Cynthia Sharma

Prof. Dr. Cynthia Sharma is a Full Professor and Chair of Molecular Infection Biology II at the Institute of Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg. Since 2018, she has served as Speaker of the Research Center for Infectious Diseases (ZINF) at the University of Würzburg. Her research group focuses on molecular mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis, particularly in Helicobacter pylori and Campylobacter jejuni.

Dr. Sharma's educational background includes doctoral research at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology (MPI-IB) from September 2004 to June 2009, followed by postdoctoral work at the same institute from July 2009 to May 2010. She also conducted research at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD from August to December 2010.

Her research program investigates RNA-based regulation in bacterial pathogens, with particular emphasis on small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that control stress response and virulence. Her lab employs diverse deep sequencing approaches for global transcriptome analyses and studies of RNA-protein complexes, as well as translatome analyses to identify small proteins. A distinctive aspect of her work involves using three-dimensional (3D) infection models based on tissue engineering to investigate bacterial pathogenesis in more physiologically relevant contexts.

Analysis of Dr. Sharma's recent publications reveals a strong focus on post-transcriptional gene regulation in bacterial pathogens. Her work spans multiple dimensions including the characterization of small regulatory RNAs, investigation of CRISPR-Cas systems, and development of innovative 3D infection models. A recurring theme across her publications is the connection between RNA-based regulatory mechanisms and bacterial virulence, particularly in Helicobacter pylori and Campylobacter jejuni. Her research has significant implications for understanding antibiotic resistance mechanisms and developing novel antimicrobial strategies.

Dr. Sharma leads a vibrant research group comprising multiple postdoctoral researchers, PhD students, and technical staff. Her laboratory, located in Building D15, Room 01.019 at the University of Würzburg, maintains a collaborative environment focused on cutting-edge research in molecular infection biology. The group benefits from being part of the Institute of Molecular Infection Biology and the Research Center for Infectious Diseases (ZINF), providing access to extensive resources and interdisciplinary collaborations.