UWMUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison · Microbiology & Immunology
Sauer Lab
John-Demian Sauer · Madison, Wisconsin
Research Focus
Dr. John-Demian Sauer's lab focuses on understanding how the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes survives inside host cells. The research centers on the unique adaptations that allow these bacteria to thrive in the stressful environment of the cytosol — the liquid found inside cells. By identifying key genes and pathways that help Listeria respond to stress and utilize nutrients, the lab aims to uncover new insights into bacterial behavior and potentially inform public health strategies against infections.
Listeria monocytogenesbacterial metabolismcell wall stresspathogen survivalvirulence factors
Research Aims
4AIM 01Identify genes required for Listeria monocytogenes survival in the cytosol.
AIM 02Characterize the role of cell wall stress responses in bacterial adaptation.
AIM 03Study the metabolic pathways utilized by Listeria during infection.
AIM 04Investigate how bacterial metabolism impacts host immune responses.
Skills the Lab Values
genetic screeningcell culturemouse modelsmetabolic assaysgene expression analysis
Output against the department
Publications102bottom 37% of dept.306th of 486
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations3.9kbottom 29% of dept.345th of 486
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.