Publications

Selected peer-reviewed and preprint research contributions spanning antimicrobial resistance, host-pathogen interactions, and microbial multi-omics.

IMD-0354 Optimization Generates Potent Colistin Adjuvants with In Vivo Activity and Reduced Eukaryotic Toxicity

European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry | 2026 | Peer-Reviewed Research Article

Co-author

University of Maryland School of Dentistry

DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.119028 | View Publication

Research:

This study investigated whether optimized derivatives of IMD-0354 could restore the effectiveness of colistin against highly drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria while reducing toxicity. The research identified NDM-622 as a promising antibiotic adjuvant capable of substantially increasing colistin susceptibility in resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae, including activity demonstrated in an in vivo infection model.

My Contribution:

I contributed to the MALDI-TOF MS-based characterization of bacterial lipid A used to investigate the compound's mechanism of action. This work supported interpretation of whether treatment altered lipid A modifications associated with colistin resistance and helped demonstrate that NDM-622 acts through a mechanism distinct from the parent compound.

Methods / Skills:

MALDI-TOF MS · Lipid A Characterization · Mass Spectral Interpretation · Antimicrobial Resistance · Mechanism-of-Action Analysis · Experimental Research · Data Interpretation · Scientific Collaboration

Helicobacter pylori Allelic Variation in Cell Surface Genes Influences Human Exoproteome Binding and Stomach Tissue Adherence

bioRxiv | 2026 | Research Preprint

Co-author

University of Maryland, Baltimore

DOI: 10.64898/2026.03.06.710112 | View Preprint

Research:

This study investigated how genetic variation in Helicobacter pylori, a major risk factor for gastric cancer, changes the bacterium's ability to interact with human proteins and adhere to stomach tissue. The research linked differences in bacterial cell-surface genes and lipopolysaccharide structure with changes in host interaction and colonization during infection.

My Contribution:

I contributed to the experimental investigation and analysis of H. pylori cell-surface lipid structures using FLAT and MALDI mass spectrometry. I analyzed and visualized lipid A profiles to evaluate whether adaptation during infection produced structural changes, contributing evidence that helped distinguish lipid A changes from alterations elsewhere in the bacterial lipopolysaccharide structure. I also contributed to interpretation and review of the resulting manuscript.

Methods / Skills:

MALDI Mass Spectrometry · FLAT Lipid Analysis · Lipid A Characterization · Mass Spectral Interpretation · Data Analysis · Data Visualization · Host-Pathogen Interactions · Experimental Research · Scientific Collaboration

Multi-omic Comparative Analysis of Members of the Akkermansia Genus Reveals Species-Specific Adaptations to Growth in Mucin

bioRxiv | 2025 | Research Preprint

Co-author

University of Maryland, Baltimore

DOI: 10.64898/2025.12.30.696933 | View Preprint

Research:

This study compared four human-associated Akkermansia species to understand how they adapt to the mucin-rich environment of the gastrointestinal tract. By integrating multiple forms of molecular evidence, the research identified species-specific differences in mucin utilization, cell-surface features, colonization-associated proteins, and secreted metabolites that may help explain the prominence of A. muciniphila in the human gut.

My Contribution:

I contributed to the experimental characterization and interpretation of bacterial cell-surface lipids using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and FLAT-based analysis. My work supported comparison of lipid profiles across Akkermansia species and contributed molecular evidence to the broader multi-omic investigation of species-specific structural and metabolic adaptations.

Methods / Skills:

MALDI-TOF MS · FLAT Lipid Analysis · Lipid A Characterization · Mass Spectral Interpretation · Comparative Analysis · Microbial Multi-omics · Data Interpretation · Gut Microbiome Research · Scientific Collaboration