We are a Research Lab at the University of Guelph.

 
An image of long filaments of Escherichia coli that look like spaghetti! We are currently exploring the genetic and molecular basis of this phenotype.

Escherichia coli spaghetti!

 

Teasing apart bacterial efflux systems

Efflux pumps enable bacteria to resist the inhibitory action of most classes of clinically important antibiotics. We are teasing apart the Escherichia coli efflux system to work out how these proteins enable antibiotic resistance and how they contribute to important physiological processes. The overall goal is to develop new therapeutics taking aim at these ancient resistance elements.

 
 

Stopping bugs from sticking

Bacterial adherence is an important component of infection and colonization. We are studying how the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus sticks to different surfaces and molecules within the human body. Gaining insight into these processes will aid the development of strategies to inhibit adhesion.

 
image of clumping Staphylococcus aureus. Inactivation of a gene induced this phenotype, which is an area of active research in our lab.

Sticky Staph

 

Contact us.

gcox@uoguelph.ca

University of Guelph
Summerlee Complex
50 Stone Road East
Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1