The Pathogen Molecular Genetics section investigates physiology and host interaction of Gram-positive pathogens with a focus on Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci. We are also investigating the interactions of commensal staphylococci with other bacteria within the human microbiome and the potential of probiotic approaches to control bacterial infections.
Back row (left to right): Ryan Liu, Dylan Burgin (postbac IRTA), Roger Hsieh (postbac IRTA), Amer Villaruz
Middle row (left to right): Gordon Cheung, Michael Otto, Baruch Hertzog, Pipat Piewngam (special volunteer), Kittiya Khongkool (special volunteer)
Front row (left to right): Joie Ling (postbac IRTA), Adithap Hansakon (special volunteer)
Not in the picture: Lauren Heinzinger (postbac IRTA), Seth Dickey (special volunteer)
Back row (left to right): Ryan Liu, Dylan Burgin (postbac IRTA), Roger Hsieh (postbac IRTA), Amer Villaruz
Middle row (left to right): Gordon Cheung, Michael Otto, Baruch Hertzog, Pipat Piewngam (special volunteer), Kittiya Khongkool (special volunteer)
Front row (left to right): Joie Ling (postbac IRTA), Adithap Hansakon (special volunteer)
Not in the picture: Lauren Heinzinger (postbac IRTA), Seth Dickey (special volunteer)
Michael Otto, Ph.D.
Chief, Pathogen Molecular Genetics Section
Specialty(s): Infectious Disease
Education:
Ph.D., 1998, M.S., 1993, University of Tübingen, Germany
Dr. Otto received his M.S. in biochemistry in 1993 from the University of Tübingen, Germany. In 1998, he earned his Ph.D. in microbiology from the same institution. Dr. Otto joined the Laboratory of Human Bacterial Pathogenesis in July 2001 as a principal investigator. In 2008, he became a tenured senior investigator and moved his laboratory to the NIH Bethesda main campus.
Yiu Chong “Gordon” Cheung, Ph.D. (He/Him/His)
Staff Scientist
Education:
Ph.D., University of Glasgow, Scotland
Languages Spoken: Cantonese
Gordon is interested in the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenic success of S. aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci. Additionally, he has a strong interest in investigating the host immune responses that occur during acute skin and severe sepsis infections and what bacterial virulence factors drive these processes.
Baruch B. Hertzog, Ph.D. (He/Him/His)
Visiting Fellow
Education:
Ph.D., Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
Languages Spoken: Hebrew
Baruch is interested in bacterial communication and the antimicrobial activity of bacteria in the context of the skin microbiome. He is also developing molecular tools for skin microbial research.
Ryan Liu, B.S. (He/Him/His)
Microbiologist
Education:
B.S., Virginia Technical University
Ryan provides general support and animal model support.
Amer E. Villaruz, Ph.D. (He/Him/His)
Microbiologist
Education:
Ph.D., University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Amer provides research support for various projects in the laboratory and specializes in molecular biology. He also performs protein chemistry and applications involving RNA.
Former Research Group Members
Nana Amissah, Ph.D. (University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana)
Som Chatterjee, Ph.D. (University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD)
Seth W. Dickey, Ph.D. (University of Maryland, College Park, MD)
Lei He, Ph.D. (Renji Hospital, Jiaotong University, Shanghai)
Hwang-Soo Joo, Ph.D. (Duksung Womens’ University, Seoul, South Korea)
Stanislava Kocianova, Ph.D. (Wuppertal, Germany)
Katherine Le, M.D. (Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN)
Min Li, Ph.D. (Renji Hospital, Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China)
Saravanan Periasamy, Ph.D. (Rajalakshmi Engineering College, Chennai, India)
Li Qin, M.D. (Wuhan No.1 Hospital, Wuhan, China)
Pipat Piewngam, Ph.D. (Summit Therapeutics, Menlo Park, CA)
Shu Yeong “Johnny” Queck, Ph.D. (Biomerieux Ltd., Singapore)
Kevin R. Rigby, Ph.D., (miRagen Therapeutics, Boulder, CO)
Viveka Vadyvaloo, Ph.D. (Idaho State University, Moscow, ID)
Cuong Vuong, Ph.D. (Aicuris, Wuppertal, Germany)
Rong Wang, Ph.D. (USDA, Clay Center, NE)
Yufeng Yao, Ph.D. (Jiaotong University, Shanghai)
Yue Zheng. Ph.D. (Innovent Biologics, Rockville, MD)