Rock Lab

While we are a basic-science laboratory, the nature of our infectious disease research allows us to be heavily involved in drug discovery that translates directly to the clinic. Through our study of lipid metabolism in mammals—and an extensive collaboration with the Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics (CBT) and the Department of Structural Biology at St. Jude—we contribute to the development of compounds, such as chemical biology probes and drug-like molecules.

In a testament to the success of our collaborative work, one of our compounds has completed two Phase II trials, and recently, our work led to the application of the first-in-class drug treatments for childhood neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases. These molecules continue progress toward the clinic.  

The commensal bacteria that exist in the intestine are not pathogenic, and the body’s immune system does not react to these organisms. This is due to extensive chemical cross-talk between the communal bacteria and host that suppresses the immune response and creates a more tolerant environment for the commensal bacteria. We identify hydroxy-fatty acids as one of the chemical-signaling molecules and examine the mechanism and regulation of their biosynthesis.

Importantly, we find that these same molecules are released by pathogens, such as Staphylococcus aureus, who have co-opted this aspect of commensal signaling to promote pathogenesis. We have also discovered two new lipid mediators produced by S. aureus that potentially activate or suppress components of the immune system.  

These new molecules are being studied with our cutting-edge technologies that include anaerobic growth chambers and genetic knockouts of anaerobic bacteria, X-ray crystallography, mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy, and chemical biology.  We continue to examine the distinctive lipid metabolites of intestinal microbiome bacteria and those of pathogens to provide insight into the role of lipid mediators in the control of inflammation and pathogenesis.