Jason Rosch Lab

As we study host-pathogen interactions, we seek to understand the factors that drive an increase in susceptibility to disease. Some patients show markedly higher susceptibility to infection, and our guiding question is how bacteria utilize distinct strategies to infect these hosts. To study bacterial genetics and pathogenesis, we use techniques such as transposon sequencing (Tn-seq), RNA-seq, and various model systems. We then leverage these findings to advance the development of therapeutics. 

Beyond an investigation into disease susceptibility, our interest lies in the operation of bacterial and viral synergies and how disease progression changes when you have multiple pathogens simultaneously at play. We utilize St. Jude’s cutting-edge microscopy facilities to examine these bacterial and viral pathogenic interactions and probe the consequences of these interactions for both the virus and the bacterium.

Given the barriers antibiotic resistance poses to the treatment of infections, our research examines the evolution of antibiotic resistance and why resistance develops in certain populations. Using an experimental evolution approach, in which we conduct deep sequencing to identify population variants, we study how immune-compromised populations can serve as a reservoir for the emergence of factors that are important in the development of resistance. Using in vitro and in vivo models, we assess what happens when we remove the immune system from the environment and how bacteria respond. Our findings show there are unique pathways involved in a lack of immune selection, which provides bacteria more options to respond to the presence of antibiotics. Our work involves multiple classes of antibiotics, and our goal is to discern why antibiotic treatment fails. 

At the core of our work is our desire to aid in the development and delivery of proper therapeutics to children with respiratory infections. On top of our research efforts, we partner with the clinical teams at St. Jude to discover the best treatment for patients with challenging infections. Discovering molecular insights to guide proper therapeutic treatment of respiratory infections in children is a rewarding component we hope to expand on a global scale in the future.