Our current research group

Spring 2012: (Left to Right) Grace Blank - Patron Saint of WM Microbiology, Kevin Leslie, Girolama Bui, Michelle Gillespie, Andrew Canakis, Sam Harvey, Sharese Jefferson, Amelia Tyler, Katherine Dove, Sam Sessou, Isabelle Duerr, Mily Nguyen, August Anderson, Vivian Cooper, Dan Sylvester, Will Kaplan, Kendra Jackson, Mark Forsyth, Larry Zhu (Not pictured, but equally important!): Ariel Eclipse, Nate Leisenring, Regan Bennet, Amber Irvin
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Current Research:


Our research foci are each centered on the examination of the mechanisms by which bacterial pathogens cause disease.  The experimental model system we utilize most extensively in our laboratory is the bacterium Helicobacter pylori.  This human gastric pathogen, infects the stomachs of nearly 50% of the world's population ( i.e. 3 BILLION people!!!).  This bacterium is the etiologic agent of gastric and duodenal ulcers, and infection with this bacterium is a very strong predisposing factor for the development of gastric cancers.        One area of intense study in the lab are the mechanisms of how H. pylori senses its environment and alters its gene expression to respond to changing conditions.  Our lab uses mutant strains of H. pylori which have been "blinded" to features of their environment by destroying individual genes responsible for the sensory process.  We have identified several genes whose responses are altered in these mutants and students in the lab are currently examining the means of transcriptional regulation being used in these fascinating sensory and response networks.       Another aspect of H. pylori pathogenesis that is a major focus of the lab and that is the evolution of the H. pylori chromosome.  At least six strains of this bacterium have had their chromosomes sequenced in total and there are striking differences between them.  Work in our lab is aimed at an examination of how H. pylori became a pathogenic bacterium rather than remaining a harmless commensal resident of the human gastrointestinal tract as hundreds of other bacterial species have done.     We are also involved in collaborative research with Dr. Daniel Cristol  and Dr. John Swaddle here at William & Mary involving the role of keratin degrading bacteria, specifically, Bacillus licheniformis, in the degradation of feathers on wild birds.  Projects here are a wonderful intersection between classic field biology studies and molecular microbiology investigations.http://www.helico.com/http://dacris.people.wm.edu/http://jpswad.people.wm.edu/shapeimage_4_link_0shapeimage_4_link_1shapeimage_4_link_2

Mark H. Forsyth Ph.D.    

Dorman Family Distinguished

Associate Professor of Biology (Term)
                                            

Office - Room ISC 3050 

Lab - Room ISC 3066           

Telephone - Office (757) 221-2489

Lab - (757) 221-7541



mhfors@wm.edu