Jiawei Sun

The rapid rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria poses a global health challenge, with the Gram-negative outer membrane (OM) representing an especially tough barrier against antimicrobial agents. The recently discovered unique physical properties of the OM, e.g., stiffness, fluidity, and spatial heterogeneity, offer emerging opportunities to manipulate OM permeability and destabilize pathogens. To understand the physical and structural basis of the OM, I will integrate techniques in microfluidics, imaging, high-throughput screening, and biophysical modeling to identify key protein targets affecting OM permeability and mechanical integrity, and determine the molecular mechanisms linking OM permeability, stiffness, and fluidity. I will also extend tools and knowledge gained from studying the OM to diverse cell surface structures to study their contribution to mechanics and elucidate the role of mechanical forces in the evolution of bacterial surfaces. This study will provide novel insights into the structural basis of antibiotic sensitivity and potential targets for antibiotic development.