Tien Huynh

Research/Areas of Interest

Legionella pneumophila is a Gram-negative bacilli that causes acute pneumonia (legionellosis), and in rare cases, extrapulmonary diseases such as pericarditis and endocarditis. During intracellular infection, the bacteria reside in Legionella-containing vacuole (LCV). Formation and breakdown of this compartment are important for the bacteria’s growth and proliferation, and these processes are tightly regulated by a set of effector proteins. My thesis project involves examining 4 of these proteins, including DupA/B, SidJ, SdjA, and their role in regulating LCV breakdown, as well as what host factors the bacteria have access to after such event.