Research in our laboratory focuses on the molecular pathogenesis of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). These organisms are a major cause of mortality in young children due to diarrheal illness in developing countries, and are perennially the most common etiology of diarrhea in travelers. ETEC constitute a diverse E. coli “pathotype” that share in the ability to effectively deliver heat-labile (LT) and/or heat-stable (ST) toxins to respectively activate cAMP and cGMP production in host intestinal cells.

Studies in the lab use a variety of molecular techniques and in vitro and in vivo models to elucidate the role of novel virulence factors in several key steps essential in the pathogenesis of these organisms: bacterial adhesion, intestinal colonization, and finally toxin delivery. Projects involving genome, transcriptome, and immuno-proteome analysis of these pathogens seek to accelerate identification of potential vaccine targets. The principal long-term goal of these studies is to provide additional molecular details to aid rational selection of target antigens and inform future vaccine development efforts for these important pathogens.