Jackson Lab

The Jackson laboratory, as part of the Mycobacteria Research Laboratories  and NTM Basic and Translational Research Center, investigates the structure, biosynthesis and transport of cell envelope lipids and (lipo)polysaccharides playing important roles in the physiology and pathogenicity of mycobacteria.

Our laboratory also studies Mycobacterium leprae and emerging non-tuberculous mycobacterial pathogens, the strategies used by these organisms to persist in the environment, and their molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity and resistance to biocides.

Another aspect of our research concerns the development of anti-mycobacterial drugs and the study of their mechanism of action.

research project

Mycobacterial cell envelope (lipo)polysaccharides

Together with immunologists in the MRL and synthetic chemists outside of the University, the Jackson lab investigates how Mycobacterium tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) synthesize their unique cell envelope polysaccharides and how they alter the structure of these glycans to promote their persistence in the infected host.

research project

Inhibition of mycolic acid biosynthesis

Mycolic acids are major constituents of the outer membrane of mycobacteria and are essential for growth. The Jackson lab is leading international, multidisciplinary, research projects whose objectives are to understand how mycolic acids are synthesized and transported to the outer membrane and to design inhibitors capable of blocking outer membrane assembly.

Publications

Inhibition of de novo fatty acid synthesis in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Roszkowski EK, Charap S, Montague CR, Sukheja P, McNamara CW, Soma PS, Islam MN, Graham B, Grzegorzewicz AE, Jackson M, Yang B, Hay AG, Russell DG, Belisle JT, VanderVen BC.  J Biol Chem. 2025 Dec 8;302(1):111022. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2025.111022. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41371338.

Cell envelope maintenance by PhoP is essential for Mycobacterium tuberculosis methylglyoxal resistance
Tran PM, Anaya-Sanchez A, Ji DX, Schwarz MCR, Angala SK, Jackson MC, Stanley SA, Darwin KH. . Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Dec 9;122(49):e2523024122. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2523024122. Epub 2025 Nov 26. PMID: 41296761.

GplR1, an unusual TetR-like transcription factor in Mycobacterium abscessus, controls the production of cell wall glycopeptidolipids, colony morphology, and virulence.
Shell SS, Bar-Oz M, Xiao J, Pandey M, Bellardinelli J, Ibitoye OI, Jackson M, Oehlers SH, Barkan D, Meir M. mSystems. 2025 Aug 28:e0087225. doi: 10.1128/msystems.00872-25. Online ahead of print. PMID: 40874748

Bedaquiline Activity against Leprosy.
Fomba A, Haidara FC, Kodio M, Arama C, Cambau E, Chauffour A, Veziris N, Broeckling BE, Warren AK, Cauchoix B, Alcaïs A, Marsollier L, Assé H, Jackson M, Sow SO, Faye O, Jarlier V, Cole ST, Avanzi C, Aubry A, Johnson RC. N Engl J Med. 2025 Jun 5;392(21):2174-2176. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc2412487. PMID: 40466073 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

Next-generation rifamycins for the treatment of mycobacterial infections.
Dartois V, Lan T, Ganapathy US, Wong CF, Sarathy JP, Jimenez DC, Alshiraihi IM, Lam H, Rodriguez S, Xie M, Soto-Ojeda M, Jackson M, Wheat W, Dillman NC, Kostenkova K, Schmitt J, Mann L, Richter A, Imming P, Sarathy J, Kaya F, Paruchuri S, Tatek B, Folvar C, Proietto J, Zimmerman M, Gonzalez-Juarrero M, Aldrich CC, Dick T. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 May 6;122(18):e2423842122. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2423842122. Epub 2025 May 1. PMID: 40310456

more publications

People

Mary Jackson
Mary Jackson, Ph.D.

Lab Principal Investigator [PI]
Professor

Juan Bellardinelli
Juan Belardinelli, Ph.D.

Research Scientist III

Shiva Kumar Angala Headshot
Shiva Kumar Angala, Ph.D.

Research Scientist II

Anna Grzegorzewicz
Anna Grzegorzewicz, Ph.D.

Research Scientist II

Wei Lei Headshot
Wei Li, Ph.D.

Research Scientist II

Bill Wheat
Bill Wheat, Ph.D.

Research Scientist II

Kavita De
Kavita De, Ph.D.

Research Scientist I

Elena Lian

Graduate Researcher

Kelsey Martin headshot
Kelsey Martin

Graduate Research Assistant

Briana Henry headshot
Briana Henry

Student Researcher

Samantha Lakoski

Student Researcher

Sydney Wootton headshot
Sydney Wootton

Student Researcher

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contact information

Lab: Microbiology rooms B425, B426, B427

Office: Microbiology room B423A

(970) 491-4067