Dr. Stephen Lory

Biography

Stephen Lory is a Professor in Microbiology at Harvard Medical School. His research is directed towards understanding the molecular basis of pathogenesis in human infections caused by opportunistic gram-negative bacteria, particularly focusing on Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a model organism. His work emphasizes the significance of infections in individuals with cystic fibrosis, neutropenia, and complications from burns and wounds. Lory's laboratory examines various bacterial factors that lead to colonization and persistence, as well as their resistance to host defenses and antibiotics. Current research centers on the regulation of genetic regulatory networks and complex signaling pathways that control virulence determinants. He has discovered small regulatory RNAs involved in post-transcriptional gene control and has made major contributions to understanding cyclic nucleotide roles in coordinating the expression of factors related to the formation of polysaccharide matrices and secreted toxins. Lory's team also investigates the evolution of virulence traits in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, analyzing mechanisms and consequences of horizontal gene transfer in infection models.

Research Interests