Sun Lab
Research Focus Teams: Antimicrobial Resistance, Lung Disease, Tuberculosis
location_on Floor 2
Ongoing Projects
Host-directed drug development for TB
- Identification of novel host targets for TB HDT using multi-omics, genomic screens, bio-ID approaches
- Understanding the molecular mechanisms of host signaling pathways exploited by Mtb
- Development of small molecules and biologics targeting host kinases, phosphatases, and receptors for TB HDT
Understanding macrophage biology in the context of pathogenic infections
- Functional characterization of host transcription factors (e.g. ATF2, SIX1) relevant for bacterial infections
- Understanding macrophage antibacterial mechanisms and pathways: phagocytosis, phagosome maturation, autophagy, cell death, reactive oxygen species, cytokine production, metabolism
Epigenetics of lung immune cells in TB
- Combinatorial ATAC-seq with transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of macrophages during Mtb infection
- Profiling the epigenomic signatures of human alveolar macrophages in the context of TB
- Identification of epigenomic signatures for TB biomarkers and diagnostics
Novel antibiotic discovery against AMR pathogens
- Determining the efficacy and mechanism of BPD compounds against Mtb and NTM species
- Identification and characterization of natural and semi-synthetic compounds with antibacterial activity
- Determining the targets, mechanisms, and in vivo efficacy of new antimicrobial compounds
- Repurposing of bioactive compounds for anti-tumor therapy
Wastewater surveillance for TB in Nunavut
- Establish a real-time, wastewater-based surveillance (WWS) and screening system in Iqaluit, Nunavut, to monitor Mtb biomarker levels across time
- Using WWS to inform early public health interventions to prevent both disease progression and community transmission
- Develop, optimize and evaluate assays to detect, quantify and calibrate levels of Mtb from wastewater and clinical samples
