Michigan State University · Microbiology & ImmunologyDirita Lab
Victor J. Dirita · East Lansing, Michigan
Research Focus
Dr. Victor J. Dirita's lab at Michigan State University studies how the bacterium Campylobacter jejuni causes foodborne illnesses. His research focuses on understanding how C. jejuni manipulates its environment in the gut to thrive, particularly through its use of oxygen. By using ferrets as a model for human infection, the lab aims to uncover the bacteria's strategies for adaptation and pathogenicity. The goal is to identify new therapies to combat infections and reduce antibiotic resistance.
Campylobacter jejunipathogenicitygut microbiomeferret modelredox regulation
Research Aims
3AIM 01Define the impact of aerobic and anaerobic respiration pathways on Campylobacter jejuni colonization of ferrets.
AIM 02Determine the role of the virulence factors CDT and CiaD of C. jejuni on gut physiology changes.
AIM 03Characterize the function of the redox regulator LctR in C. jejuni.
Skills the Lab Values
ferret modelsbacterial culture techniquesredox assaymolecular cloningprotein expression
Output against the department
Publications216top 29% of dept.141st of 486
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations9.1ktop 39% of dept.191st of 486
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.