Shafer Lab

Research Interests: Genetics of antibiotic resistance; transcriptional regulation of gene expression; vaccine development; new drug discovery and mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis.

The Shafer laboratory is interested in proteins produced Neisseria gonorrhoeae that form drug efflux pumps that export antimicrobial compounds to the extracellular fluid. They are especially interested in the molecular regulation of the expression of efflux pump genes as this is a critical component in bacterial survival during infection and antibiotic therapy. Critical regulatory systems consisting of multiple DNA-binding proteins and cis-acting DNA regulatory elements have been identified that modulate efflux pump gene expression. The lab has identified mutations within these regulatory systems that are frequently found in clinical isolates.  Based on the acquired knowledge of efflux pumps, the lab is also working with collaborators to develop inhibitors of bacterial efflux pumps so that previously used antibiotics that were removed from clinical practice due to over-expression of efflux pumps can be returned to treat gonorrheal infections. Further, the lab is working with collaborators to develop a gonorrheal vaccine, which is desperately needed to protect at-risk individuals from severe complications that can result from infection.

Dr. Shafer has been continuously funded by the NIH and VA since 1984 and has published over 200 manuscripts, review articles and book chapters. He has also graduated 13 Ph.D. students and supervised 15 post-doctoral fellows. He is the Co-Director of the Emory Antibiotic Resistance Center and is Program Director for an NIH-funding pre-doctoral training grant entitled “Antimicrobial Resistance and Therapeutic Discovery Training Program” (ARTDTP).