Every minute, approximately 20 lives are lost globally to antibiotic-resistant pathogens—a
staggering figure projected to double within the next 25 years. This underscores an
imminent need to unveil innovative bacterial targets and antibiotics. The Heisler
laboratory stands committed to tackling myriad foundational inquiries concerning host-pathogen
interactions. These include:
- Unraveling the functional intricacies of an overlooked protein family from Listeria.
- Advancing our comprehension of how pathogens exploit host membrane cholesterol to
bolster their pathogenicity.
- Delving into the nuances of protein biochemistry and cell biology in the context of
host-pathogen dynamics.
To achieve these objectives, the lab harnesses techniques spanning protein biochemistry,
microbiology, and molecular cell biology. Their research elucidates how alterations
in cell signal transduction pathways can either facilitate or impede bacterial infections,
with particular emphasis on membrane constituents. Ultimately, their mission is to
identify novel bacterial therapeutic targets for antimicrobial interventions while
shedding light on new facets of cellular biology.
