Dr. Patrick R. Secor's research lab at Montana State University focuses on understanding Lyme disease, which is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. The lab investigates how bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect bacteria, contribute to the spread of genetic material between different strains of Borrelia. This research is important as it may uncover mechanisms that help the bacterium survive in nature and evade treatments, ultimately aiming to improve disease diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.