UMCUniversity of Massachusetts Chan Medical School · Genetics
Gut Microbiome and Resistance Lab
Amir Mitchell · Worcester, Massachusetts
Research Focus
Dr. Amir Mitchell's lab at the University of Massachusetts Medical School focuses on understanding how certain drugs not typically classified as antibiotics can negatively impact the gut microbiome by causing bacterial cells to become resistant. By studying the mechanisms of bacterial toxicity and resistance using E. coli as a model organism, the lab aims to uncover the pathways affected by these drugs. This research is vital because it sheds light on how commonly prescribed medications may contribute to antibiotic resistance and microbiome dysbiosis, highlighting the importance of balanced drug use for human health.
gut microbiomebacterial resistancehost-targeted drugsantimicrobial activitydrug screeningE. colimicrobiome dysbiosis
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the bacterial pathways affected by host-targeted drugs.
AIM 02Map the mechanisms of bacterial toxicity using pooled genetic screens.
AIM 03Identify mutations that confer resistance to host-targeted drugs.
AIM 04Explore the potential for cross-resistance to antibiotics among evolved bacterial strains.
AIM 05Evaluate the health implications of chronic administration of these drugs on the microbiome.
Skills the Lab Values
genetic screeningmicrobial cell cultureE. coli manipulationhigh-throughput screeningdata analysismutation characterizationresistance profilingcomputer modelingcollateral sensitivity testing
Output against the department
Publications30bottom 5% of dept.247th of 259
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations2.0kbottom 8% of dept.239th of 259
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.