Research

The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria poses a global threat to public health. Overuse and misuse of antibiotics have fueled their proliferation, resulting in over 700,000 annual deaths from resistant infections. Without action, the World Health Organization (WHO) warns the death toll could reach 10 million by 2050. Limited development of new antibiotics exacerbates the danger. Global initiatives pursue innovative solutions like genome editing, bacteriophage therapy, and antibiotic adjuvants to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Our lab focuses on three key areas. Firstly, we develop novel antibiotics to combat resistance, exploring new compounds and formulations. Secondly, we investigate antibiotic adjuvants to enhance efficacy and overcome resistance mechanisms. Lastly, we explore alternative strategies to eradicate resistant bacteria, seeking innovative approaches for effective pathogen elimination. Through our research, we contribute to global efforts addressing the urgent challenges of antibiotic resistance.

Besides antibiotic resistance, bacterial cells employ a critical mechanism called persistence to survive antibiotic exposure. Persistent cells remain genetically susceptible to antibiotics but exhibit phenotypic tolerance, contributing to chronic infectious diseases, antibiotic overuse, and the emergence of resistance. Understanding persister cell formation is our laboratory's primary focus. We aim to unravel the underlying mechanisms driving their resilience and identify factors that contribute to their persistence. Additionally, we actively research strategies to eradicate persister cells, disrupting their tolerance mechanisms and improving antibiotic effectiveness. We are dedicated to investigating the regulation of persister cell formation, studying intricate networks and pathways to identify potential intervention targets. Our goal is to modulate persister cell formation, prevent chronic infections, and reduce reliance on antibiotics. Through our research, we contribute to understanding antibiotic resistance mechanisms and develop novel approaches to combat persistent infections.

Microbial communication is vital for interactions among microorganisms and with their hosts. Through mechanisms like quorum sensing and volatile compound release, microbes convey information, influencing recipient microbes and host organisms. In our lab, we study microbe-to-microbe interactions, uncovering mechanisms, and their impact on microbial communities and processes. We also explore microbe-host interactions, understanding how microbes communicate and exert effects, whether beneficial or harmful. Additionally, we work on advancing the understanding and regulation of microbial communication for practical applications. By manipulating these communication networks, we aim to develop new therapeutic strategies and engineer desired microbial communities. Through our research, we contribute to the broader understanding of these processes and harness microbial communication for positive outcomes in health, agriculture, and the environment. 

The relationship between human diseases and the gut microbiome, as well as the impact of the soil microbiome on agriculture, has been extensively studied. Environmental factors, antibiotics, particulate matter, and diet can disrupt these microbiomes, leading to significant issues for hosts. Consequently, understanding and modulating microbiomes have become essential in clinical and industrial settings. Our laboratory focuses on investigating dysbiosis caused by environmental factors in the gut or soil microbiome. We strive to comprehend how external influences affect microbial composition and functioning, with the goal of developing strategies to mitigate dysbiosis and restore homeostasis. Additionally, we explore the molecular factors contributing to microbiome dysbiosis, identifying potential targets for interventions. We also engage in microbiome remodeling, utilizing various approaches and technologies to engineer and modulate microbiomes for desired outcomes in medicine and agriculture. Through our research, we aim to contribute to a better understanding of microbiomes and develop novel strategies for human health and sustainable practices.