Courses Taught Fall 2024
Courses Taught Spring 2025
About Me
I have always been interested in learning new things. Especially as they pertain to
the world around us. In addition, I love passing that same desire to learn to others
and get them excited to learn about the world around them. I started my educational
pursuit at Snow College many years ago. A dedicated professor saw how much I loved
to learn and suggested that I take a variety of science classes that would help me
decide what I wanted to learn about. I fell in love with microbiology.
I finished my associate degree and transferred to Utah State University (USU) where
I continued to learn. Not only did I learn in the classroom, but I also learned by
doing research. I discovered the fun of developing new dairy products in the Nutrition
and Food Science area. This led me to my first job after graduation as a quality control
technician at a cheese plant. I soon discovered the fun and exciting world of antimicrobial
chemotherapy research as I became the laboratory supervisor for the Antifungal Research
Program at USU. I wanted to learn more about genetics, so I did a master's thesis
under the direction of Noelle Cockett. My PhD work involved combining many areas of
biology, microbiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology as I discovered and evaluated
novel antimicrobial compounds produced by bacteria under the direction of Jon Takemoto.
My post-doctoral work at Stanford University continued this learning as I evaluated
preclinical therapeutics for the treatment of fungal diseases. This led me to the
pharmaceutical industry where I worked to develop new compounds and therapies for
diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant organisms. At Snow College, I get to continue
to develop and encourage others to develop this love for learning. It is one of the
most rewarding things I have done.
Education
- Post-doctoral Fellowship, Stanford University, Stanford, CA July 1997 - January 1999
- Ph.D.; Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT August 1997
- M.S.; Biology/Molecular Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT March 1994
- B.S.; Major in Biology (Microbiology option), minor in Chemistry; Utah State University,
Logan, UT June 1990
- A.S.; Snow College, Ephraim, UT June 1987
Publications and Presentations
Publications
- Allen, S.D., K.N. Sorensen, M.J. Nejdl and R.T. Proffitt. Efficacy of Aerosolized
Liposomal Amphotericin B (AmBisome®) as a Prophylactic Treatment in an Immune Compromised Murine Model of Pulmonary Aspergillosis.
J. Controlled Release, 1994, 28 (1-3):348-349.
- Sorensen, K.N., S.D. Allen, M.J. Nejdl and R.T. Proffitt. Aerosolization of Liposomal
(AmBisome®) and Non-Liposomal (Fungizone®) Amphotericin B as a Treatment for Pulmonary Fungal Infections. J. Controlled Release,
1994, 28 (1-3):346-347.
- Allen, S.D., K.N. Sorensen, M.J. Nejdl, C.C. Durrant and R.T. Proffitt. Prophylactic
Efficacy of Aerosolized Liposomal [AmBisome] and Nonliposomal [Fungizone] Amphotericin
B in Murine Pulmonary Aspergillosis. J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 1994, 34:1001-1013
- Sorensen, K.N., K.-H. Kim, J.Y. Takemoto. In vitro and fungicidal activities and erythrocyte
toxicities of cyclic lipodepsinonapeptides produced by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 1996, 40(12):2710-2713
- Sorensen, K.N., K.-H. Kim, and J.Y. Takemoto. PCR detection of cyclic lipodepsinonapeptide-producing
Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae and similarity of strains. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 1998, 64 (1):226-230.
- Bull, C.T., M.L. Wadsworth, K.N. Sorensen, J.Y. Takemoto, R.K. Austin, J.L. Smilanick.
Syringomycin E produced by biological control agents controls green mold on lemons.
Biological Control. 1998, 12 (2):89-95.
- Williams, P.L., R.A. Sobel, K.N. Sorensen, K.V. Clemons, L.M. Shuer, S.S. Royaltey,
Y. Yao, D. Pappagianis, J.E. Lutz, C. Reed, M.E. River, B.C. Lee, S.U. Bhatti, D.A.
Stevens. A model of coccidioidal meningoencephalitis and cerebral vasculitis in the
rabbit. 1998, J. Infect. Dis. 178:1217-1221
- Sorensen, K.N., A. A. Wanstrom, S.D. Allen, and J.Y. Takemoto. Efficacy of syringomycin
E in a murine model of vaginal candidiasis. 1998, J. Antibiotics 51:743-749
- Sorensen, K.N., K.V. Clemons, and D.A. Stevens. Murine models of blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis,
and histoplasmosis. 1999. Mycopathologia 146:(2) 53-65
- Sorensen, K.N., R.A. Sobel, K.V. Clemons, D. Pappagianis, D.A. Stevens, P.L. Williams.
Comparison of fluconazole and itraconazole in a rabbit model of coccidioidal meningitis.
2000. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 44:(6) 1512-1517
- Sorensen, K.N., R.A. Sobel, K.V. Clemons, L. Calderon, K.J. Howell, P.R. Irani, D.
Pappagianis, P.L. Williams, D.A. Stevens. Comparative efficacies of terbinafine and
fluconazole in the treatment of experimental coccidioidal meningitis in a rabbit model.
2000. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 44: 3087-3091
- Ingeborg Grgurina, Mekki Bensaci, Gabriella Pocsfalvi, Luisa Mannina, Oscar Cruciani,
Alberto Fiore, Vincenzo Fogliano, Kevin N. Sorensen, and Jon Y. Takemoto Novel Cyclic
Lipodepsipeptide from Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachrymans Strain 508 and Syringopeptin Antimicrobial Activities 2005 Antimicrob.
Agents Chemotherapy. 29:5037-5045
- Shrestha, S.K., C.T Chang, N. Meissner, J. Olbad, J.P. Shrestha, K.N. Sorensen, M.M.
Grilley, and J.Y. Takemoto. Antifungal amphiphilic aminoglycoside K20: bioactivities
and mechanism of action. 2014. Front. Microbiol. 5:671:1-12. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00671
- Sanjib K. Shrestha; Michelle Grilley; Thomas Anderson; Christine Dhiman; John Oblad;
Cheng-Wei T. Chang; Kevin N. Sorensen; Jon Y. Takemoto. In vitro antifungal synergy
between amphiphilic aminoglycoside K20 and azoles against Candida species and Cryptococcus
neoformans. 2015. Medical Mycology
Presentations
- Allen, S.D., K. Sorensen, C. Anderson, J. Halverson, S. Sugiyama. An Animal Model
of Oral Thrush (Mucocutaneous Candidiasis) in a Severe Combined Immune Deficiency
(SCID) Mouse. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Intermountain Branch of the American
Society for Microbiology, April 13, 1991. Logan, UT.
- Sorensen, K.N., S.D. Allen. Evaluation of the Efficacy of Ketoconazole and Fluconazole
in an Immune Normal Murine Model of Systemic Aspergillosis and Cryptococcosis. Presented
at the Annual Meeting of the Intermountain Branch of the American Society for Microbiology,
April 13, 1991. Logan, UT.
- Sorensen, K.N., S.D. Allen. Efficacy of Aerosolized Amphotericin B in an Immune Suppressed
Murine Model of Pulmonary Aspergillosis. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Intermountain
Branch of the American Society for Microbiology. April 11, 1992. Dugway, UT.
- Allen, S.D, K.N. Sorensen, L. Meyerson. Efficacy of Topical SP-1101 in a Rat Candida albicans Model of Vaginitis. Presented at the 92nd General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology. May 29, 1992. New Orleans,
LA.
- Allen, S.D., K.N. Sorensen. Efficacy of Aerosolized Liposomal Amphotericin B in a
Murine Model of Pulmonary Aspergillosis. Presented in conjunction with the 4th Symposium on Topics in Mycology. September 1-4, 1992. Cambridge, England.
- Allen, S.D., K.N. Sorensen. Efficacy of Aerosolized Lamisil Liposomes in a Murine
Model of Pulmonary Aspergillosis. Presented at Sandoz Pharma LTD. September 9, 1992.
Basle, Switzerland.
- Allen, S.D., K.N. Sorensen, M.J. Nejdl and R.T. Proffitt. Efficacy of Aerosolized
Liposomal Amphotericin B (AmBisome®) as a Prophylactic Treatment in an Immune Compromised Murine Model of Pulmonary Aspergillosis.
Presented at the 6th International Symposium on Recent Advances in Drug Delivery Systems. February 22-25,
1993. Salt Lake City, Utah; Focus on Fungal Infections 3. April 1-2, 1993. Tucson,
AZ; and Annual Meeting of the Intermountain Branch of the American Society for Microbiology.
May 1, 1993. Idaho Falls, ID.
- Sorensen, K.N., S.D. Allen, M.J. Nejdl and R.T. Proffitt. Aerosolization of Liposomal
(AmBisome®) and Non-Liposomal (Fungizone®) Amphotericin B as a Treatment for Pulmonary Fungal Infections. Presented at the
6th International Symposium on Recent Advances in Drug Delivery Systems. February 22-25,
1993. Salt Lake City, Utah; Focus on Fungal Infections 3. April 1-2, 1993. Tucson,
AZ; and Annual Meeting of the Intermountain Branch of the American Society for Microbiology.
May 1, 1993. Idaho Falls, ID.
- Sorensen, K.N., N.E. Muggli-Cockett, D. Bailey, D.D. Kress, D.C. Anderson, D.E. Doornbos,
and M.A. Cronin. Allele Frequencies of the k-casein, ß-lactoglobulin and Major Histocompatibility
Class II Genes in Beef Cattle. Presented at the Annual American Society of Animal
Science (Western Section). July 6-9, 1993. Spokane, WA.
- Allen, S.D., K.N. Sorensen, M.J. Nejdl, C.C. Durrant and R.T. Proffitt. Effectiveness
of Aerosolized Amphotericin B as a Prophylactic Treatment for Pulmonary Aspergillosis
in a Murine Model. Presented at Trends in Invasive Fungal Infections II. September
2-4, 1993. Manchester, United Kingdom.
- Sorensen, K.N., N.E. Muggli-Cockett, D.D. Kress, D.C. Anderson, D.E. Doornbos, and
D. Bailey. Allele Frequencies of the ⍺s1-casein, k-casein, ß-lactoglobulin Genes in Beef Cattle and Estimation of Associations
with Milk Fat Percentage, Milk Protein Percentage, and Milk Yield. Presented at the
Annual American Society of Animal Science (Western Section). June 22-24, 1994. Las
Cruses, NM.
- Sorensen, K.N., K.H. Kim, and J.Y. Takemoto. In Vitro Activity of Syringomycin E,
a New Antifungal Produced by Pseudomonas syringae pv syringae. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Intermountain Branch of the American Society
for Microbiology. April 22, 1995. Pocatello, ID.
- Kim, K.H., K.N. Sorensen, and J.Y. Takemoto. A Novel Bioactive Lipodepsipeptide Produced
by Pseudomonas syringae Cherry Isolate. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Intermountain Branch of the
American Society for Microbiology. April 22, 1995. Pocatello, ID.
- Farrell, L., S.D. Allen and K.N. Sorensen. Use of Recombinant Human Granulocyte Colony
Stimulating Factor as an Adjunct in Antifungal Chemotherapy. Presented at the Annual
Meeting of the Intermountain Branch of the American Society for Microbiology. April
22, 1995. Pocatello, ID.
- Allen, S.D., M.J. Nejdl, K.N. Sorensen, C.C. Durrant and R.T. Proffitt. Prophylactic
and Therapeutic Efficacy of Aerosolized Liposomal Amphotericin B (AmBisome®) Against Pulmonary Aspergillosis in a Mouse Model. Presented at the Annual Meeting
of the Intermountain Branch of the American Society for Microbiology. April 22, 1995.
Pocatello, ID.
- Peterson, K.T., N.E. Cockett, K.N. Sorensen, D.D. Kress, D.C. Anderson, K.C. Olson,
R. Rollim, and B. Bowman. Estimation of associations with the ß-lactoglobulin, ⍺s1-casein, and k-casein genes and milk yield in beef cattle. Presented at the Annual
American Society of Animal Science (Western Section). June 6-8, 1995. Lethbridge,
Alberta, Canada.
- Kim, K.H., K.N. Sorensen, and J.Y. Takemoto. A novel lipodepsipeptide antifungal agent
from Pseudomonas syringae. Presented at the 35th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. September 17-20,
1995. San Francisco, CA.
- Sorensen, K.N., Kim, K.H., and J.Y. Takemoto. In vitro antifungal and fungicidal activity
of a cyclic lipodepsipeptide, syringomycin E. Presented at the 35th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. September 17-20,
1995. San Francisco, CA.
- Kim, K.-H., K.N. Sorensen, J.Y. Takemoto. CLP-C3A, a novel antifungal agent, from
Pseudomonas syringae. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Intermountain Branch of the American Society
for Microbiology. April 20, 1996. Logan, UT.
- Sorensen, K.N., K.-H. Kim, A.A. Wanstrom, J.Y. Takemoto. Production, purification
and in vitro antifungal activity of syringostatin-A, a new antifungal agent produced
by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Intermountain Branch of the American Society
for Microbiology. April 20, 1996. Logan, UT.
- Bull, C.T., M.L. Wadsworth, J. Takemoto, K.N. Sorensen and J.L. Smilanick. Role of
secondary metabolites in biological control by Pseudomonas syringae pv syringae strains ESC-10 and ESC-11. Presented at the 8th International Congress of Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions. July 14-20, 1996.
Knoxville, TN.
- Sorensen, K.N., A.A. Wanstrom, S.D. Allen, and J.Y. Takemoto. Efficacy of syringomycin
E, a new antifungal, in a murine model of vaginal candidiasis. Presented at the Annual
Meeting of the Intermountain Branch of the American Society for Microbiology. April
26, 1997. Dugway, UT.
- Sorensen, K.N., A.A. Wanstrom, S.D. Allen, and J.Y. Takemoto. Syringomycin E, a new
antifungal, in a murine model of vaginal candidiasis: efficacy and local toxicity.
Presented at the 97th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology. May 4-8, 1997. Miami Beach,
FL.
- Williams, P.L, R.A. Sobel, K.N. Sorensen, K.V. Clemons, D. Pappagianis, S.S. Royaltey,
and D.A. Stevens. Progress in the development of a rabbit model of coccidioidal central
nervous system vasculitis. Presented at the 42nd Coccidioidomycosis Study Group. April 4, 1998. Visalia, CA.
- Sorensen, K.N., K.V. Clemons, R.A. Sobel, D. Pappagianis, D.A. Stevens, and P.L. Williams.
Comparison of fluconazole and itraconazole in the treatment of coccidioidal meningitis
in the rabbit model. Presented at the 42nd Coccidioidomycosis Study Group. April 4, 1998. Visalia, CA.
- Williams, P.L., R.A. Sobel, K.N. Sorensen, K.V. Clemons, L.M. Shuer, S.S. Royaltey,
Y. Yao, D. Pappagianis, J.E. Lutz, C. Reed, M.E. River, B.C. Lee, S.O. Bhatti, and
D.A. Stevens. A model of coccidioidal meningitis (CM) in the rabbit (R). Presented
at the 38th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. September 24-27,
1998. San Diego, CA.
- P.L. Williams, K.N. Sorensen, K.V. Clemons, R.A. Sobel, D. Pappagianis, and D.A. Stevens.
A rabbit model of meningeal endarteritis obliterans (MEO) associated with coccidioidal
meningitis (CM). Presented at the 38th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. September 24-27,
1998. San Diego, CA.
- Sorensen, K.N., K.V. Clemons, R.A. Sobel, D. Pappagianis, D.A. Stevens, and P.L. Williams.
Efficacies of fluconazole and itraconazole in a rabbit model of coccidioidal meningitis.
Presented at the 38th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. September 24-27,
1998. San Diego, CA.
- Sorensen, K.N., K.J. Howell, L. Calderon, T. Bui, K.V. Clemons, R.A. Sobel, D. Pappagianis,
D.A. Stevens, and P.L. Williams. Evaluation of interferon gamma as adjunctive therapy
in combination with fluconazole in the treatment of coccidioidal meningitis in a rabbit
model. Presented at the 43rd Coccidioidomycosis Study Group. March 20, 1999. Tijuana, Mexico.
- Sorensen, K.N., L. Calderon, K.J. Howell, P.R. Irani, K.V. Clemons, R.A. Sobel, D.
Pappagianis, D.A. Stevens, and P.L. Williams. Comparative efficacies of fluconazole
and terbinafine in a rabbit model of coccidioidal meningitis. Presented at the 43rd Coccidioidomycosis Study Group. March 20, 1999. Tijuana, Mexico.
- Dudley, M., D. Griffith, E. Corcoran, C. Liu, K. Sorensen, V. Tembe, D. Cotter, S.
Chamberland, and S. Chen. Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) indices for vancomycin
(V) treatment of susceptible (VSSA) and intermediate (VISA) S. aureus in the neutropenic mouse thigh model. Presented at the 39th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. September 26-29,
1999. San Francisco, CA.
- Sorensen, K., E. Corcoran, S. Chen, D. Clark, V. Tembe, O. Lomovskaya, and M Dudley.
Pharmacodynamic assessment of efflux- and target-based resistance to fluconazole (FLU)
on efficacy against C. albicans in a mouse kidney infection model. Presented at the 39th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. September 26-29,
1999. San Francisco, CA.
- Sorensen, K.N., K.J. Howell, L. Calderon, T. Bui, R.A. Sobel, K.V. Clemons, D. Pappagianis,
D.A. Stevens, and P.L. Williams. Evaluation of IFN-gamma as adjunctive therapy in
combination with fluconazole in a rabbit model of coccidioidal meningitis. Presented
at the 39th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. September 26-29,
1999. San Francisco, CA.
- Sorensen, K.N., L. Calderon, K.J. Howell, P.R. Irani, R.A. Sobel, K.V. Clemons, D.
Pappagianis, P.L. Williams, and D.A. Stevens. Comparative efficacies of terbinafine
and fluconazole in a rabbit model of coccidioidal meningitis. Presented at the 39th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. September 26-29,
1999. San Francisco, CA.
- Griffith, D., E. Corcoran, K. Sorensen and M. Dudley. Efficacy of RWJ-333,442 (MC-04,699),
the L-aspartyl prodrug of RWJ-333,441 (MC-04,546), in the treatment of experimental
murine Infections due to Staphylococcus aureus. Presented at the 40th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. September 17-20,
2000. Toronto, Canada
- Sorensen, K., E. Corcoran, D. Clark, K. Huie, S. Chen, V. Tembe, D. Griffith, O. Lomovskaya,
W. Watkins, and M Dudley. In Vivo Potentiation of Fluconazole by the Fungal Efflux
Pump Inhibitor MC-510,011 in a Mouse Model of Pyelonephritis Due to Fluconazole-Susceptible
and -Resistant Candida albicans. Presented at the 40th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. September 17-20,
2000. Toronto, Canada
- Khirsta A. Papenfuss, Derrick I. Gunther, Junichi Okabe, Joseph M. Papenfuss, and
Kevin N. Sorensen. Evaluation of Sunscreens with Different Sun Protection Factors
(SPFs) Using a UV-Sensitive Bacterium Serratia marcescens. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Intermountain Branch of the American Society
for Microbiology. March 29, 2003. Tooele, UT.
- Cody B. Mickelsen, Paul E. Fore, and Kevin N. Sorensen. Determination of Alcohol Content
of Homemade Root Beer Using Gas Chromatography. Presented at the Annual Meeting of
the Intermountain Branch of the American Society for Microbiology. March 29, 2003.
Tooele, UT
- C. Colbey, D. Lindstrom, C. B. Mickelsen, B. R. Beck, and K. N. Sorensen. Verification
of the Alcohol Content of Homemade Root Beer Using Pycnometer, Hydrometer, and Carbon
Dioxide Collection Methods. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Intermountain Branch
of the American Society for Microbiology. March 18, 2006. BYU Provo, UT
- Joshua N. Cobb, Joseph M. Papenfuss, Ammon B Marshall, Jessica K. Sorensen, Kevin
N. Sorensen, and Mikel R. Stevens. Comparison of Fragments of Cellulose Synthase (CesA) DNA in Widely Divergent Plant Species using Primers Derived from Zea Mays CesA-3 and Arabidopsis thaliana At4g39350. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Plant and Animal Genomes XIV Conference.
January 14-18, 2006 San Diego, CA