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Heather Bean

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School of Life Sciences
Assistant Professor
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 4501
Environmental Life Sciences (PhD) program
Asst Professor
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 4501
Evolutionary Biology (PhD) program
Asst Professor
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 4501
Microbiology (PhD) program
Asst Professor
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 4501
Biology (PhD) program
Asst Professor
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 4501
Neuroscience (PhD) program
Assistant Professor
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 4501
Biodesign Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy
Associate Faculty
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 4501
Biodesign Center for Fundamental & Applied Microbiomics
Asst Professor
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 4501
School of Life Sciences Biomedicine and Biotechnology
Asst Professor
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 4501
Molecular/Cellular Biology (MS/PhD) program
Asst Professor
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 4501
Biography: 

Heather Bean is a bioanalytical chemist working to identify biomarkers of chronic lung infections that can be developed into new clinical diagnostics, with an emphasis on breath tests. She and her research team are applying advanced chromatography and mass spectrometry methods to identify the volatile and soluble metabolites produced by microbial pathogens, both in vitro and in the host lung environment through the analysis of clinical samples, such as sputum and breath.

The Bean research group is also identifying biomarkers that the host produces in response to the microbial pathogens, and biomarkers that the host-pathogen system produces in the unique metabolic feedback environment created during infection. In addition to more sensitive diagnostics, this data may contribute the development of more effective drugs for treating chronic lung infections, such as those associated with cystic fibrosis and COPD.

CV
Binary Data Curriculum Vitae
Education: 
  • PhD Chemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology 2008
  • BS Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology 1999
Videos
Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics - faculty profile video
Google Scholar URL: 
Google Scholar Profile
Publications: 
  • Cristina E. Davis, Jane E. Hill, Matthias Frank, Mitchell M. McCartney, Michael Schivo, Heather D. Bean. Breath analysis for respiratory infections, in Breathborne Biomarkers and the Human Volatilome, C. E. Davis, J. D. Beauchamp, J. D. Pleil, Eds. Elsevier: Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2020; pp. 335-347.
  • Jarrett Eshima, Trenton J. Davis, Heather D. Bean, John Fricks, Barbara S. Smith. (2020) A metabolomic approach for predicting circadian changes in cortisol. Metabolites. 10, 194.
  • Ghazal Ebadzadsahrai, Emily A. Higgins Keppler, Scott Soby, Heather D. Bean. (2020) Inhibition of fungal growth and induction of a novel volatilome in response to Chromobacterium vaccinii volatile organic compounds. Frontiers in Microbiology. 11, 1035.
  • Heather L. Mead, Chandler C. Roe, Emily A. Higgins Keppler, Marley C. Caballero Van Dyke, Klaire L. Laux, Aubrey L., Funke, Karis J. Miller, Heather D. Bean, Jason W. Sahl, Bridget M. Barker. (2020) Defining critical genes during spherule remodeling and endospore development in the fungal pathogen Coccidioides posadasii. Frontiers in Genetics. 11, 483.
  • Andrea Hahn, Katrine L. Whiteson, Trenton J. Davis, Joann Phan, Iman Sami, Anastassios C. Koumbourlis, Robert J. Freishtat, Keith A. Crandall, Heather D. Bean. (2020) Longitudinal associations of the cystic fibrosis airway microbiome and volatile metabolites: A case study. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. 10, 174.
  • Carrie L. Jenkins, Heather D. Bean. (2020) Influence of media on the differentiation of Staphylococcus spp. by volatile compounds. Journal of Breath Research. 14, 016007.
  • (editorial) Heather D. Bean (2019). In my view: Repeat after me… How committed are we to reproducibility in science? The Analytical Scientist 82. https://theanalyticalscientist.com/business-education/could-you-repeat-that
  • Jarrett Eshima, Stephanie Ong, Trenton J. Davis, Christopher Miranda, Devika Krishnamurthay, Abigael Nachtsheim, Christopher Plaiser, John Stufken, John Fricks, Heather D. Bean, Barbara S. Smith. (2019) Monitoring changes in the healthy female metabolome across the menstrual cycle using GC×GC-TOFMS. Journal of Chromatography B. 1121, 48-57.
  • Emily A. Higgins Keppler, Carrie L. Jenkins, Trenton J. Davis, Heather D. Bean (2018). Advances in the application of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography in metabolomics. Invited review, Trends in Analytical Chemistry 109, 275-286.
  • Mavra Nasir, Heather D. Bean, Christiaan A. Rees, Edith Zemanick, Jane E. Hill. (2018) Volatile molecules from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid can “rule-in” Pseudomonas aeruginosa and “rule-out” Staphylococcus aureus infection in cystic fibrosis patients. Scientific Reports. 8, 826.
  • Lawrence A. Adutwum, A. Paulina de la Mata, Heather D. Bean, Jane E. Hill, James J. Harynuk. (2017) Estimation of start and stop numbers for cluster resolution feature selection algorithm; An empirical approach using null distribution analysis of fisher ratios. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. 409, 6699-6708.
  • Heather D. Bean*, Christiaan A. Rees*, Jane E. Hill. (2016) Comparative analysis of the volatile metabolomes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates. Journal of Breath Research. 10, 047102. [*co-first authors]
  • Alex Gifford, Sven Willger, Emily Dolben, Lisa Moulton, Dana Dorman, Heather D. Bean, Jane E. Hill, Thomas Hampton, Alix Ashare, Deborah A. Hogan. (2016) The use of a multiplex transcript method for the analysis of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa gene expression profiles in the cystic fibrosis lung. Infection and Immunity. 84, 2995-3006.
  • (editorial) Heather D. Bean, Joachim D. Pleil, Jane E. Hill (2015). New analytical and statistical approaches for interpreting the relationships among environmental stressors and biomarkers. Biomarkers 20, 1-4.
  • Heather D. Bean*, Theodore R. Mellors*, Jiangjiang Zhu, Jane E. Hill. (2015) Profiling aged artisanal cheddar cheese using secondary electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (SESI-MS). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 63, 4386-4392. [*co-first authors]
  • Heather D. Bean, Jane E. Hill, Jean-Marie D. Dimandja. (2015) Improving the quality of biomarker candidates in untargeted metabolomics via peak table-based alignment of two dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry data. Journal of Chromatography A. 1394, 111-117.
  • Heather D. Bean*, Jaime Jiménez-Díaz*, Jiangjiang Zhu, Jane E. Hill. (2015) Breathprints of model murine bacterial lung infections are linked with immune response. European Respiratory Journal. 45, 181-190. [*co-first authors] Editorial Feature Article: European Respiratory Journal. 45, 21-24.
  • Heather D. Bean*, Jiangjiang Zhu*, Jackson C. Sengle, Jane E. Hill. (2014) Identifying methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) lung infections in mice via breath analysis using secondary electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (SESI-MS). Journal of Breath Research. 8, 041001. [*co-first authors] Publisher Featured Article
  • Jiangjiang Zhu, Jaime Jiménez-Díaz, Heather D. Bean, Nirav A. Dapthary, Minara I. Aliyeva, Lennart K. A. Lundblad, Jane E. Hill. (2013) Robust detection of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus acute lung infections by secondary electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (SESI-MS) breathprinting: From initial infection to clearance. Journal of Breath Research. 7, 037106.
  • Jiangjiang Zhu, Heather D. Bean, Jaime Jiménez-Díaz, Jane E. Hill. (2013) Secondary electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (SESI-MS) breathprinting of multiple bacterial pathogens, a mouse model study. Journal of Applied Physiology. 114, 1544-1549.
  • Jiangjiang Zhu, Heather D. Bean, Matthew J. Wargo, Laurie W. Leclair, Jane E. Hill. (2013) Detecting bacterial lung infections: In vivo evaluation of in vitro fingerprints. Journal of Breath Research. 7, 016003. Publisher Featured Article
  • Heather D. Bean, Jean-Marie D. Dimandja, Jane E. Hill. (2012) Bacterial volatile discovery using solid phase microextraction and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography – time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Journal of Chromatography B. 901, 41-46.
  • Lakshmi N. Anumukonda, Avery Young, David G. Lynn, Ragan Buckley, Amena Warrayat, Christina L. Graves, Heather D. Bean, and Nicholas V. Hud. (2011) Adenine synthesis in a model prebiotic reaction: Connecting origins of life chemistry with biology. Journal of Chemical Education. 88, 1698-1701.
  • Heather D. Bean, Jiangjiang Zhu, Jane E. Hill. (2011) Characterizing bacterial volatiles using secondary electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Journal of Visualized Experiments. 52, http://www.jove.com/details.php?id=2664.
  • Jiangjiang Zhu, Heather D. Bean, Yin-Ming Kuo, Jane E. Hill (2010). Fast detection of volatile organic compounds from bacterial cultures by SESI-MS. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 48, 4426-4431.
  • Irena Mamajanova, Aaron E. Engelhart, Heather D. Bean, Nicholas V. Hud (2010). DNA and RNA in anhydrous media: Evidence for duplex, triplex, and G-quadruplex secondary structures in a deep eutectic solvent. Angewandte Chemie, International Edition 49, 6310-6314.
  • Heather D. Bean, David G. Lynn, Nicholas V. Hud (2009). Self-Assembly and the origin of the first RNA-like polymers, in Chemical Evolution II: From the Origins of Life to Modern Society, Zaikowski, L., Friedrich, J. M. and Seidel, S. R., Eds. Washington, DC, American Chemical Society. 1025: pp. 109-132.
  • Yinghong Sheng, Heather D. Bean, Irena Mamajanov, Nicholas V. Hud, Jerzy Leszczynski (2009). Comprehensive investigation of the energetics of pyrimidine nucleoside formation under prebiotic conditions. Journal of the American Chemical Society 131, 16088-16095.
  • Heather D. Bean, Yinghong Sheng, James P. Collins, Frank A. L. Anet, Jerzy Leszczynski, Nicholas V. Hud (2007). Formation of a β-pyrimidine nucleoside by a free pyrimidine base and ribose in a plausible prebiotic reaction. Journal of the American Chemical Society 129, 9556-9557.
  • Heather D. Bean, Frank A. L. Anet, Ian R. Gould, Nicholas V. Hud (2006). Glyoxylate as a backbone linkage for a prebiotic ancestor of RNA. Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres 36, 39-63.
Spring 2021
Course NumberCourse Title
MIC 205Microbiology
MIC 493Honors Thesis
BIO 493Honors Thesis
MBB 493Honors Thesis
BIO 494Special Topics
MIC 495Undergraduate Research
BIO 495Undergraduate Research
MBB 495Undergraduate Research
Fall 2020
Course NumberCourse Title
MIC 302Advanced Bacteriology Lab
MIC 401Research Paper
BIO 492Honors Directed Study
MBB 492Honors Directed Study
MIC 492Honors Directed Study
MIC 495Undergraduate Research
MBB 495Undergraduate Research
BIO 495Undergraduate Research
Spring 2020
Course NumberCourse Title
MIC 205Microbiology
MIC 401Research Paper
BIO 493Honors Thesis
MBB 493Honors Thesis
MIC 493Honors Thesis
MIC 495Undergraduate Research
MBB 495Undergraduate Research
BIO 495Undergraduate Research
Fall 2019
Course NumberCourse Title
MIC 302Advanced Bacteriology Lab
BIO 492Honors Directed Study
MBB 492Honors Directed Study
MIC 492Honors Directed Study
MIC 495Undergraduate Research
MBB 495Undergraduate Research
BIO 495Undergraduate Research
Spring 2019
Course NumberCourse Title
MIC 205Microbiology
MIC 401Research Paper
BIO 493Honors Thesis
MBB 493Honors Thesis
MIC 493Honors Thesis
MIC 495Undergraduate Research
MBB 495Undergraduate Research
BIO 495Undergraduate Research
Fall 2018
Course NumberCourse Title
MIC 302Advanced Bacteriology Lab
BIO 492Honors Directed Study
MBB 492Honors Directed Study
MIC 492Honors Directed Study
MIC 495Undergraduate Research
MBB 495Undergraduate Research
BIO 495Undergraduate Research
Spring 2018
Course NumberCourse Title
MBB 493Honors Thesis
MIC 493Honors Thesis
BIO 493Honors Thesis
MIC 495Undergraduate Research
MBB 495Undergraduate Research
BIO 495Undergraduate Research
MIC 591Seminar
Fall 2017
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 189Life Sciences Career Paths
MIC 302Advanced Bacteriology Lab
MIC 492Honors Directed Study
MBB 492Honors Directed Study
BIO 492Honors Directed Study
MIC 495Undergraduate Research
MBB 495Undergraduate Research
Spring 2017
Course NumberCourse Title
MIC 205Microbiology
BIO 493Honors Thesis
MBB 493Honors Thesis
MIC 493Honors Thesis
MIC 495Undergraduate Research
MBB 495Undergraduate Research
BIO 495Undergraduate Research
Fall 2016
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 189Life Sciences Career Paths
MIC 302Advanced Bacteriology Lab
MBB 492Honors Directed Study
MIC 492Honors Directed Study
MBB 495Undergraduate Research
Service: 
  • Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Admissions Committee, Ad Hoc Committee member (2015 - Present)
  • Microbiome Faculty Search Committee, Committee member (2015 - Present)
  • SoLS Communications Committee, Committee Member (2015 - Present)
  • Journal of Breath Research, Manuscript Reviewer (2015 - 2015)
  • Scientific Reports (Journal), Manuscript Reviewer (2015 - 2015)
Expertise Areas: 
Bacteria
Microbiology
Biomedicine
Diseases
Metabolism
Analytical Chemistry