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Kevin Sorensen

Kevin

Kevin Sorensen

  • Professor
  • Phone: 435 283-7524
  • Office: Science Building, SCIENCE-233
  • E-mail: ude.wons@nesneros.nivek

Courses Taught Fall 2025

Courses Taught Spring 2026

    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

    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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
    4. 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
    5. 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.
    6. 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.
    7. 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
    8. 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
    9. Sorensen, K.N., K.V. Clemons, and D.A. Stevens. Murine models of blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, and histoplasmosis. 1999. Mycopathologia 146:(2) 53-65
    10. 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
    11. 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
    12. 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
    13. 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
    14. 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

    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. 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.
    6. 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.
    7. 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.
    8. 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.
    9. 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.
    10. 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.
    11. 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.
    12. 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.
    13. 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.
    14. 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.
    15. 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.
    16. 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.
    17. 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.
    18. 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.
    19. 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.
    20. 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.
    21. 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.
    22. 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.
    23. 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.
    24. 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.
    25. 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.
    26. 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.
    27. 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.
    28. 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.
    29. 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.
    30. 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.
    31. 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.
    32. 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.
    33. 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.
    34. 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.
    35. 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
    36. 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
    37. 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.
    38. 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
    39. 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
    40. 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