B.S., Microbiology, 2007, Mississippi State University
Research: Helicobacter pylori causes a spectrum of diseases, including ulcers, gastritis, and gastric cancer. Factors such as genetics, environmental influences, and diet contribute to the development of disease.  One environmental influence that has not been studied in detail is cholesterol.  The goal of this research is to identify and characterize H. pylori proteins that respond to cholesterol and determine how these proteins affect H. pylori pathogenesis.