FEATURED ON #FACULTYFRIDAY

COLLABORATIVE 4-VA FUNDED PROJECT LEADS TO EXCITING RESULTS

Our collaborative 4-VA funded project with VCU lead to exciting results.

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Marakasova E, Ii A, Nelson KT, van Hoek ML. Proteome Wide Profiling of N-ε-Lysine Acetylation Reveals a Novel Mechanism of Regulation of the Chitinase Activity in Francisella novicida. J Proteome Res. 2020 Mar 4.

TOP DISCOVERIES FROM OUR LAB

1. Francisella forms Biofilms.

2. Francisella novicida biofilm is regulated by TCS system BfpR (FTN_1452/FTN_1453).

3. Chitinases are negative regulators of Francisella biofilm.

4. Francisella is sensitive to some AMPs, although not PolymyxinB.

5. DRGN-1 peptide is antibacterial, antibiofilm and promotes wound healing.

STUDENTS ARE CENTRAL TO OUR RESEARCH

The van Hoek lab has been lucky to have many students come through at all levels.

• Over 70 undergraduates have participated in research, either through OSCAR, Directed studies/directed research, ASSIP or Research Semester programs.

• Dr. van Hoek has graduated 12 PhD students and 33 Masters students in the GMU Biology MS, Bioinformatics MS, Biodefense MS programs, as well as BioSciences PhD, Bioinformatics PhD and Biodefense PhD programs.