Faculty
Professors
Kristin D. Lane, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Molecular Microbiology & Biochemistry
Office: Life Science 325
Research
We study the molecular genetics and fundamental biochemical pathways of non-model human pathogens (<i>Plasmodium falciparum</i>, <i>Staphyloccocus aureus</i>). Using interdisciplinary approaches, we identify new targets to exploit for drug development to circumvent antimicrobial resistance.
Education
Ph.D. Microbiology & Molecular Pathogenesis - Virginia Commonwealth University
M.S. Biology (Microbiology) - Old Dominion University
B.S. Medical Biology - Christopher Newport University
Biographical Sketch
My lab studies fundamental biological and biochemical pathways in human pathogens to identify ways to exploit their pathways as targets for rational drug design with limited capacity to evolve resistance.
We currently study: 1) malaria mitochondrial gene regulation, 2) molecular mechanisms of antimalarial drug resistance, and 3) genetic switches in bacteriophage residing in multi-drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria. Our malaria mitochondrion studies will identify new, highly conserved targets for drug development and the ways the parasite might develop resistance to those candidate drugs. Translational and applied bacteriophage genetics provide an opportunity to treat MRSA infections without the possibility of antibiotic resistance.
Teaching
BIOL 2235 - General Microbiology
BIOL 4455/5555 - Pathogenic Microbiology
BIOL 4475/5575 - General Virology
Selected publications
Regioisomerization of Antimalarial Drug WR99210 Explains the Inactivity of a Commercial Stock. Remcho TP, Guggilapu SD, Cruz P, Nardone GA, Heffernan G, O'Connor RD, Bewley CA, Wellems TE, Lane KD. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2020 Dec 16;65(1):e01385-20. doi: 10.1128/AAC.01385-20. Print 2020 Dec 16. PMID: 33077647
Evidence for linkage of pfmdr1, pfcrt, and pfk13 polymorphisms to lumefantrine and mefloquine susceptibilities in a Plasmodium falciparum cross. Windle ST, Lane KD, Gadalla NB, Liu A, Mu J, Caleon RL, Rahman RS, Sá JM, Wellems TE. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist. 2020 Dec;14:208-217. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2020.10.009. Epub 2020 Oct 27. PMID: 33197753
Plasmodium Genomics and Genetics: New Insights into Malaria Pathogenesis, Drug Resistance, Epidemiology, and Evolution. Su XZ, Lane KD, Xia L, Sá JM, Wellems TE. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2019 Jul 31;32(4):e00019-19. doi: 10.1128/CMR.00019-19. Print 2019 Sep 18. PMID: 31366610 Selection of Plasmodium falciparum cytochrome B mutants by putative PfNDH2 inhibitors. Lane KD, Mu J, Lu J, Windle ST, Liu A, Sun PD, Wellems TE. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018 Jun 12;115(24):6285-6290. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1804492115. Epub 2018 May 29. PMID: 29844160
Staphylococcal pathogenicity island interference with helper phage reproduction is a paradigm of molecular parasitism. Ram G, Chen J, Kumar K, Ross HF, Ubeda C, Damle PK, Lane KD, Penadés JR, Christie GE, Novick RP. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Oct 2;109(40):16300-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1204615109. Epub 2012 Sep 18. PMID: 22991467
Discovery of dual function acridones as a new antimalarial chemotype. Kelly JX, Smilkstein MJ, Brun R, Wittlin S, Cooper RA, Lane KD, Janowsky A, Johnson RA, Dodean RA, Winter R, Hinrichs DJ, Riscoe MK. Nature. 2009 May 14;459(7244):270-3. doi: 10.1038/nature07937. Epub 2009 Apr 8. PMID: 19357645