Research

The host-pathogen interface is the overall theme of research in the Munson laboratory. Currently our work is divided into two primary areas of concentration; each with several sub-projects.

Perforin-2. Our work with Perforin-2 falls within the overarching discipline of innate immunity. However, we draw upon many other fields to complete our objectives. This includes structural and cellular biology, cell signaling, genetics and protein biochemistry. Our work with bacterial effectors that inhibit Perforin-2 spans our two main areas of concentration.

ETEC. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli is a diarrheagenic pathogen that infects humans as well as domestic animals important to the agricultural industry. Thus, our work with ETEC falls within the overarching discipline of bacterial pathogenesis. Current areas of focus include the molecular mechanisms of a novel protein secretion system and the contribution of its substrate to pathogenesis. Another area of emphasis is the transcriptional regulation of virulence genes, and small molecule inhibitors of ETEC transcription factors.