We study the molecular mechanisms that enable microbial pathogens to cause disease. Our interdisciplinary approach collaboratively employs structural biology, biophysical, cellular, and -omics technologies. We aim to translate our discoveries into new antibiotics and innovative biotechnological tools.
Pilus Assembly in Bacterial Pathogens
Bacterial pathogens display virulence factors that enable them to adhere to host tissues, resist phagocytic killing, invade host cells and acquire essential nutrients. We are studying how bacteria synthesize and display two types of virulence factors: (i) pili, proteinaceous fibers that project from the bacterial cell surface to mediate adhesion, and (ii) Wall Teichoic Acids (WTAs), highly...
Starving Pathogens: Targeting Heme Acquisition
Bacterial pathogens survive in the human host by circumventing one of our most powerful defenses: iron sequestration. Our lab studies how these microbes hijack heme from hemoglobin—a process essential for their survival and virulence. By combining structural biology, biophysics, proteomics, and protein engineering, we aim to uncover the molecular mechanisms of heme capture and identify new...
Chemical Biology: Antibiotic Discovery
The emergence of antibiotic resistance bacteria is significant health concern. Our goal is to discover new anti-infective agents that can be used to combat infections caused by methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other multidrug resistant Gram-positive bacteria. Toward this objective, we are using high throughput screening approaches to identify small molecules that...
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04/25 Esmeralda Corrales joined the lab! Welcome!
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01/25 Nikki Cheung was awarded a Science Olympiad Fellowship!
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08/24 Allen Takayesu won best poster at the Protein Society Meeting!
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07/24 Kylie Cheng was awarded a CMB Fellowship!
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06/24 Kylie Cheng joined the lab! Welcome!
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06/24 Andrew Goring was awarded a UCLA Dissertation Year Fellowship!
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05/24 Nikki Cheung was awarded a UCLA Whitcome Fellowship!
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08/23 Christine Minor was awarded a CMB Fellowship!
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07/23 Andrew Goring was awarded a UCLA Whitcome Fellowship!
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05/23 Reece Pawlacyk joined our research group. Welcome!
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08/22 Dr. Chris Sue was awarded his PhD in biochemistry! Congratulations!
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