Hanh Lam

Major Fields of Interest

• Molecular Mechanism of host-pathogen interactions
• Genomics
• Drug and Antimicrobial Discovery
   

Current Research 

Our lab studies host – microbe interaction at the cellular and molecular level and develops antimicrobials against the Gram-negative pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. P. aeruginosa is an ESKAPE pathogen that frequently “escapes” antimicrobial drugs and is one of the most common causes of health care-associated infections worldwide. The Type III secretion system (T3SS) is a major virulence determinant associated with acute Pseudomonas infection. The T3SS is required for virulence in a number of pathogens but is largely absent from commensals, making it an ideal target for antimicrobial development. Among four effector proteins secreted by the P. aeruginosaT3SS, the effector ExoU is a known marker of highly virulent strains and antibiotic resistance, and is responsible for acute epithelial injury. ExoU has phospholipase A2 activity, which can hydrolyze phospholipids such as phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP₂). However, the molecular mechanism of host cell death caused by ExoU remains unknown.

Our current research projects:

1. Develop inhibitors of the Type III secretion system
2. Develop inhibitors of bacterial phospholipases
3. Investigate the mechanisms of host cell death caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa