Microbial physiology and biochemistry, antimicrobial resistance, drug discovery, molecular microbiology, structural biology
Research projects in the Cook laboratory are multidisciplinary, spanning human biomedical and agritech/biotech, and covers basic to translational research. We interact with multiple end users in academia, government, industry and pharma. Research from the Cook laboratory is aimed at providing fundamental knowledge on the metabolism and energetics of bacterial pathogens like Mycobacterium tuberculosis and multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens. A major goal of this research is to translate these findings into new drug target development to combat antimicrobial-resistance (AMR) and tolerance, and provide molecular and mechanistic insight into the mode of action of antimicrobials (old and new). A second major theme of the Cook laboratory is aimed at preserving human, animal and plant health in the face of AMR through the discovery and implementation of compounds that are used exclusively in animals and plants to combat environmental pathogens like mastitis-causing bacteria and fungal pathogens of plants. The goal of this work is to break the link between human and agricultural use of the same classes of antimicrobials and safeguard against the potential for antimicrobial resistance determinant transfer via the food chain. Part of this theme includes discovering new inhibitors for management of greenhouse gas emissions in ruminant animals and soils.
