Immunometabolic Interactions During Infection

The Wong Laboratory investigates host-pathogen interactions, with a focus on metabolic crosstalks and their impact on immunity. We explore how the multidrug-resistant bacteria, S. aureus and K. pneumoniae, subvert the host metabolism to modulate airway immune responses and how the metabolic milieu in turn drives the selection of optimized bacterial variants that persist in the lungs. Employing advanced omics technologies, including spatial metabolite imaging, metabolomics and transcriptomics, we dissect the complex metabolic changes in the infected airway. Our research program uses pharmacological and dietary interventions as tools to investigate how altering metabolism can promote effective immune responses and pathogen clearance.