Anna Jozwick

Assistant ProfessorBiological Sciences

Anna Snyder Jozwick is an Assistant Professor of Biological Science in the Center for Natural Sciences at Goucher College. She completed her Ph.D. in Biology, with a specialization in molecular and microbiology, in 2013 at West Virginia University. Prior to her arrival at Goucher, she was a Post-Doctoral Research Microbiologist at the National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture (United State Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service). At Goucher, she teaches a broad range of biology and environmental science courses for both majors and non-majors. She is also actively involved in science outreach. Jozwick’s research focuses on understanding the genetic basis microbial species interactions with one another and their animal host. Her lab combines classical microbiology with continually evolving molecular techniques to examine how agriculturally-important microbes evolve in response to host defense, human intervention and environmental change. 

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Research, Scholarship, Creative Work in Progress

The goal of the Jozwick lab is to examine microbial community interactions and individual bacterial capabilities that can be exploited for use in aquaculture and improved fish health. Currently, there are 2 research foci. The first involves utilizing the zebrafish, Danio rerio, model organism to understand how interactions among bacterial community members contribute to resource partitioning and host health. The Jozwick lab is identifying, culturing, and characterizing the bacterial community housed in the skin mucus, as this microbiota has been shown to be important in the growth and resilience of teleost fish. This research endeavor is advanced through independent research experiences, as well as in upper-level laboratory coursework. The other current area of research aims to identify and understand factors involved in the communication and virulence of Yersinia ruckeri, a pathogen affecting farmed rainbow trout. This bacterium causes hemorrhagic septicemia and death, if left untreated. While a vaccine is currently in use, disease outbreaks still occur, leaving open the need for alternative control measures. By understanding the signals and genetic responses of communication (i.e. quorum sensing), we will learn how these processes impact persistence within the environment and the fish host. 

Publications

Wakeman W*, Long A*, Estes AM and Jozwick AKS. 2021. Zebrafish, Danio rerio, skin mucus harbors a distinct bacterial community dominated by Actinobacteria. Zebrafish. 18(6): 354-362. doi: 10.1089/zeb.2021.0040

Lee M and Jozwick AKS. 2021. Get a Chemical Clue. National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science Case Collection. Accepted.

Estes AM, Jozwick AKS, Kerr JE. 2021. Teaching "Crafty Microbiology": Safely Teaching Hands-On Microbiology Skills at Home. J Microbiol Biol Educ. 22(1):22.1.48. doi: 10.1128/jmbe.v22i1.2345 All authors equally contributed and were published in alphabetical order.

  • Featured in Brancaccio-Taras, L., et al. (2021). "The Editors’ Perspectives on Adjusting STEM Education to the “New Normal” during the COVID-19 Pandemic." J Microbiol Biol Educ. 2021; 22(1): 22.1.65.doi: 10.1128/jmbe.v22i1.2679

Jozwick AKS and Lee M. 2020. Mitochondria mysteries. National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science Case Collection.

Rio RVM, Jozwick AKS, Savage AF, Sabet A, Vigneron A, Wu Y, Aksoy S, and Weiss BL. 2019. Mutualist-Provisioned Resources Impact Vector Competency. mBIO. 10: e00018-19. DOI: 10.1128/mBio.00018-19

Jozwick AKS, LaPatra SE, Graf J, Welch TJ. 2019. Rcs pathway contributes to the regulation of flagella biosynthesis and is required for virulence of the fish pathogen Yersinia ruckeri. Fish and Shellfish Immunology. 91: 306-314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2019.05.036

Kicklighter C, Duca S, Jozwick AKS, Locke H, Hundley C, Hite B, Hannifin G. Grazer deterrence and fungal inhibition by the invasive marsh grass Phragmites australis and the native sedge Bolboschoenus robustus in a mesohaline marsh. Chemoecology. 28(8) DOI: 10.1007/s00049-018-0269-1.

Jozwick AKS, Graf J, Welch TJ. 2016. The flagellar master operon flhDC is a pleiotropic regulator involved in motility and virulence of the fish pathogen Yersinia ruckeri. J Appl Microbiol. 122(3): 578-588. 

Bachert BA, Choi SJ, Snyder AK, Rio RVM, Durney BC, Holland LA, Amemiya K, Welkos SL, Bozue JA, Cote CK, Berisio R, Lukomski S. 2015. A Unique Set of the Burkholderia Collagen-like Proteins Provides Insight into Pathogenesis, Genome Evolution and Niche Adaptation, and Infection Detection. PLoS ONE. 10(9): e0137578. 

Snyder AK, Hinshaw JM, Welch TJ. 2015. Diagnostic tools for detection and quantification of Weissella ceti NC36 infections in rainbow trout. Lett. Appl. Microbiol. doi: 10.1111/lam.12365. 

Snyder AK, Rio RVM. 2015. Wigglesworthia morsitans Folate (Vitamin B9) Biosynthesis Contributes to Tsetse Host Fitness. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 81: 5375-5386.

International Glossina Genome Initiative. 2014. Genome sequence of the tsetse fly (Glossina morsitans): vector of African trypanosomiasis. Science. 344: 380-386. 

Tuntevski K, Durney BC, Snyder AK, Lasala PR, Nayak AP, Green BJ, Beezhold DH, Rio RV, Holland LA, Lukomski S. 2013. Aspergillus collagen-like (acl) genes: identification, sequence polymorphism and assessment for PCR-based pathogen detection. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 79: 7882-7895. 

Snyder AK and Rio RVM. 2013. The interwoven biology of the tsetse holobiont. J. Bacteriol. 195: 4322-4330. 

Snyder AK, McLain C*, Rio RVM. 2012. The tsetse fly obligate mutualist Wigglesworthia morsitans alters gene expression and population density via exogenous nutrient provisioning. Appl Environ Microbiol. 78: 7792-7797. 

Rio RVM, Symula RE, Wang J, Lohs C, Wu Y, Snyder AK, Bjornson RD, Oshima K, Biehl BS, Perna NT, Hattori M, Aksoy S. 2012. Insight into the transmission biology and species-specific functional capabilities of tsetse (Diptera: Glossinidae) obligate symbiont Wigglesworthia. mBio 3: e00240-11. 

Snyder AK, Adkins KZ*, Rio RVM. 2011. Use of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions to examine symbiont divergence and as a diagnostic tool for Sodalis-related bacteria. Insects 2: 515-531. 

Snyder AK, McMillen CM*, Wallenhorst P*, Rio RVM. 2011. The phylogeny of Sodalis-like symbionts as reconstructed using surface-encoding loci. FEMS 317: 143-151. 

Snyder AK, Deberry JW, Runyen-Janecky L, Rio RVM. 2010. Nutrient provisioning facilitates homeostasis between tsetse fly (Diptera: Glossinidae) symbionts. Proc Biol Sci. 277: 2389-97. 

* Undergraduate student co-authors 

Invited Talks

  • Jozwick, A.K.S. (2021) Learning the Language of Fish Pathogens. Goucher College Women in Science Speaker Series.
  • Snyder AK and Welch TJ. (2015) Flagella biosynthesis and regulation by the Rcs pathway within the fish pathogen Yersinia ruckeri during infection. Pittsburgh Bacterial Meeting Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA. 
  • Snyder AK and Welch TJ. (2014) Regulation of flagella biosynthesis within the fish pathogen, Yersinia ruckeri. Allegheny Branch ASM Annual Meeting. Lycoming College. Williamsport, PA. 
  • Snyder AK, Savage AF, Clark BA*, Hewitt RE, Rio RVM. (2012) The obligate mutualist of tsetse (Diptera: Glossinidae), Wigglesworthia, demonstrates species-specific nutrient provisioning, contributing towards host phenotypic variation. American Society for Microbiology Conference on Beneficial Microbes, San Antonio, TX.\ 
  • Snyder AK, Rio RVM. (2011) Unique genomic traits of the tsetse (Diptera: Glossinidae) primary symbiont may aid in vector competence. Young Investigator Oral Presentation. American Society for Microbiology Conference, New Orleans, LA. 
  • Snyder AK, McMillen CM*, Rio RVM. (2010) Phylogeny of Recently Diverged Insect Symbionts Based on Hypervariable Genome Regions. American Society for Microbiology Conference, San Diego, CA. 

Academic or Professional Associations

  • Member, American Society for Microbiology

    Member, Maryland Branch of the American Society for Microbiology

    Member, Association of Women in Science

    Phi Sigma Biology Honorary Society Member (Inducted 2008)   

    Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society (in recognition of academic excellence) (Inducted 2005)