Andrew C. Krusenstjerna

This study shows that genome polarization is essential for Rickettsia parkeri's fitness, as disrupting polar proteins causes cell division defects and reduced host cell spread.

This study identifies RLip, a conserved lipase in Rickettsia rickettsii, which facilitates intracytosolic colonization by enabling escape from phagolysosomal fusion.

This study shows that DnaA modulates cell length, replication rate, and gene expression in Borrelia burgdorferi, affecting its morphology and virulence.