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Research Bench Lab

Microbiology & Immunology

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Kirby Laboratory

Kirby Laboratory

Kirby Laboratory_Image Text Split Component

Research Areas

Two-Component Signaling
We are taking a systems biology approach to characterize a family of two-component system homologs for their role during biofilm formation and predation by M. xanthus. Our primary area of interest aims to decipher cross-regulation between highly similar pairs of NtrB-NtrC homologs and chemosensory systems for their control of motility and development in M. xanthus.

Predator-Prey Interactions
We are actively investigating interactions between M. xanthus and B. subtilis as a model for predator-prey interactions in vivo. Our primary goal here is to assess the role of production of secondary metabolites on both sides of the predator-prey equation.

Microbiome
We are examining the role of xenobiotics for their capacity to disrupt the gut microbiota with deleterious consequences on metabolism. Currently, we utilize the Illumina platform to obtain 16s rDNA sequence information and analyze those data using QIIME (Quantitative Insights Into Microbial Ecology) open source software. We are employing the use of total calorimetry to assess metabolic defects in mice following perturbation with xenobiotics.

John R. Kirby, PhD

Chair, Microbiology & Immunology; Walter Schroeder Professor in Microbiology and Immunology; Associate Director, Microbiome, Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine Center; Associate Director, Center for Microbiome Research

Microbial Signal Transduction

Lab News

This Week in Microbiology interview
Bacteria on the Move, Eating Their Fill New York Times
Cluster’s Last Stand Popular Science
Scientific Discovery, Frame by Moving Frame New York Times
The Microscopic Flash Mob ASM Small Things Considered
Predator-Prey Interactions in Soil Bacteria Regulated by Secondary Metabolites Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Spotlight
Recent Study Sheds New Light on the Roles of Viruses in Weight Gain Prophage Blog
Psychiatric drug – not antibiotic – messes with gut microbes, spurs obesity Ars Technica