Structure & Function of Microbial Proteins
Spread of Antibiotic Resistance
Bacteria gain antibiotic resistance commonly through conjugative plasmid transfer (CPT). What is the molecular basis of this process?
Gut Microbe Bacteriodes ovatus
The gut microbe Bacteroides ovatus is elevated in people with autoimmune diseases. Which of its proteins may play an important role in the disease state?
Uncharacterized Pathogen Proteomes
Emerging bacterial pathogens are of concern for new outbreaks. Characterizing their proteomes may allow us to understand and target them more effectively.
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URSI Summer 2024
ASBMB Conference (March 2024)
Lab Members
Olive Adamek
Elisa Dzuong
Jasmine Lowenstein
Lola Yost
Dr. Krystle J. McLaughlin
Note: The lab is full for the 2023-2024 academic year.We will be recruiting new students in Spring ’24! 
LAB HAPPENINGS
Highlights
news from the lab
New paper on pSK41 Cop published in Plasmid
So excited to tell you about our latest paper published in Plasmid! The analysis of the crystal structure in this paper was completed by Faith Northern VC ’22, 4th in author list, as part of her Vassar College senior biochemistry research! Congrats! Link to paper: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1i8n2,3Mq7BJX Paper summary: We study conjugative plasmid transfer (CPT) as Read more about New paper on pSK41 Cop published in Plasmid[…]
URSI Symposium 2023
The McLaughlin Lab had two posters at the Vassar URSI Symposium in September this year! Jordan Norman ’24 (left) presented her summer work titled “Structural Characterization of Conjugative Proteins from pCU1 and pSK41”. Jas Kaur ’25 and Vidya Iyengar ’26 (right) presented their work titled “Structural Investigation of Potential Relaxosome Protein from Staphylococcus aureus pSK41″. Read more about URSI Symposium 2023[…]
Dr. McLaughlin Gives Invited Talk at MIT Chemistry
Dr. McLaughlin had a phenomenal time visiting the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Chemistry department as the seminar speaker on October 16th, 2023! It was also so wonderful to have Naike Ye (Vassar College alum ‘21 & her former advisee!) as a guide for the day and to hear about all he has accomplished already for his PhD research Read more about Dr. McLaughlin Gives Invited Talk at MIT Chemistry[…]
Protein Crystallography CURE, Publication, Highlighted in Acta Crys F Editorial & Cover!
Very proud of this work we just published in Acta Crystallographia F! The research was done by undergrad students in Dr. McLaughlin’s protein crystallography class in Spring ’23, which is run as a CURE (Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience). Students analyzed an unpublished crystal structure from the @SSGCID, then designed/ran experiments to test function. The first three authors Read more about Protein Crystallography CURE, Publication, Highlighted in Acta Crys F Editorial & Cover![…]
Congrats to Jordan Norman ’24, member of Vassar Women’s Cross Country who won their First Ever Liberty League Championship!
https://www.vassarathletics.com/news/2023/10/28/mens-cross-country-womens-cross-country-victorious-at-liberty-league-championship.aspx
Cryo-EM Training at Brookhaven National Lab
The McLaughlin Lab is starting to learn a new structural biology method- cryo-EM! Dr. McLaughlin recently attended an in-person sample preparation workshop at the new Laboratory for BioMolecular Structure at Brookhaven National Lab (LBMS BNL). The workshop gave hand-on training to each of the 12 participants. Vassar ACCAS funds generously supported Dr. McLaughlin’s attendance. Dr. Read more about Cryo-EM Training at Brookhaven National Lab[…]
Vassar STEM Connection Panel
For Black History Month, Dr. McLaughlin was one of three faculty engaged in the sciences who shared their academic journeys to STEM and their current work with students during a panel hosted by the African American Alumnae/i of Vassar College (AAAVC), the Jeh Vincent Johnson ALANA Cultural Center, and the Office of Advancement. Read more Read more about Vassar STEM Connection Panel[…]
November 2022: Invited Seminar at Fordham University
Dr. McLaughlin visited the Fordham University Chemistry department on the beautiful Rose Hill campus to give a seminar about the lab’s research in antibiotic resistance.
May 2022: Dr. McLaughlin Becomes USNC/Cr DEI Chair
In May 2022, for the first time the US National Committee for Crystallography (USNC/Cr) created a subcommittee dedicated to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and Dr. McLaughlin was appointed as chair. The USNC/Cr subcommittee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion focuses on current issues related to cultivating a crystallographic-research community that is diverse and inclusive of Read more about May 2022: Dr. McLaughlin Becomes USNC/Cr DEI Chair[…]
Lilith wins Regional ACS Section Award!
Congrats to Lilith on her College Recognition Award from the Mid-Hudson ACS Chapter! One outstanding student from each of the colleges in the Mid-Hudson Section is nominated by their department’s faculty for the award. “The 2022 College Recognition Awards were presented during the Undergraduate Research Symposium held on Friday, April 29th at Mount Saint Mary College. Read more about Lilith wins Regional ACS Section Award![…]