Benjamin Koestler

Benjamin Koestler
Assistant Professor
Location:
3119 Wood Hall, Mail Stop 5410
Mailing address:
Department of Biological Sciences
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5410 USA
Benjamin Koestler
Research Interests:
  • Microbiology
  • Host-pathogen interactions
  • Bacterial metabolism
Bio:

Dr. Ben Koestler is an assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Western Michigan University.

The capacity of bacterial pathogens to cause disease is dependent on their ability to sense and adapt to changing microenvironments in the human host. The Koestler Lab explores mechanisms used by bacteria to integrate host-specific signals into virulence regulation, specifically in the pathogen Shigella. We are using tissue culture models, such as human intestinal enteroids, to study how Shigella senses metabolic byproducts to control the expression of key virulence genes, and how cyclic di-GMP signaling regulates Shigella pathogenesis. 

Koestler lab website