Jyoti Mathur, B. Sc., Biochemistry,
M. Sc., Biotechnology, Jawaharal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
Ph.D. Student in Immunology
E-mail: jyoti.mathur@tufts.edu

I am currently working on the identification and characterization of genes in the small intestinal pathogen, Vibrio cholerae, that confer resistance to human gut antimicrobial peptides. My work suggests that V. cholerae cells challenged with the human peptide, BPI mount a protective stress response that is directly associated with activation of the σ^E transcriptional factor. σ^E activation and auto-induction leads to expression of membrane-repair and biosynthesis genes that ultimately rescue cells from BPI-mediated damage.