Miguel Valvano

My groups has made seminal contributions in the biogenesis of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the molecular pathogenesis of the opportunistic pathogen Burkholderia cenocepacia. We have advanced the understanding of the initiation of LPS O antigen synthesis and the translocation of the lipid-linked O antigen unit across the bacterial inner membrane. We also established proof-of- principle that novel compounds could be identified (called antibiotic adjuvants), which may increase the permeability of the bacterial outer membrane to common antibiotics and antimicrobial peptides.

My laboratory gained international recognition as a leader in Burkholderia research. Pioneering work demonstrated for the first time the biology of the Burkholderia cenocepacia infection in macrophages, and developed novel genetic tools allowing us to manipulate and better understand this difficult organism, providing models to investigate other opportunistic bacteria causing devastating infections in patients with cystic fibrosis.