Laurie E. Comstock

This study defines the mechanism of BSAP-1 toxin action, showing receptor recognition and protease-activation lead to pore formation in target cells.

This study investigates the distribution of luxS and AI-2 production in gut Bacteroidales, showing that many species produce AI-2 but do not respond to it.

This paper identifies a small molecule regulated by a TetR family regulator that controls the GA3 T6SS and immunity genes in Bacteroides fragilis, enabling coordinated antagonism and defense.

The paper identifies new phosphorothioate DNA modification systems in the human gut microbiome using genomic and mass spectrometric analysis.

This study identifies DNA-utilization loci in gut Bacteroidales that metabolize exogenous DNA into deaminated nucleobases, revealing a conserved pathway with implications for host-microbe interactions.

The paper investigates how Bacteroides use the Y-Z regulatory system to control capsule polysaccharide (CPS) transcription and create subpopulations for fitness.

The paper characterizes a large collection of Bacteroidales isolates from the human gut, revealing genomic and metabolomic diversity and horizontal gene transfer across species.

The paper identifies a large conjugative plasmid that promotes multispecies biofilm formation in the gut microbiota, enhancing resilience to environmental stressors.