Welcome to the Feldman Laboratory
Research Interests
Multidrug resistant (MDR) infections caused by the bacterial pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii are increasing at alarming rates. Today the MDR frequencies among A. baumannii clinical isolates are higher than any other Gram-negative bacterium. For this reason, the World Health Organization has categorized A. baumannii as top priority for the research and development of new antimicrobial therapies. To accomplish this goal, our lab is focused on understanding the following aspects of Ab pathobiology:
1) A. baumannii response to stress
2) A. baumannii replication inside of macrophages
3) Development of animal models for the study of A. baumannii pathogenesis
In addition to virulence factors produced by A. baumannii, the Feldman Lab also studies outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). OMVs are small spherical structures derived from the outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria. Bacteroides spp. are prominent members of the human gut microbiota, and OMVs produced by these species play key roles in gut homeostasis. OMVs are implied in several biological processes, including host-microbe interactions by facilitating long-distance delivery of virulence factors, modulating the immune response, and contributing to antibiotic resistance. Despite these key roles in bacterial physiology, OMV biogenesis is poorly understood.