Our laboratory employs techniques from molecular biology, microbiology, biochemistry, genomics/proteomics, microscopy, small molecule analysis, etc. to study different aspects of actinomycetes biology.
The Streptomyces are microorganisms renowned for their ability to produce many metabolites that have applications in medicine and agriculture. Interestingly, even though most Streptomyces spp. have the genetic capacity to synthesize many natural products, only 10-20 percent of them are produced under laboratory conditions. We study the production of biologically relevant metabolites in Streptomyces clavuligerus, the organism used in the commercial production of the β-lactamase inhibitor, clavulanic acid.
Streptomyces clavuligerus mycelia and spores expressing eGFP
Pathogenic mycobacteria are an immense public health problem and cause for concern as they cause diseases such as tuberculosis and leprosy. We use nonpathogenic mycobacterial species as model organisms to study core biological processes used by these bacteria to survive under different conditions, with the aim of identifying essential pathways that could be targets for future drug development.