Troy Skwor, PhD

Education

Postdoctoral Fellow, Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute, 2005-2008
Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Sciences, Texas A&M University, 2004
Bachelor of Science in Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin – Madison, 1999

Speaker Topics

• Antibiotic Resistance
• Photodynamic Inactivation
• Aeromonas

Interests & Expertise

Troy Skwor’s research focuses on antibiotic resistance within different bacterial populations, especially within Aeromonas species. These bacteria are found ubiquitously in nature, especially in freshwater ecosystems. However, they have been associated with a wide array of human diseases ranging from diarrhea to wound infections to more severe forms of disease, including necrotizing fasciitis. Besides being ubiquitous in nature, the rapid acquisition of antibiotic resistance against a broad array of antibiotics can present a clinical challenge. Additionally, it can serve as a vehicle to transfer antibiotic resistance genes to other pathogenic bacteria. Due to the bacterial presence in aquatic ecosystems, various foods, wastewater, and humans, his research uses Aeromonas as an indicator species to further understand the driving forces behind antimicrobial resistance. 

Another aspect of his research is studying alternative treatments against bacterial populations with an emphasis on photodynamic inactivation. This type of therapy uses a chemical, known as photosensitizer, in the presence of different wavelengths of visible light and oxygen, to produce reactive oxygen species capable of killing bacteria, including multi-drug resistant strains.  

He has a strong interest in mentoring students and helping them develop their critical thinking skills.  

Publications (most recent)

Invited Book Chapters

Skwor T and Kralova S. Invited Aeromonas book chapter for the 5th edition “Food Microbiology: Fundamentals and Frontiers” through American Society for Microbiology. Editors: Doyle, Diez- Gonzalez, and Hill. 2019

Skwor T and Dean D. Chlamydiaceae; In: Molecular Typing in Bacterial Infections. Eds: McKee ML and de Filppis I, Humana Press, Inc. 2013

Research Articles Within the Last 10 Years

Brooke E Bojar, Anthony T Craig III, Anamarie Leduc, Max Blumenthal, Barbara Mayo, Alia S Ahmed, Caitlin Cahak, Rachelle Beattie, Troy Skwor.  Similar antimicrobial resistance and virulence profiles among Aeromonas isolates from recreational beaches, post-chlorinated wastewater and clinical samples in Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA. Science of The Total Environment; Volume 970, 179035; 2025

Dey R, Valle DO, Chakraborty A, Mayer KA, Uppala JK, Chakraborty A, Mirza S, Skwor T, Forst S, Dey M. Quorum sensing regulators and non-ribosomal peptide synthetases govern antibacterial secretions in Xenorhabdus szentirmaii. Frontiers in Microbiology 16, 1560663; 2025

T Skwor. Aeromonas and Plesiomonas. Microorganisms 13 (3), 569; 2025

N Heyniger, PJ McNamara, AD Kappell, B Schultz, T Skwor, BK Mayer, Mitigation of Antibiotic Resistance Using Ultraviolet Light-Emitting Diodes for Water Treatment. Environmental Engineering Science. 42 (1), 3-14, 2025

Troy Skwor, Daniel Jones, Caitlin Cahak, Ryan Newton. First Report and Characterization of a Plasmid-Encoded blaSFO-1 in a Multi-Drug-Resistant Aeromonas hydrophila Clinical Isolate. Microorganisms. February 2024, 12(3), 494

Daniel Christopher Jones, Emily Lou LaMartina, Jenna Rachel Lewis, Andrew James Dahl, Nischala Nadig, Aniko Szabo, Ryan J. Newton, Troy A Skwor. One Health and Global Health View of Antimicrobial Susceptibility through the “Eye” of Aeromonas: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. International Journal of Antimicrobial Resistance. August 2023, 62(2):106848; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2023.106848

Elizabeth Liedhegner, Brandon Bojar, Rachelle Beattie, Caitlin Cahak, Krassimira R. Hristova, Troy Skwor. Similarities in Virulence and Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Gene Profiles among Cefotaxime-Resistant Escherichia coli Wastewater and Clinical Isolates. Antibiotics 2022, 11(2):260

Brandon Bojar, Jennifer Sheridan, Rachelle Beattie, Caitlin Cahak, Elizabeth Liedhegner, L Silvia Munoz-Price, Krassimira R. Hristova, Troy Skwor. Antibiotic resistance patterns of Escherichia coli isolates from the clinic through the wastewater pathway. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health 2021, 238:113863-113870

Joe Heffron, Matthew Bork, Brooke K. Mayer, and Troy Skwor. A Comparison of Porphyrin Photosensitizers in Photodynamic Inactivation of RNA and DNA Bacteriophages. Viruses 2021; 13(3): 530

Rachelle Beattie, Troy Skwor, Krassimira R Hristova. Survivor microbial populations in post-chlorinated wastewater are strongly associated with untreated hospital sewage and include ceftazidime and meropenem resistant populations. Science of The Total Environment; 2020, 740: 140186

Brandon Leviskas, Tibor Valyi-Nagy, Gnanasekar Munirathinam, Matthew Bork, Klara Valyi-Nagy, and Troy Skwor. Metalloporphyrin Pd(T4) exhibits oncolytic activity and cumulative effects with 5-ALA photodynamic therapy against melanoma cells. International Journal of Molecular Sciences; 2020, 21(2): 669

Troy Skwor, Sarah Stringer, Jason Haggerty, Sarah Duhr, Jenilee Johnson, Mary Johnson, Megan Seckinger, and Maggie Stemme. Prevalence of potentially pathogenic multi-drug resistant Aeromonas spp. in treated urban wastewater effluents compared to recipient riverine populations. Applied and Environmental Microbiology; 2020, 86(3)

Taher Gheewala, Troy Skwor, and Gnanasekar Munirathinam. Photodynamic Therapy using Pheophorbide and 670nm LEDs exhibits anti-cancer effects in androgen dependent prostate cancer. Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy 2018, 21:130-137

Skwor, T.A., Klemm, S., Zhang, H, Schardt, B., Blaszczyk, S, Bork, M. Photodynamic inactivation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli: a metalloporphyrin comparison. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology 2016, 165: 51-57

Presentations

Skwor T. Identifying the drivers of antimicrobial resistance though the “eyes” of aeromonas: a global one health perspective. 13th International Symposium on Aeromonas and Plesiomonas. Wroclaw, Poland. 2023

Skwor T. Antibiotic resistance patterns of Escherichia coli isolates from the clinic through the wastewater pathway. 32nd Annual Congress of the French Society on Hospital Hygiene. Lyons, France. 2022

Skwor T. From the clinic to the final wastewater effluent: A comparison of antibiotic resistance among Escherichia coli isolates and a culture-based 16S rRNA gene sequencing approach. 4th International Caparica Conference in Antibiotic Resistance, Caparica, Portugal. 2021

B. Bojar, R. Beattie, B. Su, T. S. Williams, L.S. Munoz-Price, K.R. Hristova, T.A. Skwor. Comparative analysis of antibiotic resistance among Escherichia coli isolates within hospital wastewater and throughout the urban wastewater process. American Society of Microbiology, San Francisco, CA. 2019

Troy Skwor, Hailey Avery, Brandon Leviskas, Matthew Bork, Tibor Valyi-Nagy, and Klara Valyi-Nagy. Novel metalloporphyrin demonstrates strong oncolytic activity against melanoma cells in two- and three-dimensional cultures. 16th Annual International Photodynamic Association World Congress, Coimbra, Portugal. 2017

Troy Skwor. A. veronii and A. hydrophila predominate among multi‐drug resistant, cytotoxic isolates from human wastewater effluents and local riverine ecosystems. 11th International Symposium on Aeromonas and Plesiomonas, Montpellier, France. 2014

Troy Skwor. Identifying Human Pathogenic Multi-Drug Resistant Bacteria from Local Wastewater Post- Chlorinated Effluents Compared to Rock River: A Two Year Longitudal Study. Watercon, Springfield, IL. 2014

Troy Skwor, Jason Haggerty, Jenilee Johnson, Christina Fomina, Sarah Stringer, Mary Johnson, Larry McFall. Prevalence of Antibiotic Resistant Aeromonas: A Comparison Between the Rock River and the Rock River Water Reclamation District; 86th Annual Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference, Chicago, IL. 2013

Troy Skwor. Development of cheaper, easier and quicker molecular methods with computer software, DNAStar, to aid in determining bacterial identification for classroom application. Association of Biology Laboratory Education conference at New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM. 2011

Recent Funded Grants

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Grant ($2,010,707/ 3 yrs), 2024 
“Understanding the role of wastewater treatment for mitigating antimicrobial resistance: leveraging historical trajectories, current day mass balances, and clinical relevance”

USDA grant ($649,000/3 yrs), 2024
“Integration of Onsite Monitoring and Treatment of Waterborne Pathogens for Agricultural Return Flow and Recycle Wastewater”

Phase II Army SBIR/STTR Grant ($1.1 million/2 yrs), 2023
“Improved Technology to Treat Drug-Resistant Bacterial Infections”

DoD SBIR Award: Improved Technology to Treat Drug-Resistant Bacterial Infections, 2022 (Phase I: $52,000) 

Clinical & Translational Science Institute Biostatistical Consulting mini-grant, 2022   

Illinois Association of Wastewater Agencies (IAWA) Water Quality Sub Committee grant, 2013
“Determining prevalence of antibiotic resistance among potentially pathogenic strains of bacteria from influent and effluent of wastewater treatment plant compared to receiving aquatic reservoir”, $8,000

Professional Memberships

• American Society of Microbiology
• International Photodynamic Association
• Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Honor Society 

Honors and Awards

Roundtable Leader: Application of Global One Health Multifactorial AMR analysis to guide our understanding of its evolution and identify potential interventions; World Antimicrobial Resistance Congress in Philadelphia, PA. 2024
Byoung Kim Teaching Excellence Award (UWM College of Health Sciences). 2023