My current research

I am a graduate student in William Ludington’s lab. My current research focuses on understanding the mechanisms underlying gut microbiome colonization. Specifically, I’m working to understand how bacteria evolve to colonize the guts of some animals but not others. 

All animals, including humans, associate with complex bacterial communities inside our guts. These communities – referred to as the microbiome – are essential for maintaining a healthy body. The microbiome helps us digest our food, protects us from pathogens, and can even influence our behavior. Changes in microbiome composition are linked to numerous diseases in humans, including diabetes and obesity. Despite the known relationship between the microbiome and our health, we do not yet know which bacteria within these communities are responsible for different health outcomes. In order to understand how gut bacteria influence health and disease, we must first understand the mechanisms by which these bacteria colonize and persist within our guts.

To address this point, I study the symbiotic relationship between the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and its core gut symbiont Lactobacillus plantarum. Drosophila is a well-established model organism that provides me with numerous genetic tools and resources. Lactobacillus species such as L. plantarum are widespread in the guts of many animals, including mice and humans, which provides potential translational relevance to my research. I work together with other Ludington lab members and collaborators to understand the fundamental mechanisms by which L. plantarum colonizes the fly gut. By developing and applying a series of novel bacterial genetics and in-host live imaging tools to this system, I discovered a pair of bacterial cell adhesion proteins that are required for colonization of the fly gut by L. plantarum. Our group also found that these proteins are widely conserved among host-associated microbes, including human colonizers, which suggests that gut colonization obeys an evolutionarily conserved mechanism.

To build upon these findings, I am currently using biochemistry and structural biology techniques to understand the molecular mechanisms by which these proteins recognize specific host tissues and am employing bacterial genetics and protein engineering techniques to test whether these proteins are sufficient to drive colonization of the gut. If successful, my research will broaden our understanding of how the microbiome forms inside our guts, as well as open the door for novel probiotic therapies to treat microbiome disorders.

Background on why I went to Hopkins

I wanted to be a biologist for as long as I can remember. As a Molecular Genetics major at SUNY Fredonia, I got exposed to Drosophila research during a genetics lab course and have wanted to make it into a career ever since. I chose to enroll in the CMDB program in part because of the incredible fly research that goes on here but also because of the diverse array of fields and model systems represented by the CMDB faculty. This diversity allowed me to explore numerous opportunities to do research outside my comfort zone. I was able to be exposed to each of the core disciplines during my rotations and gained a diverse set of skills that I applied to my thesis research.

What I like about my project and the Ludington lab environment

In a lot of ways, Ludington lab represents much of what is great about the CMDB program. My PI encourages each member to be an expert in a specific discipline that contributes to the lab’s larger goals of understanding gut colonization. Our lab has a person who specializes in fly genetics, in bioinformatics, and in microscopy among other things. This mix allows us to act as each other’s collaborators while carving out a niche for our research within the lab. When I joined the lab, I did not have much experience in microbiology or biochemistry, but I knew I would need to gain these skills to answer key questions for my project. Because of this, my PI convinced me to seek out training in new techniques by people in different labs at Hopkins. Through his encouragement and the help of the CMDB community, I became the leading bacterial geneticist and biochemist in the Ludington lab.

My Future directions

Currently, I would like to pursue a career in academia as a principal investigator. The CMDB program has provided me with the ability to hone my skills in teaching and communicating science to diverse audiences, including other scientists and laypeople. I have also had the opportunity to mentor several rotation students and new lab members as they navigate their projects, which will be an essential skill to have as I start my own lab. My time at Hopkins has prepared me well for achieving my future goals.