Microbial Pathogenesis: Bacteriology

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a graduate student in MGM, I have been working in David Tobin’s laboratory on discovering and modeling bacterial factors in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) that promote dissemination and skeletal infection. Using comparative genomics and a zebrafish-Mycobacterium marinum infection model, we have uncovered a genetic feature in ancient strains of Mtb that promotes disseminated disease. We believe that this may reveal a key step in the evolution of Mtb into a specialized pulmonary pathogen.