Dr. Christopher J. Kristich's lab focuses on understanding how certain bacteria, specifically enterococci, become resistant to antibiotics. The lab investigates the dynamics of proteins that help these bacteria resist treatments, as well as how intracellular signals influence this resistance. Their work aims to uncover new targets for developing innovative antibiotics that can effectively fight these resistant infections, which are a significant issue in hospitals.

Dr. Vera L. Tarakanova's lab focuses on understanding how gammaherpesviruses manipulate host immune responses for their own benefit during chronic infections. They study a specific viral protein kinase that is important for the virus's ability to persist in the body and contribute to B cell lymphomas. By exploring the mechanisms of this viral protein, the lab aims to identify potential new therapies to prevent or treat related cancers, as no vaccines or effective antiviral treatments currently exist.

Dr. Xue-Zhong Yu's lab focuses on understanding the immune responses in the context of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and cancer immunotherapy. They investigate the role of cytokines like IL-39 in GVHD and explore how manipulating certain kinases can improve anti-tumor immunity. Additionally, they look into the effects of the gut microbiome and probiotics on GVHD, aiming to enhance patient outcomes after hematopoietic cell transplantation.