Plant and Microbial Biosciences

Program affiliation
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Molecular Cell Biology
Plant and Microbial Biosciences
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology

Research summary
Biology and pathogenesis of the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans

Key words
biochemistry, biosynthetic pathways, cell biology, eukaryotic pathogen, gene regulation, genomic variants, glycobiology, host-pathogen interactions, microbial pathogenesis, pathogenic fungi, sterol transport, yeast

Program affiliation
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Molecular Cell Biology
Human and Statistical Genetics
Plant and Microbial Biosciences

Research summary
Our lab studies hair-like structures on the surface of cells called cilia that act like antennas to process signals essential for development and survival, and beat in rhythmic fashion to remove potentially harmful pathogens. The malfunctioning of cilia or the structure that anchors them to cells – called the basal body – can contribute to the development of chronic kidney and lung diseases, congenital heart defects and other health problems. We have identified numerous genes required for the assembly and proper functioning of cilia in the green alga Chlamydomonas, a model organism, and their counterparts in humans. In collaboration with colleagues at WashU Medicine, we have analyzed the structure of cilia to obtain atomic resolution of many protein complexes. These studies have laid a foundation for improving the diagnosis and treatment of patients with ciliopathies, including those with polycystic kidney disease, which currently is treated with dialysis; primary ciliary dyskinesia, which causes chronic lung disease, misplaced organs and infertility; Bardet-Biedl syndrome, which leads to blindness in childhood and diabetes, kidney disease and extreme obesity; and many congenital heart defects, which occur when left-right asymmetry goes awry and require complex surgeries to repair

Key words
centrioles, cilia, signal transduction, cytoskeleton, lung disease

Program affiliation
Plant and Microbial Biosciences

Research summary
Using genetic approaches to understand the evolutionary and ecological causes and consequences of rarity in endangered plant species

Key words

Program affiliation
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Plant and Microbial Biosciences

Research summary
Pathogenesis of multidrug resistant bacteria and biogenesis of bacterial vesicles in the human gut

Key words

Program affiliation
Plant and Microbial Biosciences

Research summary
Microbial biogeochemistry and metabolic stable isotopic (C/N/S) fractionation

Key words
microbial biogeochemistry, stable isotope geochemistry, microbial mats, carbon cycling, sulfur cycling, Earth history

Program affiliation
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Plant and Microbial Biosciences

Research summary
Molecular investigation of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC)

Key words
enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli; microbial pathogenesis; vaccine development; diarrheal disease

Program affiliation
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Neurosciences
Immunology
Plant and Microbial Biosciences
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis

Research summary
Dr. Fu’s research focuses on the structural and functional analysis of SPFH family proteins. Using cryo-electron microscopy and cryo-electron tomography, the Fu Lab studies membrane proteins in their native environments to explore their role in cellular signaling and disease

Key words
cryoem structure Ion channel membrane protein cryoet

Program affiliation
Plant and Microbial Biosciences

Research summary

Key words

Program affiliation
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Plant and Microbial Biosciences

Research summary
Interfaces and adhesions in physiology and nature

Key words
mechanics, physics, interfaces, adhesion, mechanobiology, strain mapping, viscoelasticity

Program affiliation
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Computational and Systems Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Plant and Microbial Biosciences

Research summary
Role of the human gut microbiome in health and disease, notably childhood undernutrition and obesity

Key words
Gut microbiome; systems biology; postnatal development; childhood malnutrition; global health; gnotobiotic animal models; metabolic regulation; food webs; gut-brain axis; gut barrier/immune function; microbiome-targeted therapeutics