Bacteria, similar to higher animals, exhibit remarkable versatility by altering their behaviors in different environments. Our interest lies in unraveling bacterial behaviors in their native environments. This topic holds fascinating translational potentials in areas such as medicine and agriculture. Specifically, our lab studies how bacterial pathogens behave in the human body, focusing on the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa). Pa is a leading cause of serious healthcare-associated problems. It is highly versatile due to its complex gene networks, enabling Pa to switch lifestyles and cause difficult-to-treat infections in various body parts.

By directly examining bacterial gene expression in human-derived clinical samples, we recently identified a bacterial small RNA (sRNA) named SicX (sRNA inducer of chronic infection X). It is induced in low oxygen conditions and governs the shift between chronic and acute infections. Pa is known to cause persistent infection which sometimes transitions to acute exacerbation. Thus, it is important to understand how Pa responds to host environmental cues and changes lifestyles accordingly. Moreover, SicX is just a fraction of Pa’s sRNA landscape. Our knowledge of sRNAs in human infections remains limited. Therefore, we are driven to decode bacterial behaviors in humans and understand the role of sRNAs in shaping these behaviors:

• How does SicX sRNA govern Pa chronic or acute lifestyle? We've established SicX's role in vitro in response to oxygen deprivation, but how it governs Pa's lifestyle choice during infection requires further investigations. Filling this gap is crucial for designing targeted therapies against this important pathogenic trait.

• What are the roles of other sRNAs in Pa pathogenesis? Our discovery of SicX is just the tip of the iceberg. Despite considerable efforts to unveil bacterial sRNAs, our knowledge of their identities and functions remains limited to a few well-studied examples. Our goal is to uncover and study more sRNAs in Pa, especially those related to infection.

While our primary focus is on bacterial infectious diseases, we also have a keen interest in studying the behaviors of non-pathogenic bacteria in natural environments, such as soil. Overall, our lab is dedicated to unraveling the multifaceted nature of diverse bacterial behaviors and their broader implications.