Hoffman Laboratory

1. Staphylococcus aureus
   1. SCVSA/PASA
   2. SCVSA CF Lung
   3. Staph. adaptation
2. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
   1. PA adaptation
3. Community level changes
   1. (CLST/CLPP)
4. Interspecies interactions
   1. PASA biofilm

Managing chronic infections is a constant struggle for patients with the genetic disease cystic fibrosis (CF). The airways of people with CF tend to become obstructed with sticky mucus that is easily infected with a wide variety of microbes, and these infections can persist and change over time. Eventually, these infections damage the airways and are the primary cause of morbidity and mortality among people with CF. The bacteria infecting the airways undergo many changes over time that help them survive the varying conditions within the lung. Defining what these changes are, and how and when these changes occur, is crucial to understanding not only how these pathogens evade treatment and harm patients, but also how to better treat these recalcitrant infections. Of particular importance for CF infections are the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the two bacterial species detected most often from CF airways. Our studies focus on these bacteria, as well as their interactions with the rest of the bacterial community we identify in the same respiratory samples. It is our hope that this research will allow physicians to more effectively treat infections at the earliest stages, preventing long-term damage to the lungs which will lead to longer and healthier lives for patients.