I am using a combination of different biological techniques including molecular tools, genetics, and live-cell fluorescence imaging to investigates how multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses its two external appendages (type IV pili and flagella) to feel substrates as a mimic for the first step of infection of different tissue types that reflect the broad range of different infection sites and underlying diseases of the pathogen.

Other research interests include:

• Super-resolution Microscopy
• Molecular cloning
• Bacterial motility
• Type iv pili
• Host-pathogen interactions
• Protein purification
• Bioproducts synthesis
• Antimicrobial resistance

Publications:

V.L. Taylor, M. Shah, P.H. Patel, A. Yusuf, C.M. Burk, Z. Gitai, A.R. Davidson, M.D. Koch, K.L. Maxwell (2024) “Prophages block cell surface receptors to ensure survival of their viral progeny”. Submitted to Nature (July, 2024).

Hendrix, H., Itterbeek, A., Longin, H., Delanhje, L., Vriens, E., Lammens, E-M., Haque, F., Yusuf, A., Noben, J.P., Boon, M., Koch, M.D., van Noort, V., and Lavigne, R. (2024). A novel regulator of type IV pili assembly, Pilzer, induces phage resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Nature communication,15, 8717. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-52732-5

Kaat, S., Leena, P., Alison, K., Pieter-Jan, C., Marta, Vallino., Jan, Paeshuyse., Farhana, H., Ahmed,Y., Matthias, K. and Rob, L. (2023). The phage-encoded PIT4 protein affects multiple two-component systems of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Microbiology Spectrum, 12;11(6). doi:10.1128/spectrum.02372-23.

V.L. Taylor, M. Shah, P.H. Patel, A. Yusuf, C.M. Burk, Z. Gitai, A.R. Davidson, M.D. Koch, K.L. Maxwell (2024) “Prophages block cell surface receptors to ensure survival of their viral progeny”. bioRxiv.

Presentations:

2025 Student Postdoc Research Conference (SPRC), Texas A&M University
Poster title: Cell growth: A key player in the regulation of type IV pili dynamics in multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa

2024 Micro talks (October 4), Texas A&M University
Talk title: Nutrient limitation: A key player in the regulation of type IV dynamics in Pseudomonas aeruginosa