Epitranscriptomic and translational responses to anti-bacterial Stress

EPICS Lab: Epitranscriptomic and translational responses to anti-bacterial Stress

RNA bases can undergo a variety of chemical modifications, including methylation, pseudouridylation, dihydrouridylation, queuosine incorporation, and other complex alterations. Because RNA molecules function both as templates for protein synthesis (mRNA) and as essential components of the translation machinery (tRNA and rRNA), these modifications influence bacterial protein production and, consequently, the overall proteome. Variation in RNA modification levels can also generate phenotypic heterogeneity within a bacterial population.

While some tRNA modification genes are essential, the deletion of many others does not produce an observable phenotype under non-stress conditions. However, recent studies have revealed links between tRNA modifications and stress responses in several bacterial species, and new types of RNA modifications continue to be discovered.

Impact of tRNA Modifications and Their Dynamics on Stress Adaptation in Vibrio cholerae
The diversity of tRNA modifications, their specific effects on protein synthesis and cellular processes, and the possibility that their expression is regulated by environmental stresses make this a promising field of study. We combine high-throughput approaches (Tn-seq, transcriptomics, proteomics, and Ribo-seq) with molecular tools and bacterial genetics to characterize the role of RNA modifications in the response to antibiotics, heat shock, oxidative stress, and other changing environmental conditions.

Impact of Vibrio cholerae rRNA Modifications on Ribosome Assembly, Structure, and Interactions
We investigate how changes in rRNA modification patterns affect ribosome assembly, stability, structure, and interaction partners. In addition, we study newly identified V. cholerae–specific rRNA modification enzymes to better understand their roles in ribosome biogenesis and function.

Determinants of Phenotypic Heterogeneity, Host Colonization, and Antibiotic Response in Clinical Isolates
We are investigating the genetic mechanisms underlying tolerance and stress adaptation in natural and clinical isolates of Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae across diverse environments, with a particular focus on RNA modification genes and ribosomal proteins.