Professional Interests

MICROBE-MICROBE INTERACTIONS

The interactions between different microbial species govern the activity of microbial communities, whether they be in association with a host or free-living in the environment. Microbial communities have very significant effects on human health. For example, synergistic relationships between the organisms within the human microflora confer protection against pathogens and enable the degradation of complex substrates. At the same time, many illnesses, such as respiratory and genital infections, gastroenteritis, and periodontal diseases, often involve multiple microorganisms. In the Hogan Lab, we are interested in understanding the molecular basis for such interactions by describing the mechanisms by which one microbe affects the physiology, survival, and virulence properties of another microbial species.

Our lab primarily focuses on the interactions between the Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the dimorphic fungus, Candida albicans