About
Dr. Steve Fiester is a microbiologist whose research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis, antimicrobial resistance and the development of novel therapeutics for multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. Through his collaborations with Clemson University and Prisma Health, he has helped establish a productive translational research program that has resulted in numerous peer-reviewed publications, scientific presentations, shared research infrastructure agreements and funded educational initiatives. These collaborations have also supported innovative training opportunities, including an NIH-funded T35 program that provided research experiences for University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville medical students in Clemson laboratories.
Dr. Fiester earned his B.S. in Zoology, summa cum laude, from Kent State University in 2005 and his Ph.D. in Physiology from Kent State University in 2011. He completed postdoctoral training at Miami University under the mentorship of Dr. Luis Actis, where he began his investigations into the opportunistic pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii, a research focus that continues to define his laboratory. His research has been supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy and the Infectious Diseases Society of America among others.
In addition to his appointment at Clemson University, Dr. Fiester holds appointments with the Department of Pathology at Prisma Health, the Department of Chemistry at Furman University, the Florida State University College of Medicine Family and Internal Medicine Residency Programs at Lee Health and the Department of Biological Sciences at Florida Gulf Coast University, where he also serves as the One Health Pre-Professional Programs Coordinator. An active leader in the microbiology community, Dr. Fiester currently serves as Chair of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Branch Organization Subcommittee and as a member of both the ASM Membership Committee and ASM Branch Advisory Council. He has previously served as ASM Region I Planning Coordinator and held leadership positions with the Florida, South Carolina, Connecticut Valley, and Central New York ASM Branches. In recognition of his contributions to the profession, he received the ASM Peggy Cotter Award in 2020.
Dr. Fiester also contributes extensively to scientific publishing and peer review. He has editorial responsibilities for Frontiers in Bacteriology, Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education and Microorganisms. He regularly reviews manuscripts for journals including Scientific Reports, Frontiers in Microbiology, PLoS ONE, BMC Microbiology, Microbial Pathogenesis and Future Microbiology. In addition, he has served as a grant reviewer for the National Science Foundation, the American Society for Microbiology, United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Polish National Science Centre.
How their research is transforming health care
My research seeks to define the molecular mechanisms that enable multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens to cause disease and to translate these discoveries into new therapeutic strategies. My laboratory focuses on ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter species), with particular emphasis on Acinetobacter baumannii. A. baumannii is an opportunistic Gram-negative pathogen responsible for serious hospital-acquired infections, including pneumonia, bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections, meningitis, wound infections and necrotizing fasciitis. The emergence of multidrug-resistant strains has made it one of the most challenging bacterial pathogens facing modern health care. While substantial research has focused on antibiotic resistance, comparatively little is known about the molecular mechanisms that drive virulence and disease progression. My research addresses this critical knowledge gap by identifying the biological pathways that contribute to infection and uncovering novel targets for antimicrobial drug development.
Current projects investigate bacterial cytotoxicity, iron acquisition during host infection, protein secretion systems, stress response pathways and host-pathogen interactions. My laboratory has also challenged the long-standing view that A. baumannii is non-hemolytic by demonstrating that hemolytic activity is an important contributor to bacterial virulence. These discoveries are helping advance the understanding of bacterial pathogenesis while informing the development of next-generation therapeutics for drug-resistant infections. By integrating basic science with translational research, my program aims to improve patient outcomes, reduce the burden of antimicrobial resistance and strengthen antimicrobial stewardship efforts in health care.
Health Research Expertise Keywords
Infectious diseases, clinical microbiology, bacterial pathogenesis, antibiotic development, antimicrobial stewardship, Acinetobacter baumannii, host–pathogen interactions.
