Bacterial pathogens are a serious and growing threat to human health due to the continued emergence of antibiotic resistance, which limits our ability to treat infections. This threat is exemplified by Staphylococcus aureus, which can infect nearly every tissue in the body and is a leading cause of bone and joint infections, as well as skin and soft tissue infections. During infection pathogens must acquire all their nutrients from the host. This critical task is made more difficult as the host actively restricts essential nutrient availability during infection, starving invaders. However, how nutrient starvation impacts pathogens during infection and the adaptations that allow pathogens to overcome this host defense are unknown. Research in the Kehl-Fie laboratory is interdisciplinary leveraging microbiological approaches, biochemical studies and advanced elemental analysis to answer these questions and identify new opportunities for therapeutic intervention. Research Interests Research Topics Host-Pathogen Interactions, Microbial Physiology, Molecular Evolution, Protein Structure, Regulation of Gene Expression, Signal Transduction Disease Research Interests Infectious Diseases