Biological and Biomedical Science
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John J. Mekalanos

Chair, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
Harvard Medical School
Building D1, Room 421
200 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
Tel: (617) 432-1935
Fax: (617) 738-7664
Email: jmekalanos@hms.harvard.edu

Web Page: The Mekalanos Lab Page
8 postdoctoral fellows, 4 graduate students

The Mekalanos laboratory is engaged in the analysis of bacterial virulence and functional genomics. The goal of these studies is to understand how pathogenic bacteria grow, evade the host immune system and ultimately cause disease. A variety of organisms are currently studied in the laboratory including several Vibrio species and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Our research encompasses many topics, including: 1) how bacteria sense their environment and modulate the expression of virulence genes, 2) the mechanism of horizontal gene transfer in the evolution of pathogenic strains, 3) how genomic information can be used to identify virulence factors, antigens, and gene products that are essential for cell growth, 4) ecological factors that control emergence and endemic properties of bacterial pathogens, 5) the biochemical function of bacterial virulence factors. We use genetic, genomic, proteomic, biochemical, and chemical biological approaches to explore these topics. Where possible, the knowledge gained in our studies is applied to the development of more effective vaccines and small molecule therapeutics.

 

References:

  • Mougous JD, Cuff ME, Raunser S, Zhou M, Gifford CA, Joachimiak G, Goodman AL, Ordonez CL, Lory S, Walz T, Joachimiak A and Mekalanos JJ. A virulence locus of Pseudomonas aeruginosa encodes a secretion apparatus active in cystic fibrosis infections. Science 2006 June 9; 312:1526-1530.
  • Pukatzki S, Ma AT, Sturtevant D, Krastins B, Sarracino D, Nelson WC, Heidelberg JF, Mekalanos JJ. Identification of a conserved bacterial protein secretion system in Vibrio cholerae using the Dictyostelium host model system. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Jan 31;103(5):1528-33.
  • Faruque SM, Islam MJ, Ahmad QS, Faruque AS, Sack DA, Nair GB, Mekalanos JJ. Self-limiting nature of seasonal cholera epidemics: Role of host-mediated amplification of phage. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Apr 26;102(17):6119-24.
  • Hung DT, Shakhnovich EA, Pierson E, Mekalanos JJ. Small-molecule inhibitor of Vibrio choleraevirulence and intestinal colonization. Science. 2005 Oct 28;310(5748):670-4.