Beth A. Traxler

Beth A. Traxler is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Her research focuses on genetic and biochemical analysis of protein folding and function, particularly in Gram-negative bacteria, with a strong emphasis on ABC transporters, membrane protein assembly, and nanotechnology applications.

• PhD in Biology, Carnegie Mellon University
• Postdoctoral Research, Harvard Medical School (Jon Beckwith Lab)

Dr. Traxler’s lab investigates:

• Mechanisms of membrane protein folding, including the maltose transporter (MalFGK) as a model for heteromeric complexes.
• Specificity of protein-protein interactions in ABC transporter subunits.
• DNA processing during bacterial conjugation, using the E. coli F plasmid as a model.
• Engineering proteins for nanotechnology, such as DNA-binding proteins to organize nanoparticles.

Recent publications highlight trends in:

• Plasmid evolution and antibiotic resistance dissemination (2025, 2010, 2009).
• Genome-scale protein localization studies (2015, 2007).
• Protein engineering for inorganic binding and self-assembly (2013, 2005).
• Quorum sensing and gene regulation (2010).
• Membrane protein biophysics (2017, 2016).

Her work bridges molecular genetics, structural biology, and synthetic biology, with applications in nanotechnology and antibiotic resistance.