Margolis Lab
Understanding how the gut's beneficial bacteria stop dangerous, drug-resistant infections from taking hold
The human gut is home to a complex community of bacteria. Some of these commensal bacteria defend the body against harmful, antibiotic-resistant invaders. Our laboratory studies how these protective bacterial communities function, and what happens when they break down— with the goal of stopping multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) before they can take hold and spread.
Our Research Summary
Many drug-resistant bacteria need a foothold in the gut before they can cause harm. We want to understand what gives them that foothold — and how the body's protective bacterial communities take it back faster after antibiotic treatment. To answer these questions, we combine human data with laboratory and animal studies, examining the gut's microbial community, how bacteria interact with the body and each other, how resistance evolves, and how quickly and completely these communities recover after antibiotics. This work helps identify which recovery patterns leave people vulnerable to infection, and points toward ways to speed up or support the return of a healthy, protective gut community