How do bacterial cells process information and use signals to direct development and resist antibiotics? In this talk, I'll describe how my lab is building modular cell-based signaling pathways that enable us to probe the activity and rewire the function of natural ones. Our current work has uncovered compartment-specific signaling cascades, and developing synthetic receptors has let us reprogram how cells respond to their environment for biosensor development. I'll also discuss how we navigate the design-discovery loop and leverage evolutionary diversity to develop tools that address challenges in both technology and fundamental science. Collectively, our work demonstrates how engineering-driven approaches can yield practical biotechnologies and, in the process, deepen our understanding of natural biological systems.

Host: Lyle Simmons