Leigh Knodler, PhD
Associate Professor
Accelerated Master's Program Advisor
Master's of Science Advisor
Bacteria-host cell interactions in the gut
Affiliated Department(s)
Dept of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics
BIO
- Received her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics from the University of New South Wales, Australia, studying novel metabolic pathways in the protozoan parasite, Giardia lamblia.
- For postdoctoral research she studied developmental gene regulation in Giardia lamblia at the University of California, San Diego and Salmonella enterica-host interactions at the University of British Columbia, Canada.
- Transitioned to a Staff Scientist position at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, NIH studying Salmonella-host cell interactions.
- Started own research group at Washington State University in 2012. She received tenure and promotion to Associate Professor in 2019.
- Joined the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics in 2023.
Courses
MMG 6110 - Advanced Bacterial Genetics
Publications
Area(s) of expertise
- Enteric Bacteria
- Host-pathogen Interactions
- Type III secretion systems
- Salmonella enterica
- Providencia alcalifaciens
Bio
- Received her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics from the University of New South Wales, Australia, studying novel metabolic pathways in the protozoan parasite, Giardia lamblia.
- For postdoctoral research she studied developmental gene regulation in Giardia lamblia at the University of California, San Diego and Salmonella enterica-host interactions at the University of British Columbia, Canada.
- Transitioned to a Staff Scientist position at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, NIH studying Salmonella-host cell interactions.
- Started own research group at Washington State University in 2012. She received tenure and promotion to Associate Professor in 2019.
- Joined the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics in 2023.
Courses
MMG 6110 - Advanced Bacterial Genetics
Publications
Areas of Expertise
- Enteric Bacteria
- Host-pathogen Interactions
- Type III secretion systems
- Salmonella enterica
- Providencia alcalifaciens
Salmonella-Intestinal Epithelial Cell Interactions
Research in our lab focuses on gastrointestinal diseases. We aim to understand how pathogenic bacteria colonize the gut, proliferate and spread. These confocal microscopy images show Salmonella enterica replicating in different intracellular compartments in intestinal epithelial cells.
Left image: Salmonella (in green) replicate in membrane-bound vacuoles (labeled in red) or free in the cytosol of epithelial cells. Right image: mCherry Salmonella also fluoresce green when they experience metal ion stress in the epithelial cytosol.