Biography
Matthew Lawrenz, Ph.D. is Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Director of the Graduate Program in Microbiology and Immunology, and a founding member of the Center for Predictive Medicine for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Biodefense. His laboratory studies mechanisms used by Yersinia pestis to overcome nutritional immunity and manipulate the ability of immune cells to mount effective antimicrobial responses during plague. His research group also develops and uses preclinical models to test new antimicrobials to treat infections by multidrug resistant gram negative bacteria. Matt received his Ph.D. from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston and completed postdoctoral training at Washington University School of Medicine and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Research Interests
Evasion of Innate Immunity During Plague: Macrophages and neutrophils are the first responders to infection. They deploy potent antimicrobial mechanisms to kill invading bacteria. We and others have shown, however, that Yersinia pestis inhibits many mechanisms used by these phagocytes to control infection by injecting proteins directly into neutrophils through a needle-like apparatus called a Type 3 Secretion System. We have a primary interest on the mechanisms used Y. pestis to inhibit the production of inflammatory molecules by these phagocytes. Using a combination of bacterial mutants, phagocytes in cell culture, and mouse models of plague infection, trainees in the Lawrenz Lab are working to define the impact of inflammatory lipid inhibition on Y. pestis immune evasion and the mechanisms used by Y. pestis to alter extracellular vesicle packaging.
Mechanisms of Metal Acquisition by Bacteria During Infection: Bacteria require metals to grow. As such, our bodies restrict access to these metals through mechanisms referred to as nutritional immunity. While nutritional immunity effectively limits infection by a variety of bacteria, successful pathogens have evolved mechanisms to overcome these metal sequestration strategies. One mechanism is the secretion of small molecules called metallophores that allow bacteria to steal metals from their hosts. Trainees in the Lawrenz Lab are actively defining the roles of these metallophores in microbial virulence and using drug discovery and preclinical animal models to develop potential therapeutics that target metal acquisition systems as anti-virulence strategies.
New Drugs to Combat Antimicrobial-Resistant Infections: Our lab has developed validated preclinical models to test novel antibiotics against MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These models are key to identifying promising new antimicrobial drugs and provide important proof-of-concept data that can be used to both justify in-human clinical trials and support subsequent FDA approval. We maintain support for these preclinical models for future collaborations with those interested in antimicrobial development.
Degrees and Certifications
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 1997-2003