Understanding the factors that control pathogen host range

Many pathogens can infect a wide range of potential hosts. Understanding the factors that control pathogen host range is critical for understanding host-pathogen biology and for identifying potential reservoirs of disease. A major determinant of a pathogen’s host range is the compatibility between the pathogen’s effectors and key host proteins, such as host receptors required for infection or host immune proteins whose function the pathogen specifically neutralizes. We are developing and utilizing a new approach to systematically explore which animals carry host proteins that are susceptible to particular pathogen effectors. For a known targeted host protein, we identify thousands of homologs from across the space of sequenced genomes, and then synthesize the surface of the homologs bound by the effector and test whether the effector can bind them.

This project will involve selecting an important human pathogen, such as malaria, HIV, plague, or any other pathogen of interest to the student, and applying our systematic approach to determining its potential host range. We are also interested in exploring other applications of this novel approach, such as testing a single host protein against a range of pathogen effectors to determine the space of potential future pathogens. Please get in touch if you have ideas anywhere in this space!