Research

My research aims to elucidate how bacterial pathogens alter their physiology to survive in hostile intracellular environments. Specifically, I study how the gastrointestinal pathogen, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, metabolically adapts to survive within macrophages. The intracellular environment within macrophages exposes bacteria to antibacterial agents and starves bacteria of critical nutrients. However, S. Typhimurium survival within these cells leads to systemic infection. Within this context, my project examines how metabolic control of the modification and recycling of S. Typhimurium peptidoglycan (PG), a component of the cell envelope, counteracts stress induced within macrophages. Understanding these processes can help identify novel pharmacological targets for treating Salmonella infections.

Education

Ph.D., Washington State University, Immunology and Infectious Disease

B.S., Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Microbiology