The human intestinal microbiota is a complex and dynamic consortium of microbes that is crucial for human health and disease prevention. Our lab has been studying the abundant bacterial members of this ecosystem to understand how they interact with each other both cooperatively and antagonistically to form these health-promoting communities. We use basic microbiological, genetic, biochemical, and gnotobiotic mouse analyses, combined with genomic, metagenomic and computational analyses to understand these complex interactions. We have discovered numerous classes of new antimicrobial proteins that these bacteria use to compete in their ecosystem, and we are studying their mechanisms of action, ecological properties, and how we may translate these molecules for human health benefits. Another focus of the lab is the evolution of microbes in the human gut and how genetic elements horizontally transferred between bacterial species personalize each individual’s gut microbiota and the phenotypes and community benefits conferred by these shared genetic elements.
Brigham and Women's Hospital / Harvard Medical School
Boston, MA
Postdoctoral Fellowship - Bacteroides fragilis genetics
1996
University of Maryland Medical Center / Center for Vaccine Development
Baltimore, MD
Postdoctoral Fellowship - Vibrio cholerae pathogenesis
1995
Wake Forest University Medical Center / Bowman Gray School of Medicine
Winston-Salem, NC
PhD - Microbiology and Immunology
1991
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY
BS - Biology
1987
Bacteroides expand the functional versatility of a universal transcription factor and transcribed DNA to program capsule diversity.
Bacteroides expand the functional versatility of a universal transcription factor and transcribed DNA to program capsule diversity. bioRxiv. 2024 Jun 21.
PMID: 38948710
Mechanisms of bacterial immunity, protection, and survival during interbacterial warfare.
Mechanisms of bacterial immunity, protection, and survival during interbacterial warfare. Cell Host Microbe. 2024 Jun 12; 32(6):794-803.
PMID: 38870897
Distant relatives of a eukaryotic cell-specific toxin family evolved a complement-like mechanism to kill bacteria.
Distant relatives of a eukaryotic cell-specific toxin family evolved a complement-like mechanism to kill bacteria. Nat Commun. 2024 Jun 12; 15(1):5028.
PMID: 38866748
Phosphorothioate DNA modification by BREX Type 4 systems in the human gut microbiome.
Phosphorothioate DNA modification by BREX Type 4 systems in the human gut microbiome. bioRxiv. 2024 Jun 03.
PMID: 38895356
A pervasive large conjugative plasmid mediates multispecies biofilm formation in the intestinal microbiota increasing resilience to perturbations.
A pervasive large conjugative plasmid mediates multispecies biofilm formation in the intestinal microbiota increasing resilience to perturbations. bioRxiv. 2024 Apr 29.
PMID: 38746121
Comprehensive analyses of a large human gut Bacteroidales culture collection reveal species and strain level diversity and evolution.
Comprehensive analyses of a large human gut Bacteroidales culture collection reveal species and strain level diversity and evolution. bioRxiv. 2024 Mar 09.
PMID: 38496653
A cryptic plasmid is among the most numerous genetic elements in the human gut.
A cryptic plasmid is among the most numerous genetic elements in the human gut. Cell. 2024 Feb 29; 187(5):1206-1222.e16.
PMID: 38428395
Inflammation and bacteriophages affect DNA inversion states and functionality of the gut microbiota.
Inflammation and bacteriophages affect DNA inversion states and functionality of the gut microbiota. Cell Host Microbe. 2024 Mar 13; 32(3):322-334.e9.
PMID: 38423015
A ubiquitous mobile genetic element disarms a bacterial antagonist of the gut microbiota.
A ubiquitous mobile genetic element disarms a bacterial antagonist of the gut microbiota. bioRxiv. 2023 Aug 26.
PMID: 37662397
A highly conserved and globally prevalent cryptic plasmid is among the most numerous mobile genetic elements in the human gut.
A highly conserved and globally prevalent cryptic plasmid is among the most numerous mobile genetic elements in the human gut. bioRxiv. 2023 Mar 25.
PMID: 36993556