Our goal is to understand how interactions between different microbes and the female urogenital tract influence the link between the vaginal microbiome and health problems affecting women and their babies.
The vagina is colonized by commensal bacteria that help protect it from infection. However, 30% of women harbor a polymicrobial vaginal microbiome (bacterial vaginosis, BV) that is seemingly less protective. BV is associated with sexually transmitted infections (HIV, HPV, HSV, gonorrhea), urinary tract infections (UTI), pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm birth and stillbirth.
Our lab aims to understand how host-microbe and microbe-microbe interactions in the female reproductive and urinary tracts are responsible for BV-associated health problems. We develop and employ a variety of small animal and cell culture infection models and analysis of human clinical specimens in our current projects investigating BV, UTI, HPV-associated cancers and adverse pregnancy outcomes. We hope our studies will translate into new vaginally focused prevention and treatment strategies that will improve the lives of women.
Mentoring
I am eager to support trainees and help them discover and reach their research and professional goals. I have completed the DBBS Mentorship Training program and was a 2023 COMPASS Training and Mentorship Scholar. Please contact me to learn more about currently available projects or if you have your own research questions in the area of urogenital microbiology that you would like to pursue with us.
News
Banner image description: Shown left: Vaginal mucosa from a pregnant mouse (H&E-stained formalin-fixed vaginal tissue section). Shown right: Scanning electron micrograph showing a urothelial cell exfoliating in a mouse bladder exposed to Gardnerella.