University of California-Berkeley · BiochemistryRickettsia Research Laboratory
Matthew D Welch · Berkeley, California
Research Focus
Matthew D Welch's lab at UC Berkeley focuses on understanding how the Rickettsia bacteria invade host cells and survive within them. They explore the molecular mechanisms that allow these pathogens to escape immune responses and move within cells. This research is not only crucial for creating effective diagnostics and treatments for diseases caused by Rickettsia but also enhances our overall understanding of host-pathogen interactions.
Rickettsiaintracellular survivalvirulencephospholipaseactin-based motility
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate how Rickettsia phospholipase activity contributes to infection.
AIM 02Reveal how Rickettsia surface architecture enables avoidance of ubiquitylation.
AIM 03Establish how and why Rickettsia use two mechanisms for intracellular movement.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturemouse modelsWestern blotfluorescence imagingprotein purification
Output against the department
Publications243top 31% of dept.124th of 402
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations12ktop 43% of dept.171st of 402
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.