I will be knocking out the iutA gene in Klebsiella pneumoniae, an opportunistic pathogen that frequents itself in immunocompromised individuals. The deletion of iutA disrupts the bacterium’s ability to sequester iron via the aerobactin siderophore pathway, which is an important virulence factor for its survival and persistence in its host organism. I will be researching the effect of deleting this gene and its impact on siderophore-mediated iron acquisition. If the knockout of this gene attenuates K. pneumoniae’s pathogenicity and colonization, then this can reveal a potential antimicrobial target in antibiotic resistance strains.
In my free time I enjoy spending time with my dog (a dalmatian!) and hanging out with friends.