ADVANCING THE BASIC AND TRANSLATIONAL STUDY OF THE HOST-MICROBE INTERACTION

The last 100 years of microbiology research have clearly established that symbiotic and pathogenic microbes colonizing humans can impact health, disease, and drug action. A next step in studying the complex interaction between host and microbe is to "directly" define the molecular factors that govern biological function (i.e. proteins, metabolites, post-translational modifications) and delineate their associated mechanisms of action. Towards this goal, the Gonzalez laboratory utilizes a systems scale to single target approach to study bacterial pathogenesis, host responses to infection, and the human microbiome. At its core, the laboratory develops and applies quantitative proteomics tools to simultaneously track thousands of protein dynamics and associated post-translational modifications with high accuracy and high throughput. We then apply microbiological techniques to characterize the important factors identified during these interactions. When appropriate, translational studies of therapeutic value are undertaken in tissue culture, in murine models, and through analysis of human biospecimens. This information is then used to design novel strategies for detecting or treating microbial-driven infectious diseases in humans.