Steven Frese

Photo of Steven Frese, Extension

Steven Frese

Assistant Professor

Summary

Ancient relationships between hosts and microbes provide insight into key biological processes including digestion, infection, nutrition, resistance to disease, immune programming, and metabolic development.  By understanding these relationships, and how they are created or maintained, my work seeks to build rational, translational technologies and therapies. Using biotechnology, molecular biology, and an understanding of ecological and evolutionary relationships, we aim to improve our understanding of the gut microbiome and food. We also work to actively facilitate the dissemination of these discoveries and innovations to practice in industry, medicine, and research.

Education

B.S. Allegheny College
Ph.D. University of Nebraska, Lincoln

Honors and Awards

  • University of Nevada Foundation, Early Career Innovator Award (2022).
  • European Probiotic Association, Jules Tournut Probiotics Prize for innovative and significant contributions to probiotic research in animal nutrition (2014)   

 

Accomplishments

Patents

  • “Nutrititive compositions with bioactive proteins.”
    WO2021021765A1. 2019.
  • “Compositions and methods to promote host defense and stimulate, expand, and/or reset T-cell repertoires.”
    WO2019232513A1. 2018.
  • “Compostions and method of use for H5-competent Bifidobacterium Longum subsp. infantis”
    US Patent Application. 2018. 20220010267
  • “Novel oligosaccharides for use in prebiotic applications”
    US Patent Application. 2018. 2021016924
  • “Diagnosis and treatment of dysbiosis associated with NEC.”
    WO2020142755A1. 2019.
  • “Activation of conditionally-expressed oligosaccharide pathways during fermentation of probiotic strains.”
    WO2019143871A1. 2018.
  • “Method for determining dysbiosis in the intestinal microbiome.”
    WO2019136186A2. 2018.
  • “Oligosaccharide compositions and their use during transitional phases of the mammalian gut microbiome.”
    WO2019055717A1. 2017.
  • “Metabolomic revision of mammalian infants.”
    WO2019055718A1. 2017.
  • “Method for facilitation maturation of the mammalian immune system.”
    WO2018006080A1. 2016.
  • “Food compositions for weaning.”
    WO2017156548A1. 2016.
  • “Transient commensal microorganisms for improving gut health.”
    WO2017156550A1. 2016.
  • “Compositions that metabolize or sequester free sugar monomers and uses thereof.”
    WO2016149149A1. 2015.
  • “Reduction of milk glycans and their degradation products in the neonate gut.”
    WO2016094836A1. 2014.

News & Journal Articles, Fact Sheets, Reports...

Books
Nutrition in the Control of Inflammation Emerging Roles for the Microbiome and Epigenome Bradley S. Ferguson, Steven Frese 2024, Elsevier, 1st Edition, Paperback ISBN: 9780443189791 eBook ISBN: 9780443189807
Journals
Hemp hull fiber and two constituent compounds, N-trans-caffeoyltyramine and N-trans-feruloyltyramine, shape the human gut microbiome in vitro
Mounting evidence supports the potential of dietary bioactives to reduce chronic disease risk. This work examined whether purified NCT and NFT, or a hemp hull product containing NCT and NFT (Brightseed® Bio Gut Fiber™), can impact the gut microbiome.
 Karla E. Flores Martinez, Clay S. Bloszies, Matthew J. Bolino, Bethany M. Henrick, and Steven A. Frese 2024, Food Chemistry: X, Volume 23, 30 October 2024, 101611
Highly accurate and sensitive absolute quantification of bacterial strains in human fecal samples
The present study aimed to systematically compare quantitative PCR (qPCR) and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) for the absolute quantification of Limosilactobacillus reuteri strains in human fecal samples and to develop an optimized protocol for the absolute quantification of bacterial strains in fecal samples.
 Li, F., Liu, J., Maldonado-Gómez, M.X. et al. 2024, Microbiome 12, 168 (2024)
Queer- and trans-inclusive faculty hiring—A call for change
As queer and trans scientists, we face varied and systemic barriers to our professional success, resulting in our relative absence from faculty ranks at many institutions. In this Perspective, we call for a change in faculty hiring practices and present concrete guidance to make it a more inclusive process.
 Weissman JL, Chappell CR, Francesco Rodrigues de Oliveira B, Evans N, Fagre AC, Forsythe D, et al. 2024, PLoS Biol 22(11): e3002919
Delayed colonization of Bifidobacterium spp. and low prevalence of B. infantis among infants of Asian ancestry born in Singapore: insights from the GUSTO cohort study
This study provides new insights into infant gut microbiota colonization, showing the impact of generational immigration on early-life gut microbiota acquisition, as well as the need to monitor the declining prevalence of beneficial microbes in developed nations and its potential link to increasing diseases.
 Xu, J., Duar, R.M., Quah, B., Gong, M., Tin, F., Chan, P., Sim, C.K., Tan, K.H., Chong, Y.S., Gluckman, P.D., Frese, S.A., Kyle, D., and Karnani, N. 2024, Frontiers in Pediatrics, Volume 12 - 2024
Bifidobacterium infantis treatment promotes weight gain in Bangladeshi infants with severe acute malnutrition
A single-blind, placebo-controlled trial (SYNERGIE) was conducted in 2- to 6-month-old Bangladeshi infants with SAM. A commercial U.S. donor–derived B. infantis strain (EVC001) was administered daily with or without the HMO lacto-N-neotetraose for 28 days.
 Barratt MJ, Nuzhat S, Ahsan K, Frese SA, Arzamasov AA, Sarker SA, Islam MM, Palit P, Islam MR, Hibberd MC, Nakshatri S, Cowardin CA, Guruge JL, Byrne AE, Venkatesh S, Sundaresan V, Henrick B, Duar RM, Mitchell RD, Casaburi G, Prambs J, Flannery R, Mahfuz M, Rodionov DA, Osterman AL, Kyle D, Ahmed T, Gordon JI. 2022, Science Translational Medicine (14): 640
Diarrhea, Dysbiosis, Dysfunction, and the Disastrous Global Health Consequences: Piecing the Puzzle Together. Frese, S., & Riddle, M. S. 2022, The American Journal of Gastroenterology: January 2022 - Volume 117 - Issue 1 - p 98-99
Bifidobacteria-mediated immune system imprinting early in life Henrick, B.M., Rodriguez, L., Lakshmikanth, T., Pou, C., Henckel, E., Arzoomand, A., Olin, A., Wang, J., Mikes, J., Tan, Z., Chen, Y., Ehrlich, A.M., Bernhardsson, A.K., Mugabo, C.H., Ambrosiani, Y., Gustafsson, A., Chew, S., Brown, H.K., Prambs, J., Bohlin, K., Mitchell, R.D. Underwood, M.A., Smilowitz, J.T., German, J. B., Frese, S.A., Brodin, P. 2021, Cell Volume 184, Issue 15, 22 July 2021, Pages 3884-3898.e11
Impact of Probiotic B. infantis EVC001 Feeding in Premature Infants on the Gut Microbiome, Nosocomially Acquired Antibiotic Resistance, and Enteric Inflammation Nguyen Marielle, Holdbrooks Heaven, Mishra Prasanthi, Abrantes Maria A., Eskew Sherri, Garma Mariajamiela, Oca Cyr-Geraurd, McGuckin Carrie, Hein Cynthia B., Mitchell Ryan D., Kazi Sufyan, Chew Stephanie, Casaburi Giorgio, Brown Heather K., Frese Steven A., Henrick Bethany M. 2021, Frontiers in Pediatrics (9): 24
Integrating the ecosystem services framework to define dysbiosis of the breastfed infant gut: The role of B. infantis and human milk oligosaccharides Duar, Rebbeca, M., Henrick, Bethany, B., Casaburi, Giorgio, Frese, Steven A. 2020, Frontiers in Nutrition. 2020; 7: 33.
Metagenomic insights of the infant microbiome community structure and function across multiple sites in the United States Giorgio Casaburi, Rebbeca Duar, Bethany Henrick and Steven Frese 2020, Scientific Reports 11, 1472 (2021).
Diet shapes the gut microbiome of pigs during nursing and weaning Frese, S.A., Parker, K., Calvert, C.C. Mills, D.A. 2015, Microbiome. 2015 Dec;3(1):1-0.
Cultivating Healthy Growth and Nutrition through the Gut Microbiota Subramanian, S., Blanton, L.V., Frese, S.A., Charbonneau, M., Mills, D.A., Gordon, J.I. 2015, Cell. 2015 Mar 26;161(1):36-48.
Presentations
Unnatural Causes: Why are Latinos Getting Sick and Dying Younger?
Latinos in the US face alarming rates of preventable diseases like obesity, diabetes, hypertension, depression, and more. Addressing these health issues requires a comprehensive approach. This workshop will delve into effective interventions, potential pitfalls, and the trajectory of this urgent health crisis.
 Serrano, R., Landaverde, H.L., Frese, S., and L. Gomez 2024, League of United Latin American Citizens National Convention & Exhibition