Our group studies Extraintestinal Pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) bacteria, a leading cause of urinary tract and bloodstream infections. We are interested in understanding ExPEC virulence mechanisms as well as how these bacteria survive being killed by antibiotics and cause recurrent disease. We are especially interested in "persister cells", a rare type of bacterial cell that enters a dormant state, allowing it to withstand treatment and later reawaken to spark new infections. By uncovering what makes these cells different from actively growing bacteria, we aim to identify new ways to stop infections from coming back. Excitingly, our team uses strains of bacteria isolated from human patients (clinical isolates) to ensure we are studying modern and relevant pathogens.