F. Jon Kull

The small molecule regacin binds a conserved pocket in RegA to inhibit the expression of bacterial virulence factors

This paper identifies regacin as an inhibitor of RegA, a virulence regulator in Citrobacter rodentium, and defines its binding site through structural and mutagenesis studies.

Bile-mediated ToxS homodimerization provides a model for ToxRS periplasmic interactions

This study reveals how bile salts induce ToxS homodimerization, providing a structural model for ToxRS system activation in Vibrio pathogens.

Characterization of the ligand binding pocket of the virulence regulator Rns, a Member of the AraC/XylS family of transcription factors

This study identifies key residues in the Rns binding pocket critical for fatty acid inhibition and structural rigidity, supporting the hypothesis that fatty acid binding inhibits AraC regulators in bacterial pathogens.

Vibrio cholerae CsrA controls ToxR levels by increasing the stability and translation of toxR mRNA

This paper shows that CsrA directly increases ToxR levels in Vibrio cholerae by stabilizing and enhancing translation of toxR mRNA through binding to its 5 UTR.