Dr. Rachel Pritchard

Dr. Rachel Pritchard
Associate Professor of Biology
Biology Program Coordinator
Chair, Division of Natural Science and Mathematics
rpritchard@kwc.edu
270-852-3145
Yu Hak Hahn #107

 

 


Education

B.A., Microbiology and Zoology, Ohio Wesleyan University, 2008
Ph.D., Microbiology, Miami University, 2014

Courses taught:

Freshman Seminar
Introductory Biology
Concepts of Biology
General Biology II
Medical Microbiology
Biology/Zoology Junior Seminar
Microbiology I
Microbiology II
Immunology

Research Interests
My traditional research lab examines the bacterial pathogenicity of Mycoplasma species. I am specifically interested in the production of hydrogen peroxide as a virulence factor and the presence and activity of catalase in a select number of species. However, I am always open to exploring other microbiology projects of interest to KWC students.

I am also interested in the science of teaching and learning and the assessment of best educational practices in the science classroom and laboratory. My current focus is the implementation and assessment of course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) in traditional lab courses at various levels of the curriculum.

Selected presentations

Boyken, B., Frazier, C.J., R.E. Pritchard. 2018. Effect of growth temperature on Mycoplasma iowae pathogenicity. 2018 Kentucky Wesleyan College Scholar’s Day, Owensboro, KY.

Cary, D., Walsh, T., R.E. Pritchard. 2018. Mycoplasma iowae catalase assay. 2018 Kentucky Wesleyan College Scholar’s Day, Owensboro, KY.

Humphries, K., Goff, S., R.E. Pritchard. 2018. Prevalence of antibiotic resistance in the environment. 2018 Kentucky Wesleyan College Scholar’s Day, Owensboro, KY.

Newton, Z.N. and R.E. Pritchard. 2018. Comparison of growth of Mycoplasma iowae in Hayflick vs. SP4 broth using growth index curve. 2018 Kentucky Wesleyan College Scholar’s Day, Owensboro, KY.

Webb, E. and R.E. Pritchard. 2018. A comparison of bacterial growth in vegan and non-vegan mascara when inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. 2018 Kentucky Wesleyan College Scholar’s Day, Owensboro, KY.

Webb, E., Umphress, T., R.E. Pritchard, 2018. Prevalence of antibiotic resistance in the environment. 2018 Kentucky Wesleyan College Scholar’s Day, Owensboro, KY.

Newton, Z.W., Pritchard, R.E., M.F. Balish. 2017. Production of hydrogen peroxide as a virulence factor by Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies capri. 2017 Annual Kentucky Academy of Science meeting, Murray, KY.

Newton, Z.W., Pritchard, R.E., M.F. Balish. 2017. Production of hydrogen peroxide as a virulence factor by Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies capri. 2017 Kentucky Wesleyan College Scholar’s Day, Owensboro, KY.

Walsh, T.J and R.E. Pritchard. 2017. Development of a novel catalase assay for mycoplasmas. 2017 Kentucky Wesleyan College Scholar’s Day, Owensboro, KY.

Newton, Z.W., Pritchard, R.E., M.F. Balish. 2016. Production of hydrogen peroxide as a virulence factor by Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies capri. 2016 Annual Kentucky Academy of Science meeting, Louisville, KY.

Shandran, S., Assad-Garcia, N., Ma, L., Alperovich, N., Chuang, R.-Y., Vijaya, S., Glass, J., Wise, K., Pritchard, R., Balish, M., Blanchard, A., Sirand-Pugnut, P., Lartigue, C., Jores, J., and S. Vasheee. 2016. Eludicating the multiple mechanisms of hydrogen peroxide production using synthetic biology techniques in Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies capri. 21st Congress of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology, Brisbane, Australia.

Pritchard, R. E., Ottman, D. J., and Z. W. Newton. 2016. Production of hydrogen peroxide as a virulence factor by Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies capri. Oral presentation. Center for Engaged Teaching and Learning Spring Conference, Kentucky Wesleyan College, Owensboro, KY.

Powell, L., Finerty, S., R. Pritchard. 2016. Measuring water quality at John James Audubon State Park: A comparison of two lakes. 2016 Kentucky Wesleyan College Scholar’s Day, Owensboro, KY.

Pritchard, R. E. and M. F. Balish. 2015. Mycoplasma iowae: Relationships among oxygen, virulence, and protection from oxidative stress. 115th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, New Orleans, LA.

Pritchard, R. E., Bialorucki, C. A., and M. F. Balish. 2014. Protective benefit of Mycoplasma iowae using a Caenorhabditis elegans model. 114th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, Boston, MA.

Selected publications

Pritchard, R.E. and Balish, M.F. 2015. Mycoplasma iowae: relationships among oxygen, virulence, and protection from oxidative stress. Vet. Res. 46(36): DOI 10.1186/s13567-015-0170-7.

Pritchard, R.E., Prassinos, A.J., Osborne, J.D., Raviv, Z., and Balish, M.F. 2014. Reduction of hydrogen peroxide accumulation and toxicity by a catalase from Mycoplasma iowae. PLoS ONE 9(8): e105188.