

WELCOME TO THE
COOMBES LAB
DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY & BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES
OUR LAB
Dr. Brian K. Coombes’ laboratory is in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences and the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research at McMaster University. We are affiliated with the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, a full-service research and teaching hospital located on the McMaster University campus. The McMaster campus is situated on 300 acres of property nestled in the Niagara escarpment. Hamilton is 45 minutes from Toronto.
The Center for Microbial Chemical Biology is a full-service high-throughput screening facility.
Dr. Brian K. Coombes’ laboratory is in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences and the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research at McMaster University. We are affiliated with the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, a full-service research and teaching hospital located on the McMaster University campus. The McMaster campus is situated on 300 acres of property nestled in the Niagara escarpment. Hamilton is 45 minutes from Toronto.
OUR RESEARCH IS GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY:








SELECTED RECENT PUBLICATIONS
2022
Distinct molecular features of NleG Type 3 Secreted effectors allow for distinct roles during Citrobacter rodentium infection in mice
Infection and Immunity
G. Popov, A. Fiebig, L. Syriste, D.J. Little, T. Skarina, P.J. Stogios, S. Birstonas, B.K. Coombes, A. Savchenko
2022
Genetic and chemical screening reveals targets and compounds to potentiate Gram-Positive antibiotics against Gram-Negative bacteria
ACS Infectious Diseases
K. Klobucar, E. Jardine, M. Farha, M. MacKinnon, M. Fragis, B. Nkonge, T. Bhando, L. Borrillo, C. Tsai, W. Johnson, B. Coombes, J. Magolan, E. Brown
2022
Screening under infection-relevant conditions reveals chemical sensitivity in multidrug resistant invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS)
bioRxiv
C. Tsai, M.A. Massicotte, C. MacNair, J. Perry, E. Brown, B. Coombes
2021
Psychological stress impairs IL22-driven protective gut mucosal immunity against colonising pathobionts
Nature Communications
C.R. Shaler, A. Parco, W. Elhenawy, J. Dourka, J. Jury, E. F. Verdu, B. Coombes
2021
High-throughput fitness screening and transcriptomics identify a role for a type IV secretion system in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease-associated Escherichia coli
Nature Communications
W. Elhenawy, S. Hordienko, S. Gould, A. Oberc, C. Tsai, T. Hubbard, M. Waldor, B. Coombes
2021
(p)ppGpp-Dependent Regulation of the Nucleotide Hydrolase PpnN Confers Complement Resistance in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium
Infection and Immunity
E. Chau, D. Perez-Morales, W. Elhenawy, V. Bustamante, Y. Zhang, B. Coombes
2020
Targeting two-component systems uncovers a small-molecule inhibitor of Salmonella virulence
Cell Chemical Biology
C. Tsai, C MacNair, M. Cao, J. Magolan, E. Brown, B. Coombes
2020
Evolution-guided discovery of antibiotics that inhibit peptidoglycan remodelling
Nature
E. Culp, N. Waglechner, A. Fiebig-Comyn, Y. Hsu, K. Koteva, D. Synchantha, B. Coombes, M. van Nieuwenhze, Y. Brun, G. Wright
2020
Mimicking the human environment in mice reveals that inhibiting biotin synthesis is effective against antibiotic-resistant pathogens
Nature Microbiology
L. Carfrae, C. MacNair, C. Brown, C. Tsai, B. Weber, S. Zlitni, V. Rao, J. Chun, M. Junop, B. Coombes, E. Brown
2019
The Unique Lifestyle of Crohn's Disease-Associated Adherent-Invasive Escherichia coli
Journal of Molecular Biology
C. Shaler, W. Elhenawy, B. Coombes
2019
Duodenal bacterial proteolytic activity determines sensitivity to dietary antigen through protease-activated receptor-2
Nature Communications, 10(1): 1198
A. Caminero, et al.
2019
Endocytosis of commensal antigens by intestinal epithelial cells regulates mucosal T cell homeostasis
Science, 8:363
M.S. Ladinsky, et al.
2019
Host-Specific Adaptive Diversification of Crohn’s Disease-Associated Adherent-Invasive Escherichia coli
Cell Host & Microbe
W. Elhenawy, C. Tsai, B. Coombes
2019
A macrophage-based screen identifies antibacterial compounds selective for intracellular SalmonellaTyphimurium
Nature Communications, 10:197
M. Ellis, C. Tsai, J. Johnson, S. French, W. Elhenawy, S. Porwollik, H. Andrews-Polymenis, M. McClelland, J. Magolan, B. Coombes, E. Brown
2018
Regulatory Evolution Drives Evasion of Host Inflammasomes by Salmonella Typhimurium
Cell Reports
B. Ilyas, D. Mulder, D. Little, W. Elhenawy, M. Branda, D. Perez-Morales, C. Tsai, N YE Chau, V. Bustamante, B. Coombes
2018
Molecular basis for CesT recognition of type 3 secretion effectors in enteropathogenic E. coli
PLoS Pathogens
D. Little, B. Coombes
2018
Functional diversification of the NleG effector family in enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA
D. Valleau, D. Little, D. Borek, T. Skarina, A. Quaile, R. Di Leo, S. Houliston, A. Lemak, C. Arrowsmith, B. Coombes, A. Savchenko
2017
Pentamidine sensitizes Gram-negative pathogens to antibiotics and overcomes acquired colistin resistance
Nature Microbiology
J. Stokes, C. MacNair, B. Ilyas, S. French, J. Cote, C. Bouwman, M. Farha, A. Sieron, C. Whitfield, B. Coombes, E. Brown
2016
Acute infectious gastroenteritis potentiates a Crohn's disease pathobiont to fuel ongoing inflammation in the post-infectious period
PLoS Pathogens
C. Small, L. Xing, J. McPhee, H. Law, B. Coombes
2014
Aspergillomarasmine A overcomes metallo-beta-lactamase antibiotic resistance
Nature
A. King, S. Reid-Yu, W. Wang, D. King, G. De Pascale, N. Stranadka, T. Walsh, B. Coombes, G. Wright
2013
Persistent infection with Crohn’s disease-associated adherent-invasive Escherichia coli leads to chronic inflammation and intestinal fibrosis
Nature Communications
C. Small, S. Reid-Yu, J. McPhee, B. Coombes