Karen E. Beenken

High Impact

Associate Professor

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

faculty

beenkenkarene@uams.edu

31 h-index 66 pubs 4,142 cited

Research Areas

Microbial infections and disease research Bone health and treatments Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology Protein Structure and Dynamics Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Health and Medical Research Impacts

Links

ORCID Lab Website UAMS TRI Profile

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OverviewAI-generated summary

Karen E. Beenken investigates the pathogenesis of *Staphylococcus aureus* osteomyelitis, with a particular focus on the role of extracellular proteases and the regulatory mechanisms that control their production. Her research examines how bacterial virulence factors contribute to bone infection and loss. This work includes evaluating the efficacy of bone filler scaffolds designed for local antibiotic delivery to prevent infection in contaminated bone defects.

Beenken's laboratory has explored the genetic underpinnings of *Staphylococcus aureus* virulence, specifically the function of the *sarA* gene in limiting extracellular protease production. Her publications demonstrate that the ability of *sarA* to limit protease production is critical for virulence in osteomyelitis, irrespective of the functional status of the *agr* system. She also studies how mutations in specific genes, such as *purR*, can lead to increased accumulation of virulence factors and altered protease production.

Her scholarship includes 66 publications with over 4,100 citations and an h-index of 31. Beenken has received federal funding, including a $451,739 grant from the NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, to define the role of post-translational regulation by extracellular proteases in the pathogenesis of *Staphylococcus aureus* osteomyelitis. She actively collaborates with researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, including Mark S. Smeltzer, Mara J. Campbell, Horace J. Spencer, and Samuel G. Mackintosh.

Metrics

  • h-index: 31
  • Publications: 66
  • Citations: 4,142

Selected Publications

  • Lipolysis of host triacylglyceride-rich lipoproteins creates a toxic microenvironment for <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (2026) DOI
  • Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm-Associated Infections: Have We Found a Clinically Relevant Target? (2025) DOI
  • Staphylococcus aureus Proteins Implicated in the Reduced Virulence of sarA and sarA/agr Mutants in Osteomyelitis (2025) DOI
  • The ability of <i>sarA</i> to limit protease production plays a key role in the pathogenesis of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> osteomyelitis irrespective of the functional status of <i>agr</i> (2024) DOI
  • RANKL-mediated osteoclast formation is required for bone loss in a murine model of Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis (2024) DOI
  • Increased production of aureolysin and staphopain A is a primary determinant of the reduced virulence of <i>Staphylococcus aureus sarA</i> mutants in osteomyelitis (2024) DOI
  • Comparative evaluation of small molecules reported to be inhibitors of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> biofilm formation (2023) DOI
  • The major role of <i>sarA</i> in limiting <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> extracellular protease production <i>in vitro</i> is correlated with decreased virulence in diverse clinical isolates in osteomyelitis (2023) DOI
  • The major role of <i>sarA</i> in limiting <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> extracellular protease production is correlated with decreased virulence in diverse clinical isolates in osteomyelitis (2022) DOI
  • Evaluation of a bone filler scaffold for local antibiotic delivery to prevent Staphylococcus aureus infection in a contaminated bone defect (2021) DOI
  • Limiting protease production plays a key role in the pathogenesis of the divergent clinical isolates of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> LAC and UAMS-1 (2021) DOI
  • The Increased Accumulation of Staphylococcus aureus Virulence Factors Is Maximized in a <i>purR</i> Mutant by the Increased Production of SarA and Decreased Production of Extracellular Proteases (2021) DOI
  • Staphylococcal infection prevention using antibiotic‐loaded mannitol–chitosan paste in a rabbit model of implant‐associated osteomyelitis (2021) DOI

Federal Grants 1 $451,739 total

NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Co-PI Jun 2015 - Aug 2026

Defining the role of post-translational regulation by extracellular proteases in the pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases $451,739 R01

Grants & Funding

Collaborators

Researchers in the database who share publications

Mark S. Smeltzer University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 14 shared publications Mara J. Campbell University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 9 shared publications Horace J. Spencer University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 2 shared publications Samuel G. Mackintosh University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 1 shared publication Alan J. Tackett University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 1 shared publication Dr. Stephanie Byrum University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 1 shared publication Rick D. Edmondson University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 1 shared publication Gyan S. Sahukhal University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 1 shared publication

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Kyle Camp University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
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Mark S. Smeltzer University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
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