Dominique Missiakas

Dominique Missiakas is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Chicago, focusing on Gram-positive pathogens including Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus anthracis. Their research program investigates bacterial envelope biogenesis, virulence factor secretion, and host pathways targeted by these pathogens.

Research Interests include:

• Gram-positive bacterial envelope assembly
• Protein secretion mechanisms
• Vaccine development against Staphylococcal infections
• Antibody-based therapeutic strategies
• Host immune evasion by pathogens
• Animal disease modeling

Recent Publications reveal expertise in:

• Staphylococcal protein A and immune evasion
• Type VII secretion system characterization
• ACE2-based therapeutics for viral infections
• Secondary cell wall polysaccharide functions
• Evolutionary immunology
• Novel vaccine platforms

Research Funding:

• NIH UC7AI180312 (BSL3 management) 2023-2028
• NIH 75N93022C00057 (Staphylococcus aureus vaccine) 2022-2026
• NIH R01AI148543 (MRSA antibody therapy) 2019-2024
• NIH R01AI069227 (Bacillus anthracis surface proteins) 2006-2027
• NIH R01AI038897 (Gram-positive surface proteins) 1996-2024

Their work spans molecular microbiology, structural biology, and translational immunology, with significant contributions to understanding bacterial persistence mechanisms and developing countermeasures against antibiotic-resistant pathogens.