Marilyn C. Roberts, PhD, MS

Dr. Roberts' research interests include identification of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] and vancomycin resistant enterococci [VRE] in environmental samples, antibiotic resistance using a One Health approach. Dr. Roberts is interested in how antibiotic resistance genes and resistant bacteria move between the environment, humans and animals. Also, the mechanisms of resistance, how resistance spreads through bacterial populations in man, animals and the environment and ultimately, how these genes affect therapy. She has isolated and characterized MRSA from primates, personnel and the environment from the Washington National Primate Research Center. Current work is looking to isolate and characterize MRSA in wild primate populations from Thailand and Nepal. We are also isolating and characterizing E.coli from water and marine animals shellfish and fish from the Salish sea. She is using whole genome sequencing to compare isolates taken from humans, animals and their shared environment. She is also doing some Microbiome work on Orca whales and other marine mammals.