Approximately 30% of the human population is persistently colonized by S. aureus, most frequently in the nose, and S. aureus also typically persists on the skin of colonized individuals. To persist on its human host, S. aureus must recognize and integrate different chemical signals from innate immunity and respond in an appropriate manner to evade killing by innate defence mechanisms, the main pillars of which include exposure to acidic pH, antimicrobial peptides and antimicrobial fatty acids.

With this as a broad mandate, current areas of focus in the lab include:

1. Regulation and function of a Resistance Nodulation Division superfamily efflux pump that is induced by and required for resistance to antimicrobial unsaturated fatty acids encountered at sites of colonization and infection.

2. Understanding how S. aureus senses and responds to concurrent exposure to different signals from innate immunity (ie;combinations of antimicrobial peptides, antimicrobial fatty acids, and growth at acidic pH). Bacteria do not have the option of dealing with one stress at a time; they must efficiently sense and respond to disparate antimicrobial threats that are encountered simultaneously.