Research topics

The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria continues to be a major global public health burden. Novel approaches to combat bacterial infections are badly needed to deal with this escalating problem. Interestingly, intracellular bacterial pathogens such as Salmonella enterica and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, develop intimate relationships with their hosts and have evolved different tactics to evade host cellular antimicrobial pathways and facilitate their replication. To identify unexplored pathogenic pathways, we use Salmonella enterica as a model vacuolar pathogen to study bacterial infectious diseases with a focus on host-pathogen interactions. Currently, the lab is working in several areas:

• How intracellular pathogens establish and maintain their pathogenic vacuoles. 

• Host cellular targets of bacterial virulence factors and molecular mechanisms. 

• Molecular mechanisms of intracellular pathogens persisting within their hosts.  

We employ a multidisciplinary approach combining genome-wide screens, biochemical, cell biology, and bioinformatic methods to give unique insights into microbial pathogenesis. The results of our work will be a pivotal aid in the development of antimicrobial therapies.