Our research focuses on understanding how differences in host immune responses impact susceptibility to infection. We primarily concentrate on how the circadian clock affects macrophage and neutrophil immune dynamics in the context of Streptococcus pneumoniae, as well as how bacterial affect the host circadian clock. 

S. pneumoniae asymptomatically colonizes a significant portion of the human population, but, in the unfortunate few, can cause severe and life threatening invasive disease such as pneumonia, sepsis, meningitis, and death. How do variations in innate immunity contribute to these different states (i.e. asymptomatic colonization or invasive disease) and what bacterial factors upset this balance? Ultimately, if we understand these differences, we may be able to make novel therapeutics that enhance natural immunity already found within the population instead of relying solely on antibiotics to combat infectious disease.