Laurie Comstock

Laurie Comstock is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Chicago. Her research focuses on understanding the complex interactions within the human intestinal microbiota, particularly the role of Bacteroidales species in health and disease. She employs a multidisciplinary approach combining microbiology, genetics, and computational analysis to study bacterial antagonism, symbiosis, and the evolution of microbial communities.

Education:

• BS in Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1987)
• PhD in Microbiology and Immunology, Wake Forest University Medical Center (1991)
• Postdoctoral Fellowships: Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School (Bacteroides genetics, 1996) and University of Maryland Medical Center (Vibrio cholerae pathogenesis, 1995)

Research Interests:

Her lab investigates mechanisms of bacterial competition, including the discovery of antimicrobial proteins and mobile genetic elements that shape gut microbiota composition. Key areas include:

• Antimicrobial protein mechanisms and ecological impacts
• Horizontal gene transfer in gut bacteria
• Genetic basis of polysaccharide diversity in Bacteroides
• Translation of microbial molecules for human health

Grants & Collaborations:

• NIH R01AI181279 (2024-2029): Co-PI for respiration studies in Bacteroides
• NIH R01AI120633 (2015-2021): Principal Investigator for contact-dependent bacterial antagonism
• Collaborations with Blanca Barquera (respiration studies) and Eric Pamer (gut microbiome diversity)

Labs & Teams: Comstock leads a lab focusing on microbiota dynamics, with projects spanning genomic analysis, bacterial warfare mechanisms, and translational applications of microbial discoveries.