B. subtilis senses environmental, oxidative and nutritional stress in order to activate the general stress response through SigB. The stressosome complex made up of sensor proteins, a regulator and a kinase transduce environmental stress and are all involved in the activation of SigB. Upon exposure to stress, the kinase is released from the complex and activates a signaling cascade that ultimately releases SigB from its anti-sigma factor RsbW. Once free, SigB can activate gene expression. One outcome of activating the stress reponse is cross-protection against subsequent related and unrelated stresses. The goal of this project is to dissect the cellular and molecular roles of those oxidative stress-induced genes during environmental stress cross protection. 

SigB-regulated antioxidant functions in gram positive bacteria

Generally Stressed Out Bacteria: Environmental Stress Response Mechanisms in Gram-Positive Bacteria  

Resilience to oxidative and nitrosative stress is mediated by the stressosome, RsbP and SigB in Bacillus subtilis 

The low molecular weight thiol, bacillithiol (BSH) has important roles in toxin and ROS detoxification in Gram positive bacteria. In pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, it is also involved in virulence. The synthesis of bacillithiol was characterized in 2010 and to date only a few of the dozen B. subtilis enzymes predicted in bacillithiol biochemistry have been studied. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of these proteins will give us insight in the synthesis, utilization, recycling and ultimately homeostasis of this major antioxidant. This project seeks to understand the role of BSH in protection against antibiotics and plant derived compounds. 

Critical pedagogy was pioneered by the Brazilian educator Paulo Freire advocating for education that empowers students from marginalized communities to be critical creators of knowledge that challenge oppressive systems by practicing critical consciousness. My work aims to integrate critical pedagogy and critical consciousness in the classroom so students can question the role science has played in creating inequitable environments in society, ultimately imagining a more just world through science education. 

Cultivating an Equity-Focused Classroom

From Classrooms to Labs: Social Equity in Microbiology 

Feminist Biology: Towards Gender Equity in the Biology Curriculum 

I am a member of the Microbes and Social Equity working group. We are a transdisciplinary group of scholars and practitioners that promote the connections between microbes and every aspect of human and planetary health. We aim to integrate multiple disciplinary fields and research methods to advocate for policy and pedagogy that centers social equity through microbes. 

Introducing the Microbes and Social Equity Working Group: Considering the Microbial Components of Social, Environmental, and Health Justice 

Microbes and Social Equity: The Microbial Components of Social, Environmental and Health Justice. ASM Microbe 2022 Cross-Track Symposium

Postdoctoral Scholar, Biology Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2008-2012

Ph. D., Cell Biology, University of California, San Francisco, 2002-2008

Masters in Biology, San Francisco State University, 2000-2002

Bachelors of Arts, Molecular and Cell Biology, Minor in Education,  University of California, Berkeley, 2000

I have always worked on stress responses in microbes from the ECF sigma factor SigY and regulation of replication initiation in Bacillus subtilis, to the DNA damage stress response in yeast. This work allowed me to hone techniques that I teach to undergraduate students in my lab. Additionally, I've taught authentic research experiences in introductory courses leading to co-authorship with undergraduate students through SEA-PHAGES.

Genome Sequences of Mycobacteriophages Amgine, Amohnition, Bella96, Cain, DarthP, Hammy, Krueger, LastHope, Peanam, PhelpsODU, Phrank, SirPhilip, Slimphazie, and Unicorn

The Primosomal Protein DnaD Inhibits Cooperative DNA Binding by the Replication Initiator DnaA in Bacillus subtilis 

Primosomal Proteins DnaD and DnaB Are Recruited to Chromosomal Regions Bound by DnaA in Bacillus subtilis 

Colocalization of Sensors Is Sufficient to Activate the DNA Damage Checkpoint in the Absence of Damage 

Complicated tails: histone modifications and the DNA damage response 

Regulation of the Bacillus subtilis Extracytoplasmic Function Protein σY and Its Target Promoters