Christine Suh
Program: Unspecified
Current advisor:
Undergraduate university: Duke University
Research summary
Iron is an essential nutrient for bacterial growth and pathogenesis. To obtain iron from the host’s tightly regulated iron pool, bacteria produce metal chelators called siderophores. However, host protein lipocalin-2 (Lcn2) can bind and sequester these siderophore-iron complexes, restricting bacterial growth. The Henderson Lab also analyzes an alternative mechanism where Lcn2 binds catechol-iron complexes. Catechols are iron-binding molecules in urine that when sequestered by Lcn2, further limit the bacteria’s access to this nutrient. In order to better understand this host-pathogen fight for iron in a controlled setting, we are optimizing a growth curve assay in minimal media. Some future directions include testing the effect of pH and assessing the different siderophore systems.
Graduate publications