Dr. Justin Thornton's lab at Mississippi State University focuses on developing a new type of vaccine to prevent colonization by pneumococcus, a bacteria responsible for infections like pneumonia. The lab is looking to find novel targets among bacterial proteins that can stimulate a strong immune response and lead to better protection against these infections, even against different strains of the bacteria. This research not only aims to improve vaccine efficacy but also engages students in real-world biomedical research.