Match tier
Listed
Presence
Current · Arkansas
Last published
2026
Sources
OpenAlex · ORCID
Refreshed
2026-10-09
K
Karen E. Beenken
High Impact
Associate Professor
Also affiliated: Southern Illinois University Carbondale (2001); United States Department of Health and Human Services (2005); Zimmer Biomet (United States) (2016); University of Memphis (2016–2017)
32 h-index
71 pubs
4,350 cited
Research Areas
Biomedical Subjects
Links
Biography and Research Information
OverviewAI-generated summary
Karen E. Beenken's research focuses on the pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus infections, particularly concerning biofilm formation and the genetic regulation of bacterial virulence.
Her work has investigated the roles of specific genes, such as sarA and agr, in regulating biofilm development and has explored the contribution of bacterial adhesins to diseases like osteomyelitis. Beenken has also examined therapeutic strategies, including the use of plant-derived compounds and gold nanoconstructs for combating antibiotic-resistant bacterial biofilms. Her research has been supported by federal grants, including funding from the NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for studies on post-translational regulation in S. aureus pathogenesis. Beenken has a significant publication record and is recognized as a highly cited researcher, with an h-index of 32 and over 4,300 citations.
She maintains a network of key collaborators at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, including Mark S. Smeltzer, Mara J. Campbell, Horace J. Spencer, and Samuel G. Mackintosh, with whom she has co-authored numerous publications.
Metrics
- h-index: 32
- Publications: 71
- Citations: 4,350
Positions
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Associate Professor 2024–presentUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Institutional directory
Selected Publications
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Scaling of Neuronal Growth and Excitability Through Separable mTORC1 and mTORC2 Pathways (2026)
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A transcriptomic-driven segmentation and cell simulation framework for high-resolution spatial transcriptomics and cell-cell communication (2026)
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Mechanistic insights into the pathogenesis and therapeutic recalcitrance of Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis (2026)
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Lipolysis of host triacylglyceride-rich lipoproteins creates a toxic microenvironment for Staphylococcus aureus (2026)
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Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm-Associated Infections: Have We Found a Clinically Relevant Target? (2025)
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Staphylococcus aureus Proteins Implicated in the Reduced Virulence of sarA and sarA/agr Mutants in Osteomyelitis (2025)
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The ability of sarA to limit protease production plays a key role in the pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis irrespective of the functional status of agr (2024)
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RANKL-mediated osteoclast formation is required for bone loss in a murine model of Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis (2024)
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Increased production of aureolysin and staphopain A is a primary determinant of the reduced virulence of Staphylococcus aureus sarA mutants in osteomyelitis (2024)
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Comparative evaluation of small molecules reported to be inhibitors of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation (2023)
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The major role of sarA in limiting Staphylococcus aureus extracellular protease production in vitro is correlated with decreased virulence in diverse clinical isolates in osteomyelitis (2023)
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The major role of sarA in limiting Staphylococcus aureus extracellular protease production is correlated with decreased virulence in diverse clinical isolates in osteomyelitis (2022)
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Evaluation of a bone filler scaffold for local antibiotic delivery to prevent Staphylococcus aureus infection in a contaminated bone defect (2021)
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Limiting protease production plays a key role in the pathogenesis of the divergent clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus LAC and UAMS-1 (2021)
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The Increased Accumulation of Staphylococcus aureus Virulence Factors Is Maximized in a purR Mutant by the Increased Production of SarA and Decreased Production of Extracellular Proteases (2021)
Federal Grants 1 $451,739 total
Grants & Funding
As listed on this researcher's institutional profile. Federal awards with verified records are shown above.
- Regulation of biofilm formation in clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus NIH
- Detection, diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal infection NIH
- A nanotherapeutic approach to combat staphylococcal biofilm-associated infection NIH
- Advanced Development and Testing of a Nanomaterial-Based Scaffold for Bone Regeneration and Drug Delivery U.S. Army Medical Research & Material Command via University of Arkansas at Little Rock
- Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Host Inflammatory Responses NIH
Collaboration Network
Top Collaborators
Mark S. Smeltzer
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
57 shared publications
In database
- Global Gene Expression in Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms
- Mutation of sarA in Staphylococcus aureus Limits Biofilm Formation
- Ellagic Acid Derivatives from Rubus ulmifolius Inhibit Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Formation and Improve Response to Antibiotics
- Epistatic Relationships between sarA and agr in Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Formation
- Synergistic Photothermal and Antibiotic Killing of Biofilm-Associated Staphylococcus aureus Using Targeted Antibiotic-Loaded Gold Nanoconstructs
Showing 5 of 57 shared publications
Horace J. Spencer
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
15 shared publications
In database
- sarA ‐mediated repression of protease production plays a key role in the pathogenesis of S taphylococcus aureus USA 300 isolates
- Impact of Extracellular Nuclease Production on the Biofilm Phenotype of Staphylococcus aureus under In Vitro and In Vivo Conditions
- Impact of individual extracellular proteases on Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation in diverse clinical isolates and their isogenic sarA mutants
- Comparative impact of diverse regulatory loci on Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation
- Evaluation of Antibiotics Active against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Based on Activity in an Established Biofilm
Showing 5 of 15 shared publications
Warren O. Haggard
University of Memphis (US)
12 shared publications
- Novel Antibiotic-loaded Point-of-care Implant Coating Inhibits Biofilm
- Chitosan coating to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of calcium sulfate-based antibiotic therapy in the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis
- Local Delivery of Amikacin and Vancomycin from Chitosan Sponges Prevent Polymicrobial Implant-Associated Biofilm
- Antibiotic-loaded phosphatidylcholine inhibits staphylococcal bone infection
- Ciprofloxacin and Rifampin Dual Antibiotic-Loaded Biopolymer Chitosan Sponge for Bacterial Inhibition
Showing 5 of 12 shared publications
Daniel G. Meeker
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (US)
11 shared publications
- Synergistic Photothermal and Antibiotic Killing of Biofilm-Associated Staphylococcus aureus Using Targeted Antibiotic-Loaded Gold Nanoconstructs
- Impact of sarA and Phenol-Soluble Modulins on the Pathogenesis of Osteomyelitis in Diverse Clinical Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus
- Comparative impact of diverse regulatory loci on Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation
- Evaluation of Antibiotics Active against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Based on Activity in an Established Biofilm
- Versatility of targeted antibiotic-loaded gold nanoconstructs for the treatment of biofilm-associated bacterial infections
Showing 5 of 11 shared publications
Jessica Amber Jennings
University of Memphis (US)
10 shared publications
- Novel Antibiotic-loaded Point-of-care Implant Coating Inhibits Biofilm
- Chitosan coating to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of calcium sulfate-based antibiotic therapy in the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis
- Antibiotic-loaded phosphatidylcholine inhibits staphylococcal bone infection
- Ciprofloxacin and Rifampin Dual Antibiotic-Loaded Biopolymer Chitosan Sponge for Bacterial Inhibition
- Characterization of local delivery with amphotericin B and vancomycin from modified chitosan sponges and functional biofilm prevention evaluation
Showing 5 of 10 shared publications
Aura M. Ramírez
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (US)
10 shared publications
- SarA plays a predominant role in controlling the production of extracellular proteases in the diverse clinical isolates ofStaphylococcus aureusLAC and UAMS-1
- Evaluation of a bone filler scaffold for local antibiotic delivery to prevent Staphylococcus aureus infection in a contaminated bone defect
- Exploiting Correlations between Protein Abundance and the Functional Status of saeRS and sarA To Identify Virulence Factors of Potential Importance in the Pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus Osteomyelitis
- The major role of sarA in limiting Staphylococcus aureus extracellular protease production in vitro is correlated with decreased virulence in diverse clinical isolates in osteomyelitis
- Limiting protease production plays a key role in the pathogenesis of the divergent clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus LAC and UAMS-1
Showing 5 of 10 shared publications
Mara J. Campbell
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
10 shared publications
In database
- Evaluation of a bone filler scaffold for local antibiotic delivery to prevent Staphylococcus aureus infection in a contaminated bone defect
- RANKL-mediated osteoclast formation is required for bone loss in a murine model of Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis
- The major role of sarA in limiting Staphylococcus aureus extracellular protease production in vitro is correlated with decreased virulence in diverse clinical isolates in osteomyelitis
- The ability of sarA to limit protease production plays a key role in the pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis irrespective of the functional status of agr
- Increased production of aureolysin and staphopain A is a primary determinant of the reduced virulence of Staphylococcus aureus sarA mutants in osteomyelitis
Showing 5 of 10 shared publications
Allister J. Loughran
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (US)
9 shared publications
- Synergistic Photothermal and Antibiotic Killing of Biofilm-Associated Staphylococcus aureus Using Targeted Antibiotic-Loaded Gold Nanoconstructs
- Impact of individual extracellular proteases on Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation in diverse clinical isolates and their isogenic sarA mutants
- Impact of sarA and Phenol-Soluble Modulins on the Pathogenesis of Osteomyelitis in Diverse Clinical Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus
- Comparative impact of diverse regulatory loci on Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation
- Evaluation of Antibiotics Active against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Based on Activity in an Established Biofilm
Showing 5 of 9 shared publications
Danielle N. Atwood
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (US)
7 shared publications
- Impact of individual extracellular proteases on Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation in diverse clinical isolates and their isogenic sarA mutants
- saeRS and sarA Act Synergistically to Repress Protease Production and Promote Biofilm Formation in Staphylococcus aureus
- Comparative impact of diverse regulatory loci on Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation
- Impact of the functional status of saeRS on in vivo phenotypes of S taphylococcus aureus sarA mutants
- Impact of Staphylococcus aureus regulatory mutations that modulate biofilm formation in the USA300 strain LAC on virulence in a murine bacteremia model
Showing 5 of 7 shared publications
Robert A. Skinner
Zimmer Biomet (United States) (US)
6 shared publications
- sarA ‐mediated repression of protease production plays a key role in the pathogenesis of S taphylococcus aureus USA 300 isolates
- Chitosan coating to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of calcium sulfate-based antibiotic therapy in the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis
- Impact of the functional status of saeRS on in vivo phenotypes of S taphylococcus aureus sarA mutants
- Antibiotic-loaded phosphatidylcholine inhibits staphylococcal bone infection
- Use of Xylitol To Enhance the Therapeutic Efficacy of Polymethylmethacrylate-Based Antibiotic Therapy in Treatment of Chronic Osteomyelitis
Showing 5 of 6 shared publications
Alan J. Tackett
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
6 shared publications
In database
- sarA ‐mediated repression of protease production plays a key role in the pathogenesis of S taphylococcus aureus USA 300 isolates
- Impact of sarA and Phenol-Soluble Modulins on the Pathogenesis of Osteomyelitis in Diverse Clinical Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus
- SarA plays a predominant role in controlling the production of extracellular proteases in the diverse clinical isolates ofStaphylococcus aureusLAC and UAMS-1
- Label-Free Proteomic Approach to Characterize Protease-Dependent and -Independent Effects of sarA Inactivation on the Staphylococcus aureus Exoproteome
- Exploiting Correlations between Protein Abundance and the Functional Status of saeRS and sarA To Identify Virulence Factors of Potential Importance in the Pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus Osteomyelitis
Showing 5 of 6 shared publications
A. Zielińska
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (US)
5 shared publications
- Epistatic Relationships between sarA and agr in Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Formation
- sarA ‐mediated repression of protease production plays a key role in the pathogenesis of S taphylococcus aureus USA 300 isolates
- Defining the Strain-Dependent Impact of the Staphylococcal Accessory Regulator ( sarA ) on the Alpha-Toxin Phenotype of Staphylococcus aureus
- saeRS and sarA Act Synergistically to Repress Protease Production and Promote Biofilm Formation in Staphylococcus aureus
- Impact of the functional status of saeRS on in vivo phenotypes of S taphylococcus aureus sarA mutants
Lara N. Mrak
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (US)
5 shared publications
- Epistatic Relationships between sarA and agr in Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Formation
- sarA ‐mediated repression of protease production plays a key role in the pathogenesis of S taphylococcus aureus USA 300 isolates
- Defining the Strain-Dependent Impact of the Staphylococcal Accessory Regulator ( sarA ) on the Alpha-Toxin Phenotype of Staphylococcus aureus
- saeRS and sarA Act Synergistically to Repress Protease Production and Promote Biofilm Formation in Staphylococcus aureus
- Impact of the functional status of saeRS on in vivo phenotypes of S taphylococcus aureus sarA mutants
Linda M. Griffin
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (US)
5 shared publications
- Epistatic Relationships between sarA and agr in Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Formation
- Impact of Extracellular Nuclease Production on the Biofilm Phenotype of Staphylococcus aureus under In Vitro and In Vivo Conditions
- Defining the Strain-Dependent Impact of the Staphylococcal Accessory Regulator ( sarA ) on the Alpha-Toxin Phenotype of Staphylococcus aureus
- saeRS and sarA Act Synergistically to Repress Protease Production and Promote Biofilm Formation in Staphylococcus aureus
- Impact of the functional status of saeRS on in vivo phenotypes of S taphylococcus aureus sarA mutants
Stephanie D. Byrum
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
5 shared publications
In database
- Impact of sarA and Phenol-Soluble Modulins on the Pathogenesis of Osteomyelitis in Diverse Clinical Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus
- SarA plays a predominant role in controlling the production of extracellular proteases in the diverse clinical isolates ofStaphylococcus aureusLAC and UAMS-1
- Label-Free Proteomic Approach to Characterize Protease-Dependent and -Independent Effects of sarA Inactivation on the Staphylococcus aureus Exoproteome
- Exploiting Correlations between Protein Abundance and the Functional Status of saeRS and sarA To Identify Virulence Factors of Potential Importance in the Pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus Osteomyelitis
- Staphylococcus aureus Proteins Implicated in the Reduced Virulence of sarA and sarA/agr Mutants in Osteomyelitis
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