Erica Boldenow
- Dr. Erica Boldenow
- Assistant Professor
- Biology, Public Health
- DeVries Hall 211
- 616-526-6490
- erica.boldenow@calvin.edu
Education
- B.S. in Biology, Calvin College, 2008
- Ph.D. in Toxicology, University of Michigan, 2014
Biography
Dr. Boldenow’s research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of adverse birth outcomes such as preterm birth. Specifically she is interested in the mechanisms by which Group B Streptococcus (GBS; S. agalactiae) interacts at the maternal-fetal interface. GBS infection in pregnancy increases risk for adverse birth outcomes such as preterm birth, neonatal sepsis, and congenital neurodevelopmental disorders, and is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality in the United States. In addition to infections during pregnancy, Dr. Boldenow is also interested in how environmental contaminants potential lead to adverse birth outcomes. During her Ph.D. she investigated how phthalates, brominated flame retardants, and trichloroethylene (TCE), contributed to changes in host immune response during pregnancy. Dr. Boldenow enjoys teaching in the classroom and working with undergraduates in the lab. She is also interested in understanding and incorporating best teaching practices in the college classroom.
When Dr. Boldenow is not teaching or in lab, she can usually be found spending time with friends and family. She enjoys cooking for lots of people and canning. She also enjoys the outdoors: canoeing, camping, and hiking. Life always seems better in a canoe.
Academic interests
- Group B Streptococcus infection
- Host response to infections during pregnancy
- Adverse Birth Outcomes
- Host immune response to environmental contaminants
- Environmental stewardship
- Best teaching practices
Research and scholarship
Dr. Boldenow’s research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of adverse birth outcomes such as preterm birth. Specifically she is interested in the mechanisms by which Group B Streptococcus (GBS; S. agalactiae) interacts at the maternal-fetal interface. GBS infection in pregnancy increases risk for adverse birth outcomes such as preterm birth, neonatal sepsis, and congenital neurodevelopmental disorders, and is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality in the United States. In addition to infections during pregnancy, Dr. Boldenow is also interested in how environmental contaminants potential lead to adverse birth outcomes. During her Ph.D. she investigated how phthalates, brominated flame retardants, and trichloroethylene (TCE), contributed to changes in host immune response during pregnancy. Dr. Boldenow enjoys teaching in the classroom and working with undergraduates in the lab. She is also interested in understanding and incorporating best teaching practices in the college classroom.
Publications
- J Vornhagen, B Armistead, V Santana-Ufret, C Gendrin, S Merillat, M Coleman, P Quach, E Boldenow, V Alishetti, C Leonhard-Melief, LY Ngo, C Whidby, KS Doran, C Curis, KMA Waldorf, E Nance, L Rajagopal. Group B streptococcus exploits vaginal epithelial exfoliation for ascending infection. J Clin Invest. April 2018.
- T Mitchell, JW MacDonald, S Srinouanpranchanh, TK Bammler, S Merillat, E Boldenow, M Coleman, K Agnew, A Baldessari, JE Stencel-Baerenwald, J Tisoncik-Go, RR Green, MJ Gale Jr, L Rajagopal and K Adams Waldorf. Evidence of cardiac involvement in the fetal inflammatory response syndrome: disruption of gene networks programming cardiac development in nonhuman primates. Am J Obstet Gynecol, April 2018.
- KM Adams Waldorf, JE Stencel-Baerenwald, C Studholme, RP Kapur, BR Nelson, B Armistead, CL Walker, S Merillat, J Vornhagen, J Tisoncik-Go, A Baldessari, M Coleman, MK Dighe, DWW Shaw, JA Roby, V Santana-Ufret, E Boldenow, JA Swanstrom, DG Widman, RS Baric, JT Medwid, KA Hanley, J Ogle, M Gough, W Lee, C English, W McIntyre Durning, J Thiel, C Gatenby, EC Dewey, MR Fairgrieve, RF Grant, L Kuller, WB Dobyns, RF Hevner, M Gale, L Rajagopal. Loss of fetal brain volume and neural progenitor cells after maternal zika virus infection in a nonhuman primate model. Nature Medicine, February 2018.
- HR Park, SM Harris, E Boldenow, RC McEachin, M Sartor, M Chames, and R Loch-Caruso. Group B Streptococcus activates transcriptomic pathways related to premature birth in human extraplacental membranes in vitro. Bio Reprod, November 2017.
- C Gendrin, NJ Shubin, E Boldenow, S Merillat, M Clauson, D Power, KS Doran, M Abrink, G Pejler, L Ragagopal, AM Piliponsky. Mast cell chymase decreases the severity of groupB Streptoccus infections. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, September 2017.
- E Boldenow, C Gendrin, L Ngo, C Bierle, J Vornhagen, M Coleman, S Merillat, B Armistead, C Whidbey, V Alishetti, V Santana-Ufret, J Ogle, M Gough, S Srinouanprachanh, JW MacDonald, TK Bammler, A Bansal, HD Liggitt, L Rajagopal, and KM Adams Waldorf. Group B Streptococcus circumvents neutrophils and neutrophil extracellular traps during amniotic cavity invasion and preterm labor. Science Immunology, October 2016.
- KM Adams Waldorf, JE Stencel-Baierenwald, RP Kapur, C Studholmes, E Boldenow, J Vornhagen, A Baldessari, MK Dighes, J Thiels, S Merillat, B Armistead, J Tisoncik-Go, RR Green, MA Davis, EC Dewey, MR Fairgrieve, C Gatenby, T Richards, GA Garden, MS Diamond, SE Juul, RF Grant, L Kuller, DWW Shaw, J Ogle, M Gough, W Lee, C English, RF Hevner, WB Dobyn, M Gale, and L Rajagopal. Fetal brain lesions after subcutaneous inoculation of Zika virus in a pregnant nonhuman primate. Nature Medicine, November 2016.
For more publications by Prof. Boldenow, see PubMed.
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