelia burgdorferi
Travis J. Bourret
Creighton University (US)
3 shared publications
- DksA Controls the Response of the Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi to Starvation
- Assessing the Contribution of an HtrA Family Serine Protease During Borrelia turicatae Mammalian Infection
- DksA controls the response of the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi to starvation
Danielle E. Graham
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
3 shared publications
In database
- The RpoS Gatekeeper in Borrelia burgdorferi: An Invariant Regulatory Scheme That Promotes Spirochete Persistence in Reservoir Hosts and Niche Diversity
- The BB0345 Hypothetical Protein of Borrelia burgdorferi Is Essential for Mammalian Infection
- Borrelia burgdorferi BB0346 is an Essential, Structurally Variant LolA Homolog that is Primarily Required for Homeostatic Localization of Periplasmic Lipoproteins
C. Tyler Ratliff
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
3 shared publications
In database
- The Diadenylate Cyclase CdaA Is Critical for Borrelia turicatae Virulence and Physiology
- Assessing the Contribution of an HtrA Family Serine Protease During Borrelia turicatae Mammalian Infection
- Development and validation of systems for genetic manipulation of the Old World tick-borne relapsing fever spirochete, Borrelia duttonii
Wanfeng Guo
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
3 shared publications
In database
- Development and validation of systems for genetic manipulation of the Old World tick-borne relapsing fever spirochete, Borrelia duttonii
- Yersinia pestis BipA is a novel regulator of pesticin and a type 6 secretion system
- Yersinia pestis plasminogen activator protease is regulated by the PhoP/PhoQ two-component system
Karen E. Beenken
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
2 shared publications
In database
- Mutation of sarA in Staphylococcus aureus Limits Biofilm Formation
- Staphylococcus aureus collagen adhesin contributes to the pathogenesis of osteomyelitis
Danielle E. Fortune
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (US)
2 shared publications
- Identification of Lysine Residues in the Borrelia burgdorferi DbpA Adhesin Required for Murine Infection
- BB0238, a Presumed Tetratricopeptide Repeat-Containing Protein, Is Required during Borrelia burgdorferi Mammalian Infection
Yi‐Pin Lin
Tufts University (US)
2 shared publications
- Identification of Lysine Residues in the Borrelia burgdorferi DbpA Adhesin Required for Murine Infection
- The Borrelia burgdorferi adhesin DbpA is bifunctional, binding to extracellular matrix to foster tissue colonization and to the host complement regulatory protein C4BP to promote bloodstream survival
John M. Leong
Tufts University (US)
2 shared publications
- Identification of Lysine Residues in the Borrelia burgdorferi DbpA Adhesin Required for Murine Infection
- The Borrelia burgdorferi adhesin DbpA is bifunctional, binding to extracellular matrix to foster tissue colonization and to the host complement regulatory protein C4BP to promote bloodstream survival
Barry K. Hurlburt
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (US)
2 shared publications
- The staphylococcal accessory regulator (sar ) represses transcription of the Staphylococcus aureus collagen adhesin gene (cna ) in an agr‐independent manner
- Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus SarA Binding Sites
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