University of Virginia-Main Campus · PhysiologyGlycobiology and Bacterial Surface Dynamics Lab
Jochen Zimmer · Charlottesville, Virginia
Research Focus
Jochen Zimmer's lab at the University of Virginia studies complex carbohydrates produced by bacteria, particularly focusing on how these essential molecules are synthesized and assembled on the bacterial surface. The lab's research is important for understanding bacterial behavior, especially in the context of infections caused by biofilms, which are sticky clusters of bacteria that can be difficult to treat. By using advanced techniques in structural biology and biochemistry, the team aims to unlock the mechanisms that enable these carbohydrates to provide protection and support to bacteria, which may lead to new strategies for developing drugs or biomaterials.
extracellular polysaccharidesGram-negative bacteriabiofilmscellulose synthesisATP-binding cassette transportersbacterial virulencemolecular biologystructural biologybiochemical methodsglycobiology
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate how complex carbohydrates are synthesized in bacteria.
AIM 02Determine the mechanisms of cellulose secretion and modification.
AIM 03Explore the function of ATP-binding cassette transporters in polysaccharide transport.
AIM 04Analyze the structural basis for virulence factors in Gram-negative bacteria.
AIM 05Develop novel therapeutic strategies targeting bacterial biofilms.
Skills the Lab Values
structural biologybiochemical assayscryo-electron microscopymolecular cloningprotein purificationbioinformaticscell culturedata analysismicroscopyin vitro experiments
Output against the department
Publications159top 45% of dept.128th of 286
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations6.1kbottom 48% of dept.149th of 286
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.