Gunn Lab

Typhoid fever, caused by Salmonella Typhi, is a global disease that disproportionately affects children. Once ingested, S. Typhi crosses the intestinal epithelial barrier and is phagocytosed by macrophages, allowing for systemic spread to common sites of infection, such as the liver. From the liver, S. Typhi is able to transit into the gallbladder, where it can either induce inflammation (cholecystitis) and an acute infection or persist chronically, creating a carrier state. An important factor in the development of chronic carriage in the gallbladder is the presence of cholesterol gallstones, which correlates with 80 to 90% of chronic carriers. Without gallbladder removal, chronic carriers are a threat to public health as they are able to live asymptomatically while shedding bacteria in their feces, thereby maintaining the pathogen within the population.

Dr. Gunn’s laboratory studies Salmonella pathogenesis.  The research is particularly focused on bacterial biofilms and regulatory systems that control virulence and modifications of the bacterial cell surface.

Through our research, we strive to eliminate the threat of Salmonella disease. Specifically, we are focused on identifying and eliminating asymptomatic chronic carriage of S. Typhi, which would dramatically reduce the worldwide burden of typhoid fever.

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