Benjamin Koestler

Benjamin Koestler is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Western Michigan University. His research focuses on understanding how bacterial pathogens like Shigella and Vibrio cholerae adapt to host environments to cause disease. Key areas include cyclic di-GMP signaling pathways, bacterial metabolism, and host-pathogen interactions. He uses advanced models such as human intestinal enteroids to study pathogenesis mechanisms.

Research interests emphasize Shigella’s reliance on metabolic signals and environmental cues to regulate virulence genes. The Koestler Lab investigates how bacteria sense host microenvironments to activate pathogenic behaviors, with implications for developing novel therapeutic strategies.

Publications span topics like Shigella virulence regulation, Vibrio cholerae environmental adaptation, and Zika virus detection in primates. His work integrates molecular biology, genetics, and in vitro modeling to dissect bacterial signaling networks.

While no awards are listed, his contributions to understanding bacterial pathogenesis and undergraduate microbiology education are notable. The Koestler Lab actively engages in developing innovative experimental systems for studying microbial behavior in host-relevant contexts.