My current laboratory is studying pathogenesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis a major human pathogen responsible for tuberculosis (TB). TB kills over one million people each year. There is no effective vaccine against TB and M. tuberculosis is growing increasingly resistant to antibiotics. We are focused on deciphering how M. tuberculosis evades or resists nutritional immunity, that is immune responses aimed at restricting pathogen access to iron. Iron is essential for the pathogen’s survival and replication in the host, therefore the battle between pathogen and host for this metal influences their interactions and the outcome of TB infection. Our goal is to discover novel targets to develop effective preventive and therapeutic strategies against TB.
- Title
- Associate Professor
- Area of Study/Expertise
- Tuberculosis
- rodrigg2@njms.rutgers.edu