Unraveling Molecular Mechanisms in Bacterial and Viral Pathogens
Event Details
- Type
- Special Seminar Series
- Speaker(s)
-
Elizabeth Campbell, Ph.D., research associate professor, Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University
- Speaker bio(s)
-
This presentation delves into the impact of Dr. Campbell's bacterial transcription studies on disease mechanisms, focusing on Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and SARS-CoV-2. Emphasizing pathogen-specific transcriptional mechanisms in Mtb, Dr. Campbell and her team dissect the initiation and elongation steps of the transcription cycle. These insights address challenges posed by drug-resistant Mtb, guiding targeted drug development. Shifting to SARS-CoV-2, Dr. Campbell explores how viral proteins collaborate in genome replication and gene expression. These studies reveal new biology, advance drug development, and address challenges posed by TB and SARS-CoV-2 and future pandemics.
Dr. Campbell is a microbiologist employing biochemical and structural tools to investigate mechanisms of gene expression in microbial and viral pathogens. After earning a B.A. from Swarthmore College in 1992, she obtained a Ph.D. in Molecular Pathogenesis by studying the pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae. Dr. Campbell progressed through roles as a Postdoctoral Fellow, Research Associate, and is now a Research Associate Professor in the Laboratory of Seth Darst at The Rockefeller University. In her current position, she independently leads two funded programs focusing on biophysical studies on transcription in two of the deadliest human pathogens, Mycobacteria tuberculosis (Mtb) and SARS-CoV-2. In both pathogens, the RNA polymerase (RNAP), the central enzyme in transcription, stands as a validated target for antimicrobial and antiviral therapy. She operates at the intersection of biochemistry, structural biology, and microbial pathogenesis to illuminate both fundamental transcription mechanisms in pathogens and contribute to drug development.
This Special Seminar will take place in Carson Family Auditorium and virtually via Zoom. We recommend virtual participants log out of VPN prior to logging in to Zoom. Please do not share the link or post on social media.
- Open to
- Campus Only