The Zastrow group combines
biochemical and analytical approaches with microbiology to uncover
and examine the roles of essential metals in the gut microbiota.
Our research techniques span a range of areas centered around
bioinorganic chemistry and chemical biology, including protein
biochemistry and protein design, molecular biology, microbiology,
fluorescence microscopy, and absorption and fluorescence
spectroscopy.
Projects in the group focus on: 1)
designing new fluorescent protein-based sensors for imaging metal
ion dynamics in gut bacteria, 2) investigating metal ion
requirements and homeostasis mechanisms of intestinal bacteria,
and 3) studying extracellular metal-mediated interactions in the
microbiota. We are interested in understanding how metals in gut
microbes affect host health, disease, and immune response and hope
to foster the development of novel therapeutics.
We are grateful for research support from University of Houston,
the Welch Foundation, the National Institute of General Medical
Sciences of the National Institutes of Health, and the National
Science Foundation.