Dr. Mitra's Lab

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is the leading cause of human deaths worldwide by a bacterial pathogen. To successfully colonize within the host Mtb is completely dependent on iron, which is an essential nutrient. More than 80% of the iron in the human body is stored as heme within hemoglobin making it the largest iron source. We study how Mtb acquires heme iron. Our long-term goal for this project is to determine the contribution of heme utilization to Mtb virulence within the human host. In addition, we also work on discovering new molecules that inhibit iron acquisition pathways of gram-negative pathogens. The long-term goal of this project is to develop drugs that block acquisition of iron and prevent pathogens from proliferating within the host.

 

We study virulence mechanisms in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and gram negative pathogens. Mtb is the leading cause of human deaths worldwide by a bacterial pathogen. To successfully colonize within the host Mtb is completely dependent on iron, which is an essential nutrient. More than 75% of the iron in the human body is stored as heme within hemoglobin making it the largest iron source. We study how Mtb acquires heme iron in the human host. In addition, we also work on discovering new molecules that inhibit iron acquisition pathways of gram-negative pathogens.