Recently we found that the universal molecule ppGpp is critical for bacteria becoming antibiotic tolerant. The several significant progresses are:

1) new regulators of ppGpp metabolizing proteins that control either the synthesis or degradation of ppGpp, thus influcencing the bacteria being more or less tolerant

2) for the first time since 50 years ago, we found many novel targets of ppGpp in E. coli

3) the molecular mechanism of Toxin-antitoxin (TA) modules, such as HipBA, in antibiotic tolerance. More such TA modules were identified in silico in pathogenic bacteria.

4) phage therapy is a promosing alternative method to control bacterial infections. We recently found many new phages intoxicating E. coli, indicating novel mechanisms to study.

We use multi-disciplinary tools e.g. biochemistry, genetics, microscopy, deep sequencing, metabolomics to study how ppGpp and phages affect the tolerant states of bacteria. From there, we could develop novel strategies to re-sensitize the super-bugs to antibiotics and phages.

You are welcome to our lab if you care about the future of antibiotics, and have excellent merit, high enthusiasm and ambitiousness.