Professor Auerbuch Stone’s research interests focus on how the mammalian innate immune system is able to recognize and respond to the human gut pathogen, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. The nature of the ensuing immune response should shape the extent to which Y. pseudotuberculosis can cause disease. The ability of the immune system to eliminate gut pathogens such as Y. pseudotuberculosis, yet maintain a healthy balance with beneficial commensal bacteria, is a particular interest of Dr. Auerbuch Stone’s. Dr. Auerbuch Stone and her colleagues recently discovered that cells of the immune system are able to distinguish between Y. pseudotuberculosis expressing a specialized secretion system and avirulent bacteria lacking this essential virulence determinant. How host cells are able to recognize only potentially harmful bacteria and the effect of this host-pathogen interaction on Y. pseudotuberculosis survival are current topics of investigation. In addition, the ability of eukaryotic cells to specifically respond to virulent bacteria will be used to screen for pathogen-targeted antibiotics. [More]