Assistant Professor of Biochemistry & Microbiology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences. Research interests are bacterial pathogenesis with particular emphasis on the anaerobic pathogen C. difficile and Fusobacterium nucleatum. C. difficile is the number one cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea worldwide and is a public health concern due to its economic burden and patient relapses. Three-prong approach to combat with C. difficile infection. 1. Prevention via the development of a mucosal vaccine. 2. Offensive measures via screening for non-antibiotic antimicrobial agents. 3. Dissecting the molecular basis of toxin regulation. On the study of F. nucleatum, we are interested in whether and how it is associated with increased incidence of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Using clinical samples along with molecular genetic tools, we are searching for novel virulence factors that contribute to cancer promotion.