Faculty

 

 

 

 

Ludek Zurek
BS. 1987, Mendel Agricultural University, Brno, CZ
Ph.D. 1998, University of Alberta, Edmonton, CA
Postdoctoral: 1999-2002, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
Associate Professor
Phone:(785) 532-4731
Fax: (785) 532-6232
Email: lzurek@ksu.edu
Personal Webpage: http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~lzurek/

 

 

Research

Research in my laboratory is focused on: 1) Ecology of antibiotic resistant enterococci and horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes in the gastro-intestinal microbial community of mammals and insects; 2) Microbial ecology of the mammalian gastro-intestinal tract using an insect model; 3) Diversity and significance of the gastro-intestinal microbial community in insect nutrition and behavior; 4) Pre- and post-harvest food safety: Ecology of food-borne pathogens Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Enterobacter sakazakii.
 

Selected Publications

Anderson, J.F., T.D. Parrish, M. Akhtar, L. Zurek, and H. Hirt (2008). Antibiotic resistance of enterococci in American bison (Bison bison) from a nature preserve compared to that of enterococci in pastured cattle. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 74: 1726-1730.

Larson, Z., B. Subramanyam, L. Zurek, and T. Herrman (2008). Diversity and antibiotic resistance of enterococci associated with stored-product insects collected form feed mills. Journal of Stored Product Research 44: 198-203.

Macovei, L., B. Miles, and L. Zurek* (2008). The potential of house flies to contaminate ready-to-eat food with antibiotic resistant enterococci. Journal of Food Protection 71: 432-439.

Macovei, L. and L. Zurek* (2007). Influx of enterococci and associated antibiotic resistance and virulence genes from ready-to-eat food to the human digestive tract. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 73: 6740-6747.

Mramba, F., A. Broce, and L. Zurek* (2007). Vector competence of stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans L. (Diptera: Muscidae) for Enterobacter sakazakii. Journal of Vector Ecology 32: 134-139.

Ahmad, A., T.G. Nagaraja, and L. Zurek* (2007). Transmission of Escherichia coli O157:H7 to cattle by house flies. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 80: 74-81.

Ahmad A. and L. Zurek * (2006). Evaluation of the anti-terminator Q933 gene as a marker for Escherichia coli O157:H7 with high Shiga toxin production. Current Microbiology 53: 324-328.

Alam M.J. and L. Zurek* (2006). Seasonal prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in beef cattle feces. Journal of Food Protection 69: 3018-3020.

Sanderson MW, J.M. Sargeant, X. Shi, T.G. Nagaraja, L. Zurek , M.J. Alam (2006). Longitudinal emergence and distribution of Escherichia coli O157 genotypes in a beef feedlot. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 72: 7614-7619.

Macovei L. and L. Zurek* (2006). Ecology of antibiotic resistance genes: Characterization of enterococci from houseflies collected in food settings. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 72: 4028-4035.

Ahmad A., A. Broce, and L. Zurek* (2006) Significance of bacteria in development of the secondary screwworm, Cochliomyia macellaria. Journal of Medical Entomology 43: 1129-1133.

Romero A., A. Broce, L. Zurek* (2006). Role of bacteria in oviposition behavior and larval development of stable flies. Medical and Veterinary Entomology 20: 115-121.

Mramba F., A. Broce, and L. Zurek* (2006). Isolation of Enterobacter sakazakii from stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans L.). Journal of Food Protection 69: 671-673