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Principal Investigator

Associate Professor, Microbiology and Immunology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Matthieu Gagnon, PhD

Matt grew up in Montreal, Canada, where he earned his B.Sc. in biochemistry from the University of Montreal. His interest in protein biosynthesis began during his undergraduate studies, particularly in how the ribosome—a large and universal molecular machine—binds and decodes messenger RNAs (mRNAs). He pursued graduate studies under Prof. Sergey Steinberg at the same university, focusing on the structure-function relationships within the ribosome.

After completing his Ph.D., Matt moved to Yale University for postdoctoral training in the lab of Nobel Laureate Prof. Thomas A. Steitz. There, he utilized X-ray crystallography to capture and visualize the bacterial ribosome at various stages of translation.

In 2018, Matt established his own laboratory at UTMB in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. His research group employs cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), alongside biochemical, biophysical, and kinetic methods, to explore regulatory mechanisms of protein biosynthesis in various bacterial pathogens. The lab further studies the mode of action of antibiotics and the mechanisms underlying antibiotic resistance.

Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics (SCSB)

Institute for Human Infections and Immunity (IHII)

Medical Research Building, MRB 4.104C

magagnon@utmb.edu

Team

Ritwika Basu, PhD

Research Scientist, Microbiology and Immunology

Ritwika Basu, PhD

Ritwika is involved in determining cryo-EM structures of native ribosome complexes from pathogenic bacteria. She studies the effects of various stresses on protein synthesis such as the presence of antibiotics to understand the adaptation mechanisms that make pathogens drug resistant. Ritwika is also looking at various mechanisms of ribosome rescue that contribute to bacterial adaptation.

Medical Research Building, MRB 4.106/4.110

ribasu@utmb.edu

Mariia Rybak, PhD

McLaughlin Postdoctoral Fellow, Microbiology and Immunology

Mariia Rybak, PhD

Mariia completed her B.Sc. in Biology and M.Sc. in Biochemistry, both with Summa Cum Laude honors, at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine. For her graduate studies in molecular biology, she worked under the supervision of Prof. Michael Tukalo at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Mariia’s research focused on the mechanisms of stereospecificity control by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and D-aminoacyl-tRNA deacylase during protein biosynthesis, as well as the development of dual-target inhibitors for mycobacterial aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases.In February 2021, Mariia joined Dr. Matthieu Gagnon’s lab as a postdoctoral fellow. Her current research focuses on determining the structural bases of mRNA and tRNA decoding with modified nucleotides, protein synthesis quality control, mechanisms of resistance to ribosome-targeting antibiotics, and of ribosome hibernation in mycobacteria. She employs cryo-EM, rapid kinetics, and various biochemical methods, including qPCR and native ribosome complex isolation techniques.

Medical Research Building, MRB 4.106/4.110.

marybak@utmb.edu

Nicolette Valdez

PhD Student , Presidential Scholar, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Nicolette Valdez

Nicolette completed her B.A. in biology with a minor in chemistry at Texas A&M International University in her hometown of Laredo, Texas. During this time, she completed an Honor’s thesis in the lab of Dr. Monica Mendez, where she developed an interest in pursuing research, particularly involving protein synthesis and antimicrobial resistance. She then completed her M.Sc. degree in the lab of Dr. Yonghong Zhang at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, where she used biochemical approaches coupled with NMR to investigate the structures and regulations of bacterial translation initiation factors. Her current work in Dr. Matthieu Gagnon’s lab is focused on using cryo-electron microscopy coupled with biochemical approaches to understand the molecular mechanisms of ribosome rescue in bacterial pathogens.

Structural Biology and Biophysics track (SBB)

Medical Research Building, MRB 4.106/4.110

nivaldez@utmb.edu

Naveen Ganji

PhD Student , Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Naveen Ganji

Naveen completed his bachelor and master degrees in pharmacy from Kakatiya University in India. Before joining the PhD program at UTMB, he worked in pharmaceutical and clinical laboratories. He developed his interest in structural biology research projects during his laboratory rotations. Currently, under the mentorship of Dr. Matthieu Gagnon, he is investigating the structural aspects of protein synthesis and ribosome rescue mechanisms in mycobacteria employing cryo-EM. Naveen is also interested in studying the molecular mechanisms of inhibition by antibiotics targeting the translation machinery.

Structural Biology and Biophysics track (SBB)

Medical Research Building, MRB 4.106/4.110

nkganji@utmb.edu

Gagnon Research Lab: Team

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