Joshua Nowacki
Connect
859-323-8702jsno226@uky.edu
Positions
- Graduate Research Assistant
College Unit(s)
Pronouns
he/himBiography and Education
Learner Information
Why did you choose the University of Kentucky?
I chose the University of Kentucky because I enjoyed the campus and size of the city. Furthermore, I was interested in the Integrated Biomedical Sciences program because it would allow me to try a variety of different departments before finally settling on one.
What do you like about your program?
I really enjoy the strong sense of community among students in my department. They have been incredible encouraging through my journey.
Biography
I am a 5th year graduate student in the lab of Sarah D'Orazio. My research is focused on understanding the intracellular lifecycle of Listeria monocytogenes in conventional type 1 dendritic cells following foodborne infection.
Education
BS - Centre College, Danville Ky
May 2020 Biochemistry/Molecular biology and Music
Summary:
Current Year: G5 Hometown: Louisville, KyResearch
Listeria monocytogenes is a gram positive, facultative, intracellular, foodborne pathogen that can cause life threatening illness in susceptible individuals. Once consumed, Listeria monocytogenes can disseminate to the mesenteric lymph nodes which function as the last barrier to systemic infection. My research is focused on understanding how Listeria monocytogenes can both disseminate to, and survive within the mesenteric lymph nodes following infection. I am interested specifically of the survival of Listeria monocytogenes in a variety of myeloid cells.
Selected Publications
Nowacki JS, Jones GS, D'Orazio SEF. Listeria monocytogenes use multiple mechanisms to disseminate from the intestinal lamina propria to the mesenteric lymph nodes. Microbiol Spectr. 2025 Feb 4;13(2):e0259524.