Lisa Craig

Department Chair, Professor
Molecular Biology & Biochemistry
Science

Areas of interest

We are interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms underpinning bacterial virulence. How do bacteria assemble and secrete virulence factors that allow them to colonise a host and cause disease? We apply x-ray crystallography, electron microscopy and genetic analysis to obtain atomic level structure/function information on molecules and molecular machines that impart virulence on bacterial pathogens. This information will guide the development of antimicrobial therapies aimed to disarm rather than kill bacteria in order to minimize antibiotic resistance.

Education

  • B.Sc., University of British Columbia
  • M.Sc., Simon Fraser University
  • Ph.D., Simon Fraser University

Selected Publications

  • M. Nguyen*, T.-H. Wu*, K.J. Danielson*, N.M. Khan*, Z. Zhang* and L. Craig (2023). Mechanism of secretion of TcpF by the Vibrio cholerae toxin coregulated pilus. Proc Nat’l Acad Sci, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2212664120, PMID 27040409, 2023. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2212664120
  • F. Wang, L. Craig, X. Liu, C. Rensing & E. H. Egelman (2023). Microbial nanowires: type IV pili or cytochrome filaments? (2023) Trends Microbiol 31, 384-392, PMID: 36446702. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36446702/
  • R.R. Sonani, J. C. Sanchez, J.K. Baumgardt, S. Kundra*, E.R. Wright, L. Craig and E.H. Egelman (2023). Tad and toxin coregulated pilus structures reveal unexpected diversity in bacterial type IV pili. Proc Nat’l Acad Sci, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2316668120, PMID 38011558. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2316668120
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