Darren E. Higgins is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology at Harvard Medical School. His research focuses on understanding the mechanisms by which intracellular bacterial pathogens invade host cells, spread, and cause diseases. He employs a multidisciplinary approach, integrating molecular genetics, cell biology, immunology, structural biology, and high-resolution microscopy, along with mouse infection models, to investigate these pathogens. His work is particularly notable for its use of the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, a foodborne pathogen that can lead to severe life-threatening infections such as meningitis and encephalitis. Current research interests include the mechanisms of host cell invasion, bacterial spread, and the characterization of host defenses against bacterial virulence strategies. He is also exploring the regulation of bacterial gene expression essential for pathogenesis and identifying pathogen-specific antigens that may lead to protective immunity.
Harvard Medical School • Boston, MA
Teaching and conducting research in microbiology, focusing on intracellular bacterial pathogens.