Personal Statement

The goals of the Jorth Laboratory are to determine the genetic mutations leading to antibiotic resistance in chronic bacterial infections and uncover the secondary effects of antibiotic-resistant mutations on bacterial virulence. Peter Jorth, PhD, has diverse scientific training in microbiology, molecular biology, systems biology, bioinformatics, genetics, host-pathogen interactions, immunology and biochemistry. Jorth completed his doctorate in microbiology at the University of Texas at Austin with Marvin Whiteley, PhD, studying how the human oral microbiota functions during periods of health and disease. 

As a postdoctoral fellow, Jorth investigated Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) evolution and antibiotic resistance in chronic cystic fibrosis (CF) infections in the group of Pradeep K. Singh, MD, at the University of Washington and the group of Dianne K. Newman, PhD, at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. This work led to Jorth's current research interests in virulence-enhancing antibiotic resistance mutations.

At Cedars-Sinai, the Jorth Laboratory is determining mechanisms underlying enhanced virulence phenotypes in antibiotic resistant P. aeruginosa. Working with collaborators in pulmonology, immunology and infectious diseases, the Jorth Lab will better understand why bacteria evade the immune system and treatment during chronic infections. Long term, the Jorth Lab will leverage this knowledge to develop novel therapies.