William Charles Shropshire, BA, MPH, PhD
Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control, and Employee Health, Division of Internal Medicine
About Dr. William Charles Shropshire
Dr. William Charles Shropshire is a translational infectious diseases researcher with interdisciplinary expertise spanning molecular epidemiology, bacterial genomics, and antimicrobial resistance. Currently a Research Faculty Instructor in the... Department of Infectious Diseases at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Shropshire leads research efforts focused on elucidating the molecular mechanisms driving β-lactam resistance in high-risk Escherichia coli lineages, with a particular emphasis on carbapenem resistance and recurrent infections in immunocompromised populations.
With formal training in epidemiology (PhD, MPH) and over a decade of hands-on experience in laboratory and computational methods, he has made impactful contributions to understanding mobile genetic elements, gene amplification, and bacterial strain evolution in clinical settings. His research has been supported by prestigious funding mechanisms including an NIH T32 fellowship and an NIAID LRP award, and his work has been published in high-impact journals such as Science, mBio, and J Infect Dis.
Dr. Shropshire is also committed to mentorship and education, having trained multiple graduate and undergraduate students and served in leadership roles including Chair of the Postdoctoral Teaching Subcommittee at MD Anderson. He is a sought-after speaker on antimicrobial resistance and genome sequencing applications, and actively contributes to regional and national efforts to advance microbial genomics and surveillance tools in public health and hospital environments.
Skills:
Proficient Basic Science: Next Generation Sequencing Protocols, Antimicrobial Resistance Susceptibility Testing, Basic Microbiology
Proficient Computational Science: Python, R, Bash, Git, REDCap, Epic
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Research Faculty, Instructor, Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control & Employee Health, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2020 | The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, US, Epidemiology, PhD |
| 2015 | The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Dallas, TX, US, Epidemiology, Master of Public Health |
| 2010 | The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, US, Biochemistry, Bachelor of Arts |
Postgraduate Training
| 2022-2024 | Gulf Coast Consortia Training Program in Antimicrobial Resistance (TPAMR; NIAID Grant No. T32 AI141349-05) Postdoctoral Fellow, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
| 2021-2022 | Postgraduate Fellow, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
Experience & Service
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Chair, Department of Postdoctoral Association Executive Committee: Professional Development, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2021 - 2023
President, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Dallas, Texas, 2013 - 2014
Honors & Awards
| 2025 | Cyrus Award Finalist, The Division of Internal Medicine - MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2023 | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Trainee Research Day – Oral Competition – Basic Science Research – Third Place, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2022 | 2022 Gulf Coast Consortia 32nd Annual Keck Annual Research Conference – Best Post-doctoral Poster Award, Gulf Coast Consortia |
| 2017 | UTHealth School of Public Health Dean’s Excellence Scholarship, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston |
Professional Memberships
Infectious Diseases Society of America
2019 - Present
American Society for Microbiology
2018 - Present
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Wu CT, Shropshire WC, Bhatti MM, Cantu S, Glover IK, Anand SS, Liu X, Kalia A, Treangen TJ, Chemaly RF, Spallone A, Shelburne S. Rapid whole genome characterization of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens using long-read sequencing to identify potential healthcare transmission. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 46(2):1-7, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39727230.
- Shropshire WC, Song X, Bremer J, Seo S, Rodriguez S, Anand SS, Dinh AQ, Bhatti MM, Konovalova A, Arias CA, Kalia A, Shamoo Y, Shelburne SA. Comprehensive Assessment of Initial Adaptation of ESBL Positive ST131 Escherichia coli to Carbapenem Exposure. J Infect Dis jiae587(4):e685-e696, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39602497.
- Condic N, Amiji H, Patel D, Shropshire WC, Lermi NO, Sabha Y, John B, Hanson B, Karras GI. Selection for robust metabolism in domesticated yeasts is driven by adaptation to Hsp90 stress. Science 385(6707):eadi3048, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39052788.
- Selvaraj Anand S, Wu CT, Bremer J, Bhatti M, Treangen TJ, Kalia A, Shelburne SA, Shropshire WC. Identification of a novel CG307 sub-clade in third-generation-cephalosporin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae causing invasive infections in the USA. Microb Genom 10(2):001201, 2024. PMID: 38407244.
- Kawai A, Shropshire WC, Suzuki M, Borjan J, Aitken SL, Bachman WC, McElheny CL, Bhatti MM, Shields RK, Shelburne SA, Yohei D. Structural insights into the molecular mechanism of high-level ceftazidime-avibactam resistance conferred by CMY-185. mBio 15(2):e0287423, 2024. PMID: 38179965.
- Shropshire WC, Amiji H, Bremer J, Selvaraj Anand S, Strope B, Saharsabhojane P, Gohel M, Aitken S, Spitznogle S, Zhan X, Kim J, Greenberg DE, Shelburne SA. Genetic determinants underlying the progressive phenotype of Beta-lactam/Beta-lactamase inhibitor resistance in Escherichia coli. Microbiology Spectrum 11(6):e0222123, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37800937.
- Shropshire WC, Endres BT, Borjan J, Aitken SL, Bachman WC, McElheny CL, Wu CT, Egge SL, Khan A, Miller WR, Bhatti MM, Saharasbhojane P, Kawai A, Shields RK, Shelburne SA, Doi Y. High-level ceftazidime/avibactam resistance in Escherichia coli conferred by the novel plasmid-mediated Beta-lactamase CMY-185 variant. J Antimicrob Chemother:dkad249, 2023. PMID: 37574665.
- Shropshire WC, Strope B, Selvaraj Anand S, Bremer J, McDaneld P, Bhatti MM, Flores AR, Kalia A, Shelburne SA. Temporal dynamics of genetically heterogeneous extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli bloodstream infections. mSphere:e0018323, 2023. PMID: 37427953.
- DebRoy S, Shropshire WC, Vega L, Tran C, Horstmann N, Mukherjee P, Selvaraj-Anand S, Tran TT, Bremer J, Gohel M, Arias CA, Flores AR, Shelburne SA. Identification of distinct impacts of CovS inactivation on the transcriptome of acapsular group A streptococci. mSystems 8(4):e00227-23, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37358280.
- Sakurai A, Dinh AQ, Hanson BM, Shropshire WC, Rizvi SA, Rydell K, Tran TT, Wanger A, Arias CA, Miller WR. Evolving landscape of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa at a single centre in the USA. JAC Antimicrob Resist 5(3):dlad070, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37288080.
- Singh NV, Singh KV, Dinh AQ, Arias CA, Shropshire WC, Hanson BM, Murray BE. Colocalization of Linezolid Resistance (cfr) and Virulence Factors Cytolysin and Hemolysin (cln and hln) on a Plasmid in Enterococcus faecalis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 67(6):e0025923, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37162332.
- Shropshire WC, Konovalova A, McDaneld P, Gohel M, Strope B, Sahasrabhojane P, Tran CN, Greenberg D, Kim J, Zhan X, Aitken S, Bhatti M, Savidge TC, Treangen TJ, Hanson BM, Arias CA, Shelburne SA. Systematic Analysis of Mobile Genetic Elements Mediating Beta-Lactamase Gene Amplification in Noncarbapenemase-Producing Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales Bloodstream Infections. mSystems 7(5):e0047622, 2022. PMID: 36036505.
- Streling AP, Cayô R, Catan TA, Jové T, Santos FF, Nodari CS, Hanson B, Miller WR, Shropshire W, Dinh AQ, Ribeiro J, Pignatari ACC, Arias CA, Gales AC. Unravelling complex transposable elements surrounding blaGES-16 in a Pseudomonas aeruginosa ExoU strain. J Glob Antimicrob Resist 30:143-147, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35447384.
- Al Mamun AAM, Kissoon K, Kishida K, Shropshire WC, Hanson B, Christie PJ. IncFV plasmid pED208: Sequence analysis and evidence for translocation of maintenance/leading region proteins through diverse type IV secretion systems. Plasmid 123:102652, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36228885.
- Shropshire WC, Dinh AQ, Earley M, Komarow L, Panesso D, Rydell K, Gómez-Villegas SI, Miao H, Hill C, Chen L, Patel R, Fries BC, Abbo L, Cober E, Revolinski S, Luterbach CL, Chambers H, Fowler Jr VG, Bonomo RA, Shelburne SA, Kreiswirth BN, van Duin D, Hanson BM, Arias CA. Accessory Genomes Drive Independent Spread of Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Clonal Groups 258 and 307 in Houston, TX. mBio 13(2):e0049722, 2022. PMID: 35357213.
- Cubria MB, Vega LA, Shropshire WC, Sanson MA, Shah BJ, Regmi S, Rench M, Baker CJ, Flores AR. Population genomics reveals distinct temporal association with the emergence of ST1 serotype V Group B Streptococcus and macrolide resistance in North America. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 66(1):e0071421, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 34633844.
- DebRoy S, Shropshire WC, Tran CN, Hao H, Gohel M, Galloway-Peña J, Hanson B, Flores AR, Shelburne SA. Characterization of the Type I Restriction Modification System Broadly Conserved among Group A Streptococci. mSphere 6(6):e0079921, 2021. PMID: 34787444.
- Spencer-Sandino M, Riquelme-Neira R, Shropshire WC, Dinh AQ, González-Rocha G, González-Muñoz P, Vera-Leiva A, Araos R, Hanson B, Arias CA, Munita JM. Selective digestive decontamination with oral colistin plus gentamicin for persistent bacteraemia caused by non-carbapenemase-producing carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in a neutropenic patient. JAC Antimicrob Resist 3(2):dlab079, 2021. PMID: 34223138.
- Kalaora S, Nagler A, Nejman D, Alon M, Barbolin C, Barnea E, Ketelaars SLC, Cheng K, Vervier K, Shental N, Bussi Y, Rotkopf R, Levy R, Benedek G, Trabish S, Dadosh T, Levin-Zaidman S, Geller LT, Wang K, Greenberg P, Yagel G, Peri A, Fuks G, Bhardwaj N, Reuben A, Hermida L, Johnson SB, Galloway-Peña JR, Shropshire WC, Bernatchez C, Haymaker C, Arora R, Roitman L, Eilam R, Weinberger A, Lotan-Pompan M, Lotem M, Admon A, Levin Y, Lawley TD, Adams DJ, Levesque MP, Besser MJ, Schachter J, Golani O, Segal E, Geva-Zatorsky N, Ruppin E, Kvistborg P, Peterson SN, Wargo JA, Straussman R, Samuels Y. Identification of bacteria-derived HLA-bound peptides in melanoma. Nature 592(7852):138-143, 2021. PMID: 33731925.
- Shropshire WC, Aitken SL, Pifer R, Kim J, Bhatti MM, Li X, Kalia A, Galloway-Peña J, Sahasrabhojane P, Arias CAA, Greenberg DE, Hanson BM, Shelburne SA. IS26-mediated amplification of blaOXA-1 and blaCTX-M-15 with concurrent outer membrane porin disruption associated with de novo carbapenem resistance in a recurrent bacteraemia cohort. J Antimicrob Chemother 76(2):385-395, 2021. PMID: 33164081.
- van Duin D, Arias CA, Komarow L, Chen L, Hanson BM, Weston G, Cober E, Garner OB, Jacob JT, Satlin MJ, Fries BC, Garcia-Diaz J, Doi Y, Dhar S, Kaye KS, Earley M, Hujer AM, Hujer KM, Domitrovic TN, Shropshire WC, Dinh A, Manca A, Luterbach CL, Wang M, Paterson DL, Banerjee R, Patel R, Evans S, Hill C, Arias R, Chambers HF, Fowler Jr VG, Kreiswirth BN, Bonomo RA. Molecular and clinical epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales in the USA (CRACKLE-2): a prospective cohort study. Lancet Infect Dis 20(6):731-741, 2020. PMID: 32151332.
- Khan A, Shropshire WC, Hanson B, Dinh AQ, Wanger A, Ostrosky-Zeichner L, Arias CA, Miller WR. Simultaneous infection with Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa harboring multiple Carbapenemases in a returning traveler colonized with Candida auris. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 64(2):e01466-19, 2020. PMID: 31658962.
- Khan A, Tran TT, Rios R, Hanson B, Shropshire WC, Sun Z, Diaz L, Dinh AQ, Wanger A, Ostrosky-Zeichner L, Palzkill T. Extensively drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa ST309 harboring tandem Guiana extended spectrum β-lactamase enzymes: a newly emerging threat in the United States. Open Forum Infect Dis 6(7):ofz273, 2019. PMID: 31281867.
- Schecter A, Kincaid J, Quynh HT, Lanceta J, Tran HT, Crandall R, Shropshire W, Birnbaum LS. Biomonitoring of Metals, Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers, Polychlorinated Biphenyls, and Persistent Pesticides in Vietnamese Female Electronic Waste Recyclers. J Occup Environ Med 60(2):191-197, 2018. PMID: 29099469.
- Dolan MJ, Luan H, Shropshire WC, Sutcliffe B, Cocanougher B, Scott RL, Frechter S, Zlatic M, Jefferis G, White BH. Facilitating Neuron-Specific Genetic Manipulations in Drosophila melanogaster Using a Split GAL4 Repressor. Genetics 206(2):775-784, 2017. PMID: 28363977.
- Froehlich-Grobe K, Shropshire WC, Zimmerman H, Van Brunt J, Betts A. Reach of the Montana Cancer Control Program to Women with Disabilities. J Community Health 41(3):650-7, 2016. PMID: 26699150.
- Salinas J, Shropshire W, Nino A, Parra-Medina D. The Role of Food Insecurity and Perceived Stress on Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference, and Percent Body Fat in Low-Income, Mexican-American Women in South Texas. Food Public Health 6(6):149-156, 2016. PMID: 29644147.
- Lorber M, Schecter A, Paepke O, Shropshire W, Christensen K, Birnbaum L. Exposure assessment of adult intake of bisphenol A (BPA) with emphasis on canned food dietary exposures. Environ Int 77:55-62, 2015. PMID: 25645382.
- Fengqiu D, Ironfield H, Luan H, Feici D, Shropshire WC, Ewer J, Marr E, Potter C, Landgraf M, White BH. Plug-and-Play Genetic Access to Drosophila Cell Types Using Exchangeable Exon Cassettes. Cell Rep 10(8):1410-21, 2015. PMID: 25732830.
- Khurana S, Robinson BG, Wang Z, Shropshire WC, Zhong AC, Garcia LE, Corpuz J, Chow J, Hatch MM, Precise EF, Cady A. Olfactory conditioning in the third instar larvae of Drosophila melanogaster using heat shock reinforcement. Behav Genet 42(1):151-161, 2012. PMID: 21833772.
Other Articles
- Shropshire WC, Hanson BM, Shelburne SA Genome-wide approaches to bacterial strain typing: a history and review of recent methodological advances. Curr Opin Infect Dis, 2025. PMID: 40464921.
- Shropshire WC, Shelburne SA Antimicrobial resistance: a problem across the cancer care continuum. Lancet Oncol 26(5):537-538, 2025. PMID: 40318640.
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2025. Rapid Genomic Profiling of Antibiotic-Resistant Pathogens with Long-Read Sequencing for Outbreak Detection. Invited. Division of Internal Medicine Research Retreat. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2025. Investigating the Role of Beta-Lactam Survival Mechanisms (BLSMs) in Enterobacterales Bacteremia Relapse. Poster. Division of Internal Medicine Research Retreat. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2023. An Extended Perspective on a Serious Threat: Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase producing Escherichia coli Causing Invasive Infections in Cancer Patients. Invited. Division of Internal Medicine Research Grand Rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2023. Elucidation of Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Successful Adaptation to Carbapenem Antimicrobials in High Risk Carbapenem Resistant Escherichia coli Lineages. Invited. Keck Seminar Series. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2023. Elucidation of Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Successful Adaptation to Carbapenem Antimicrobials in High Risk Carbapenem Resistant Escherichia coli Lineages. Invited. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Trainee Research Day. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2020. Plasmidome of co-circulating, carbapenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae ST258 and ST307 isolates in Houston, TX. Poster. Molecular Basis of Infectious Diseases Annual Research Retreat. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2019. Tracking Superbugs with Whole-Genome Sequencing. Invited. ASM-TMC MicroTalks. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2019. Navigating the Mobilome Highway: Elucidating Bacterial Mobile Genetic Element Structures and Dynamics. Invited. Center for Infectious Disease Lecture Series. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2013. Tools to Facilitate Circuit-Mapping Using the Split Gal4 System. Poster. NIH Post-baccalaureate Poster Day. Bethesda, Maryland, US.
Regional Presentations
- 2025. Leveraging Oxford Nanopore long-read Sequencing for multidrug-resistant pathogen characterization and rapid outbreak detection. Invited. #WYMM Tour:Houston (What You're Missing Matters). Houston, Texas, US.
National Presentations
- 2025. A Preponderance of Ceftazidime-Avibactam Resistance in Escherichia coli Driven by NDM-5 β-lactamases at a Large US Cancer Center. Poster. TMC Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship Conference. Houston, TX, US.
- 2025. Characterization of Risk Factors Contributing to Recurrent Enterobacterales Bacteremia. Invited. TMC Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship Conference. Houston, TX, US.
- 2024. Characterization of Pre-Resistance Mechanisms Enabling Carbapenem Resistance in High-Risk Escherichia coli Lineages. Invited. TMC Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship Conference. Houston, TX, US.
- 2023. Carbapenem ‘Pre-Resistant’ Phenotype Associated with ESBL Encoding Gene Amplification in Sequence Type 131 Escherichia coli Bacteremia Isolates. Poster. 33rd Keck Annual Research Conference. Houston, TX, US.
- 2023. Elucidation of Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Successful Adaptation to Carbapenem Antimicrobials in High Risk Carbapenem Resistant Escherichia coli Lineages. Invited. TMC Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship Conference. Houston, TX, US.
- 2022. Elucidation of Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Successful Adaptation to Carbapenem Antimicrobials in High Risk Carbapenem Resistant Escherichia coli Lineages. Invited. 32nd Keck Annual Research Conference. Houston, TX, US.
- 2022. Diversity of Carbapenem Resistant Mechanisms Distributed Across Enterobacterales Blood Stream Infections at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Poster. TMC Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship Conference. Houston, TX, US.
- 2021. Non-carbapenemase producing organisms with CTX-M gene amplification account for majority of invasive carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales bacteremia in immunocompromised patient population. Poster. TMC Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship Conference. Houston, TX, US.
- 2019. Parallel Dissemination of KPC-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae ST258 and ST307 in Houston, TX. Invited. TMC Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship Conference. Houston, TX, US.
- 2019. Identification of IS26-Mediated Amplification of blaOXA-1 Driving Emergence of Progressive β-lactam Resistance in Recurrent Extended-Spectrum β-lactamase Producing Enterobacteriaceae Bacteremia. Poster. TMC Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship Conference. Houston, TX, US.
International Presentations
- 2024. Characterization of Pre-Resistance Mechanisms Enabling Carbapenem Resistance in High-Risk Escherichia coli Lineages. Poster. Microbe. Atlanta, US.
- 2023. Identification of Increasing ESBL Encoding Gene Copy Number as Initial Event in Experimental Evolution of Carbapenem Resistance in Escherichia coli. Invited. Microbe. Houston, US.
- 2022. Beta-Lactamase Amplifications with Concurrent Outer Membrane Porin Encoding Gene Disruptions Drive Carbapenem Resistance in Enterobacteral Bacteremias at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Poster. Microbe. Washington, US.
- 2019. Exploring Plasmid Dynamics of Diverse Klebsiella pneumoniae Sequence Types carrying blaKPC in Houston, TX. Poster. IDWeek. Washington, US.
- 2018. Dissection of The Mobilome of Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-Kpn) Using Short and Long Reads Assemblies: A Prospective Study in Houston, TX. Poster. ASM Conference on Next Generation Sequencing 2018. Tyson's Corner, US.
- 2013. Tools to Facilitate Circuit-Mapping Using the Split Gal4 System. Poster. 54th Annual Drosophila Research Conference. Washington, US.
Formal Peers
- 2023. College Teaching Academy. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2022. College Teaching Academy. Houston, Texas, US.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2023 - Present |
| Title: | Elucidating Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Successful Adaptation to Carbapenem Antimicrobials in High Risk Carbapenem Resistant Escherichia coli Lineages |
| Funding Source: | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | 1L70AI178826-01 |
| Date: | 2022 - 2024 |
| Title: | Elucidating Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Successful Adaptation to Carbapenem Antimicrobials in High Risk Carbapenem Resistant Escherichia coli Lineages |
| Funding Source: | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | T32 AI141349-05 |
CV information above last modified June 13, 2025
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