Payne Lab

About The Payne Lab

The Payne Lab's studies focus on the genetics and regulation of iron acquisition systems and other virulence factors of the intestinal pathogens Shigella flexneri and Vibrio cholerae. The Lab's work combines biochemistry and genetics to determine how the essential metals iron and manganese are transported and utilized in V. cholerae and S. flexneri. Iron transport systems are of particular interest to Payne Lab researchers because iron acquisition in the human host is critical to microbial virulence. Specifically they are studying the bacterial Feo system for ferrous iron transport. Additionally, Lab scientists use in vitro models combined, such as enteroids, with genetic analyses to determine the role of host lipids and carbon metabolism in the pathogenesis of S. flexneri. Regarding S. flexneri, they also examine interspecies interactions between S. flexneri and normal members of human gut microbiota to determine how they  influence in S. flexneri growth and virulence. Finally, The Payne Lab is also exploring the environmental regulation of critical virulence factors by the RNA binding protein CsrA in V. cholerae.

2023 Research

2022 Research

2021 Research

2020 Research