The helical rod structure and dynamic spring-like properties of the type 1 pilus are evolutionarily fine-tuned for functioning in host-pathogen interactions during urinary tract infection and gut colonization.

SafDAA-SafDAA structure and functional characterizations reveal a pili-mediated inter-cellular oligomerization mechanism for bacterial aggregation and biofilm formation in Salmonella enterica.

Input from computational models has enabled the detection of allosteric communication that modulates the gating mechanism of a bacterial outer-membrane protein.

Cryo-EM reveals that an unexpected domain separation in the zona pellucida module of uromodulin is required for its assembly to filamentous homopolymers that promote pathogen clearance in urinary tract infections.

The use of liquid-infused catheters results in significant reduction of bladder and catheter colonization, systemic dissemination, and bladder inflammation in a clinically relevant mouse model of CAUTI by targeting host-protein deposition on the urinary catheter.