Som Chatterjee Laboratory
Our laboratory is interested in understanding the fundamental biological principles that lead to Staphylococcus aureus infections, an important human bacterial pathogen that is responsible for causing high morbidity and mortality worldwide. During the course of the past 4-5 years, our research has identified several interesting and novel pathways that are involved in beta-lactam resistance in S. aureus. Beta-lactam drugs remain as one of the gold standards of treatment for bacterial infections due to their superior efficacy and safety over other drugs. Widespread resistance in bacteria however limits its use. Studying novel pathways will decipher their role/s in the beta-lactam resistance process. Moreover, our work will elucidate various unknown aspects of basic biology, such as bacterial cell signaling, gene regulation and protein-protein interactions, which are crucial for bacterial resistance.
Decipher the biological basis for pathogenic of S. aureus using a wide variety of molecular biology, genomic, biochemical, and immunological approaches.
Study beta-lactam drug resistant phenotypes and genotypes through proteomics and genomics.
Explore non-canonical (novel) targets responsible for beta-lactam resistance in S. aureus to re-sensitize resistant bacteria to beta-lactam drugs.
Explore novel approaches, such as developing nano-bodies, to treat staphylococcal infections.
Laboratory Personnel
Som Chatterjee, PhD
Som Chatterjee, PhD
Som Chatterjee, PhD
Assistant Professor, Principal Investigator
Li-Yin Lai, PhD
Som Chatterjee, PhD
Som Chatterjee, PhD
Li-Yin Lai received her Bachelor’s degree from Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan. She received her Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences from Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan. In 2021, she earned her Ph.D. in Microbiology from National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. Currently, her research focuses on mechanisms of antibiotic tolerance in Staphylococcus aureus.
Raymond Poon, BS
Nidhi Satishkumar, MS
Nidhi Satishkumar, MS
Raymond graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with an undergraduate degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology and a concentration in Immunology. After completing his degree, he interned for two semesters in a program called “Bridge to Biotechnology.” through City College of San Francisco. In 2018, he began to work in Dr. Ch
Raymond graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with an undergraduate degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology and a concentration in Immunology. After completing his degree, he interned for two semesters in a program called “Bridge to Biotechnology.” through City College of San Francisco. In 2018, he began to work in Dr. Chatterjee’s lab at the University of California, San Francisco, and in 2019, he relocated to Baltimore, Maryland where he continues his research. He studies the roles of various targets on beta-lactam resistance and performs computational work.
Nidhi Satishkumar, MS
Nidhi Satishkumar, MS
Nidhi Satishkumar, MS
Nidhi completed her Master’s in Biotechnology at Fergusson College, India in 2018. During and after completing her Master’s degree, she interned at the R&D unit of Gennova Biopharmaceuticals in India, where she worked on overexpression and analysis of therapeutic proteins. She also interned at Tata Medical Center, Kolkata where her projec
Nidhi completed her Master’s in Biotechnology at Fergusson College, India in 2018. During and after completing her Master’s degree, she interned at the R&D unit of Gennova Biopharmaceuticals in India, where she worked on overexpression and analysis of therapeutic proteins. She also interned at Tata Medical Center, Kolkata where her project involved optimizing a protocol for cytotoxicity assays to analyze the effect of chemotherapeutic drugs on leukemic cells. In 2019, she joined Dr. Chatterjee’s lab as a PhD student, and her current project focuses on the mechanisms by which PBP4 mediates resistance to antimicrobial drugs in S. aureus.
Publications
“PBP4 activity...overexpression are necessary for PBP4-mediated high-level beta-lactam resistance."
Basuino L, Jousselin A, Alexander JAN, Strynadka NCJ, Pinho MG, Chambers HF, Chatterjee SS. 2018. PBP4 activity and its overexpression are necessary for PBP4-mediated high-level beta-lactam resistance. J Antimicrob Chemother doi:10.1093/jac/dkx531.
“ PBP4 mediates β-lactam resistance by altered function.”
Chatterjee SS, Chen L, Gilbert A, da Costa TM, Nair V, Datta SK, Kreiswirth BN, Chambers HF. 2017. PBP4 mediates β-lactam resistance by altered function. Antimicrob Agents Chemother doi: 10.1128/AAC.00932-17.
"Whole-Genome Sequencing of Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus...Non-mecA mechanisms of Resistance."
Greninger AL, Chatterjee SS, Chan LC, Hamilton SM, Chambers HF, Chiu CY. 2016. Whole-Genome Sequencing of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Resistant to Fifth-Generation Cephalosporins Reveals Potential Non-mecA Mechanisms of Resistance. PLoS One 11:e0149541.
“Structural and kinetic analyses...antibiotic resistance in S. aureus."
Alexander JAN, Chatterjee SS, Hamilton SM, Eltis LD, Chambers HF, Strynadka NCJ. Structural and kinetic analyses of penicillin-binding protein 4 (PBP4)-mediated antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus. J Biol Chem. 2018 Dec 21;293(51):19854-19865. doi: 10.1074/jbc.RA118.004952.