World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Microbiology

D-Index
58
Citations
9734
World Ranking
3492
National Ranking
1379

P. Frederick Sparling publication distribution in Microbiology in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Microbiology in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where P. Frederick Sparling sits on this spectrum.

55–64 publications: 8 scientists 65–74 publications: 29 scientists 75–84 publications: 55 scientists 85–94 publications: 112 scientists 95–104 publications: 137 scientists 105–114 publications: 190 scientists 115–124 publications: 235 scientists 125–134 publications: 234 scientists 135–144 publications: 288 scientists 145–154 publications: 264 scientists 155–164 publications: 264 scientists 165–174 publications: 253 scientists 175–184 publications: 276 scientists 185–194 publications: 190 scientists 195–204 publications: 233 scientists 205–214 publications: 207 scientists 215–224 publications: 198 scientists 225–234 publications: 155 scientists 235–244 publications: 161 scientists 245–254 publications: 160 scientists 255–264 publications: 146 scientists 265–274 publications: 139 scientists 275–284 publications: 148 scientists 285–294 publications: 115 scientists 295–304 publications: 96 scientists 305–314 publications: 88 scientists 315–324 publications: 106 scientists 325–334 publications: 65 scientists 335–344 publications: 76 scientists 345–354 publications: 64 scientists 355–364 publications: 62 scientists 365–374 publications: 65 scientists 375–384 publications: 61 scientists 385–394 publications: 34 scientists 395–404 publications: 44 scientists 405–414 publications: 36 scientists 415–424 publications: 35 scientists 425–434 publications: 29 scientists 435–444 publications: 33 scientists 445–454 publications: 34 scientists 455–464 publications: 25 scientists 465–474 publications: 26 scientists 475–484 publications: 20 scientists 485–494 publications: 19 scientists 495–504 publications: 16 scientists 505–514 publications: 17 scientists 515–524 publications: 23 scientists 525–534 publications: 14 scientists 535–544 publications: 14 scientists 545–554 publications: 18 scientists 555–564 publications: 12 scientists 565–574 publications: 7 scientists 575–584 publications: 9 scientists 585–594 publications: 9 scientists 595–604 publications: 9 scientists 605–614 publications: 7 scientists 615–624 publications: 9 scientists 625–634 publications: 7 scientists 635–644 publications: 4 scientists 645–654 publications: 5 scientists 655–664 publications: 6 scientists 665–674 publications: 7 scientists 675–678 publications: 3 scientists 679+ publications: 99 scientists
55 publications 679+

This scientist: 134 publications — 18th percentile

18% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 679 publications or more.

P. Frederick Sparling D-index placement in Microbiology in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Microbiology scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where P. Frederick Sparling sits on this spectrum.

40 D-Index: 30 scientists 41 D-Index: 86 scientists 42 D-Index: 90 scientists 43 D-Index: 117 scientists 44 D-Index: 122 scientists 45 D-Index: 123 scientists 46 D-Index: 108 scientists 47 D-Index: 110 scientists 48 D-Index: 106 scientists 49 D-Index: 109 scientists 50 D-Index: 129 scientists 51 D-Index: 111 scientists 52 D-Index: 116 scientists 53 D-Index: 127 scientists 54 D-Index: 134 scientists 55 D-Index: 134 scientists 56 D-Index: 111 scientists 57 D-Index: 136 scientists 58 D-Index: 162 scientists 59 D-Index: 151 scientists 60 D-Index: 139 scientists 61 D-Index: 122 scientists 62 D-Index: 126 scientists 63 D-Index: 144 scientists 64 D-Index: 109 scientists 65 D-Index: 103 scientists 66 D-Index: 124 scientists 67 D-Index: 112 scientists 68 D-Index: 103 scientists 69 D-Index: 131 scientists 70 D-Index: 93 scientists 71 D-Index: 93 scientists 72 D-Index: 96 scientists 73 D-Index: 92 scientists 74 D-Index: 80 scientists 75 D-Index: 66 scientists 76 D-Index: 87 scientists 77 D-Index: 60 scientists 78 D-Index: 73 scientists 79 D-Index: 59 scientists 80 D-Index: 57 scientists 81 D-Index: 55 scientists 82 D-Index: 47 scientists 83 D-Index: 77 scientists 84 D-Index: 50 scientists 85 D-Index: 45 scientists 86 D-Index: 42 scientists 87 D-Index: 41 scientists 88 D-Index: 32 scientists 89 D-Index: 38 scientists 90 D-Index: 35 scientists 91 D-Index: 34 scientists 92 D-Index: 27 scientists 93 D-Index: 26 scientists 94 D-Index: 33 scientists 95 D-Index: 22 scientists 96 D-Index: 37 scientists 97 D-Index: 22 scientists 98 D-Index: 21 scientists 99 D-Index: 22 scientists 100 D-Index: 30 scientists 101 D-Index: 16 scientists 102 D-Index: 20 scientists 103 D-Index: 17 scientists 104 D-Index: 19 scientists 105 D-Index: 16 scientists 106 D-Index: 19 scientists 107 D-Index: 18 scientists 108 D-Index: 14 scientists 109 D-Index: 10 scientists 110 D-Index: 9 scientists 111 D-Index: 7 scientists 112 D-Index: 11 scientists 113 D-Index: 6 scientists 114 D-Index: 15 scientists 115 D-Index: 10 scientists 116 D-Index: 12 scientists 117 D-Index: 7 scientists 118 D-Index: 10 scientists 119 D-Index: 10 scientists 120 D-Index: 11 scientists 121 D-Index: 2 scientists 122 D-Index: 7 scientists 123 D-Index: 12 scientists 124 D-Index: 5 scientists 125 D-Index: 9 scientists 126 D-Index: 6 scientists 127+ D-Index: 95 scientists
40 D-Index 127+

This scientist: 58 D-Index — 39th percentile

39% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 127 D-Index or more.

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2016 - Alexander Fleming Award, Infectious Diseases Society of America
  • Member of the Association of American Physicians
  • Member of the Association of American Physicians
  • Member of the Association of American Physicians
  • Member of the Association of American Physicians

Overview

P. Frederick Sparling is affiliated with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the United States. Their research primarily focuses on immunology and microbiology, with a significant concentration in bacterial infections and vaccines.

Their work spans several specialized subfields, including microbiology, cell biology, endocrinology, physiology, and molecular biology. Key research topics include bacterial infections and vaccines, reproductive tract infections, hemoglobin structure and function, infant nutrition and health, peptidase inhibition and analysis, adenosine and purinergic signaling, as well as inflammasome and immune disorders.

The scientist has frequently published their work in the venue UNC Libraries, with 26 publications, and has also contributed to the journal Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

Recent papers authored or coauthored by Sparling include:

  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae Activates the Proteinase Cathepsin B to Mediate the Signaling Activities of the NLRP3 and ASC-Containing Inflammasome (2020, UNC Libraries)
  • Vaccines for Gonorrhea: Can We Rise to the Challenge? (2020, UNC Libraries)
  • Ferric Enterobactin Binding and Utilization by Neisseria gonorrhoeae (2020, UNC Libraries)
  • Gonococcal transferrin-binding protein 2 facilitates but is not essential for transferrin utilization (2021, UNC Libraries)
  • Identification and purification of a hemoglobin-binding outer membrane protein from Neisseria gonorrhoeae (2020, UNC Libraries)

Sparling often collaborates with a number of coauthors throughout their research career. Frequent collaborators include:

  • G D Biswas
  • Ching-Ju Chen
  • David W. Dyer
  • Cynthia Nau Cornelissen
  • Christopher Thomas

Among their recognized contributions, Sparling has received the Alexander Fleming Award from the Infectious Diseases Society of America in 2016 and holds membership in the Association of American Physicians.

Best Publications

  • Novel Treponema pallidum Serologic Tests: A Paradigm Shift in Syphilis Screening for the 21st Century

    Arlene C. Seña;Becky L. White;P. Frederick Sparling

  • The emerging threat of untreatable gonococcal infection.

    Gail A. Bolan;P. Frederick Sparling;Judith N. Wasserheit

  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae Activates the Proteinase Cathepsin B to Mediate the Signaling Activities of the NLRP3 and ASC-Containing Inflammasome

    Joseph A. Duncan;Xi Gao;Max Tze Han Huang;Brian P. O'Connor

  • Genetic Transformation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to Streptomycin Resistance

    Unknown

  • Iron piracy: acquisition of transferrin‐bound iron by bacterial pathogens

    Cynthia Nau Cornelissen;P. Frederick Sparling

  • The transferrin receptor expressed by gonococcal strain FA1090 is required for the experimental infection of human male volunteers

    Cynthia Nau Cornelissen;Meera Kelley;Marcia M. Hobbs;James E. Anderson

  • Ability of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Neisseria meningitidis, and commensal Neisseria species to obtain iron from transferrin and iron compounds

    Unknown

  • Gonococcal transferrin-binding protein 1 is required for transferrin utilization and is homologous to TonB-dependent outer membrane receptors

    Unknown

  • DNA transformation leads to pilin antigenic variation in Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

    H. Steven Seifert;H. Steven Seifert;Richard S. Ajioka;Christian Marchal;Christian Marchal;P. Frederick Sparling

  • Ferric enterobactin binding and utilization by Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

    Susan D B Biegel Carson;Philip E. Klebba;Salete M C Newton;P. Frederick Sparling

  • Gonococcal infection: a model of molecular pathogenesis.

    Britigan Be;Cohen Ms;Sparling Pf

  • Inheritance of low-level resistance to penicillin, tetracycline, and chloramphenicol in Neisseria gonorrhoeae

    Unknown

  • Antibodies to N‐terminal peptides of gonococcal porin are bactericidal when gonococcal lipopolysaccharide is not sialylated

    Christopher Elkins;Nicholas H. Carbonetti;Victor A. Varela;Derek Stirewalt

  • Multiple antibiotic resistance due to a single mutation in Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

    Unknown

  • Genetic mapping of linked antibiotic resistance loci in Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

    Felix A. Sarubbi;Eleanor Blackman;P. Frederick Sparling

  • Species status of Neisseria gonorrhoeae: evolutionary and epidemiological inferences from multilocus sequence typing

    Julia S. Bennett;Keith A. Jolley;P. Frederick Sparling;Nigel J. Saunders

  • Binding and surface exposure characteristics of the gonococcal transferrin receptor are dependent on both transferrin-binding proteins

    Unknown

  • Genetics of protein I of Neisseria gonorrhoeae: construction of hybrid porins

    N. H. Carbonetti;V. I. Simnad;H. S. Seifert;M. So

  • Opposing selective forces for expression of the gonococcal lactoferrin receptor.

    James E. Anderson;Marcia M. Hobbs;Gour D. Biswas;P. Frederick Sparling

  • Vaccines for gonorrhea: can we rise to the challenge?

    Weiyan Zhu;Ching Ju Chen;Christopher E. Thomas;James E. Anderson

  • Phase Variation of Hemoglobin Utilization in Neisseria gonorrhoeae

    Ching Ju Chen;Christopher Elkins;P. Frederick Sparling

  • Expression of the CopB outer membrane protein by Moraxella catarrhalis is regulated by iron and affects iron acquisition from transferrin and lactoferrin.

    C Aebi;B Stone;M Beucher;L D Cope

  • Phase and Antigenic Variation of Pili and Outer Membrane Protein II of Neisseria gonorrhoeae

    P. Frederick Sparling;P. Frederick Sparling;Janne G. Cannon;Janne G. Cannon;Magdalene So;Magdalene So

  • Longitudinal Evaluation of Serovar-specific Immunity to Neisseria gonorrhoeae

    Kimberley K. Fox;James C. Thomas;Debra H. Weiner;Rachael H. Davis

  • Cloning and functional characterization of Neisseria gonorrhoeae tonB, exbB and exbD genes

    Gour D. Biswas;James E. Anderson;P. Frederick Sparling

  • Phase variation of the gonococcal siderophore receptor FetA.

    Susan D. Biegel Carson;Barbara Stone;Margaret Beucher;Jennifer Fu

  • Bacterial Virulence and Pathogenesis: An Overview

    P. Frederick Sparling

  • Cloning and nucleotide sequence of frpC, a second gene from Neisseria meningitidis encoding a protein similar to RTX cytotoxins.

    Stuart A. Thompson;Lisa L. Wang;P. Frederick Sparling

Frequent Co-Authors

Myron S. Cohen
Myron S. Cohen University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
William M. Shafer
William M. Shafer Emory University
H. Steven Seifert
H. Steven Seifert Northwestern University
Ann E. Jerse
Ann E. Jerse Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Magdalene So
Magdalene So University of Arizona
William C. Miller
William C. Miller The Ohio State University
Robert E. Johnston
Robert E. Johnston University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Nancy L. Davis
Nancy L. Davis University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
King K. Holmes
King K. Holmes University of Washington
Jenny P.-Y. Ting
Jenny P.-Y. Ting University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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