A confocal microscopy image of a polarized lung epithelial monolayer. DAPI is stsained in blue, phalloidin in red, and E-cadherin in green.( Photo Credit: Linda Xu and Walter Adams)

A confocal microscopy image of a polarized lung epithelial monolayer. DAPI is stsained in blue, phalloidin in red, and E-cadherin in green.( Photo Credit: Linda Xu and Walter Adams)

 

The Adams Lab studies the interplay between pathogenic bacteria and the host immune response. We like to think that our work focuses on the center of an epic battle scene, but under a microscope.

Our work focuses on:

1) strategies that the bacterial pathogen S. pneumoniae employs to infect the lungs

2) mechanisms neutrophils use to clear the infection.

Ultimately, by understanding what bacterial and human factors lead to progression or resolution of disease, we aim to develop novel treatments for patients in the clinical setting.