My general research interests are focused on applying molecular biology techniques to investigate Mycobacterium tuberculosis pathogenesis. Specifically, the identification of essential metabolic pathways and a more complete understanding of how mycobacteria detect and respond to their environment may identify novel drug targets to treat tuberculosis, the cause of 1.4 million deaths worldwide in 2012.

More specifically, my research interests are aimed at understanding nitrogen metabolism in M. tuberculosis. Nitrogen is an essential element for bacterial growth yet the nitrogen sources available to M. tuberculosis in vivo and the metabolic pathways used by the pathogen to assimilate nitrogen and survive in the host are unknown. A more comprehensive understanding of these essential processes could help identify novel drug targets to treat tuberculosis.

Williams KJ, Jenkins VA, Barton GR, Bryant WA, Krishnan N, Robertson BD. (2015) 'Deciphering the metabolic response of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to nitrogen stress'. Molecular Microbiology, 97 (6), pp. 1142-1157. doi: 10.1111/mmi.13091 Williams KJ, Bryant WA, Jenkins VA, Barton GR, Witney AA, Pinney JW, Robertson BD. (2013) 'Deciphering the response of Mycobacterium smegmatis to nitrogen stress using bipartite active modules'. BMC GENOMICS, 14 Article number ARTN 436 doi: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-436 Jenkins VA, Barton GR, Robertson BD, Williams KJ. (2013) 'Genome wide analysis of the complete GlnR nitrogen-response regulon in Mycobacterium smegmatis'. BMC GENOMICS, 14 Article number ARTN 301 doi: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-301 Williams KJ, Bennett MH, Barton GR, Jenkins VA, Robertson BD. (2013) 'Adenylylation of mycobacterial Glnk (PII) protein is induced by nitrogen limitation'. TUBERCULOSIS, 93 (2), pp. 198-206. doi: 10.1016/j.tube.2012.12.003 Joyce G, Williams KJ, Robb M, Noens E, Tizzano B, Shahrezaei V, Robertson BD. (2012) 'Cell Division Site Placement and Asymmetric Growth in Mycobacteria'. PLOS ONE, 7 (9) Article number ARTN e44582 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044582