Research

Ngo has been repeatedly demonstrated to acquire resistance from close commensal relatives within the genus, however the resistance genotypes and subsequent phenotypes in these other species are infrequently described. In this ongoing work we attempt to profile the genetic mechanisms available for transfer from commensals to pathogen.

Chromosomally mediated penicillin resistant Ngo strains (CMRNG) have multiple genetic mutations that contribute to reduced susceptibility, however the complete genetic basis has yet to be deciphered. In collaboration with Robert Nicholas at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, we are using a combination of population genomics and transformations to try to illuminate the unknown mutations (Factor X) that underlie this phenotype.