email: dkm11@hms.harvard.edu

The pathogen Staphylococcus aureus causes nosocomial infections associated with biofilm structures. These biological structures develop on surfaces of indwelling devices are difficult to eradicate since their constituent cells exhibit insensitivity to the action of many commonly used antibiotics. It has recently been shown that S. aureus virulence and biofilm formation require the presence of functional membrane microdomains called lipid rafts. Further, disruption of lipid rafts using inhibitors of squalene synthases also disrupts biofilm formation and virulence. I am interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms by which these lipid domains modulate biofilm formation and how this alters antibiotic resistance.