Dr. Matthew Cabeen's Research Uncovers New Insights into Bacterial Stress Responses

5/30/2025

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Dr. Matthew Cabeen, Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at Oklahoma State University and a former OCRID Pilot Project Leader, has co-authored a groundbreaking study published in Nature Communications on February 13, 2025. The study, titled "Stressosome-independent but RsbT-dependent environmental stress sensing in Bacillus subtilis," challenges long-held assumptions about bacterial stress response mechanisms. Nature

 

Traditionally, the stressosome complex in B. subtilis was believed to be essential for activating the general stress response via the sigma factor σ^B. However, Dr. Cabeen's research demonstrates that environmental stress can trigger σ^B activation even in the absence of the stressosome, provided the presence of the RsbT protein. This finding suggests that RsbT may serve as a direct sensor of environmental stress, redefining our understanding of bacterial adaptability.Nature

 

Dr. Cabeen's involvement with OCRID as a Pilot Project Leader has been instrumental in advancing research on bacterial stress responses and their implications for respiratory and infectious diseases. His innovative approach combines advanced microfluidics, live-cell microscopy, and traditional microbiological techniques to explore how bacteria sense and respond to stress, communicate, and form microbial communities. Oklahoma State University

 

This publication not only highlights Dr. Cabeen's significant contributions to microbiology but also underscores the impact of OCRID's support in fostering cutting-edge research that addresses critical health challenges.