Fun (and Milestones)
Drew speaks at IL Eye Symposium
Drew gave a talk on his project about differentially regulated genes in both host cells and microbes occupying two distinct niches within corneal cells. This conference, Illinois Eye Symposium on Inflammation and Infection, was the first of its kind and we hope it'll return for years to come!
Lab rescues a cat
September 17, 2024
On this day, a wise and friendly stray cat approached Gustavo. Ever the type to share his lunch with a strange cat who might be hungry, Gustavo kept him nearby, while he the rest of the lab were able to determine that he wasn't a resident of the campus TNR feral cats. He was retrieved by a rescuer for a microchip scan and a bright future.
Five posters at MMPC!
September 14, 2024
The lab had a significant showing of all our hard work at the Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference in Bloomington, IN, this year! Many thanks to Julia van Kessel and Ankur Dalia at Indiana University for hosting a great conference. Loyola is up to host next year... can we beat our record? And will Abby survive co-hosting the meeting?!
Gustavo wins poster award
August 21, 2024
Gustavo took home a trophy and a plush succulent for his excellent poster at the departmental retreat on cytotoxic P. aeruginosa strains that can adopt intracellular lifestyles!
2024 Summer lab party
July 13, 2024
This summer we welcome Drew, the lab's first member from the MD/PhD program! Drew made the leap from virology to bacteriology between his Master's at Central Michigan and his PhD research here at Loyola. This brings the lab composition to 2 Wisconsinites, 2 Illinoisans, 2 Michiganders, and 1 Pennsylvanian. The Midwestern energy remains strong.
Adam's poster at ASM Microbe
June 16, 2024
Adam brought his ExoS ADP ribosylome story to ASM Microbe in Atlanta, GA. 16 substrates identified in the literature so far... but many many more to go!
Rachel gives a talk at ARVO!
May 6, 2024
First student talk at a meeting, and one very proud PI! Rachel shared her project on how corneal epithelial cells detect and respond to live P. aeruginosa. (hint: it's not the same as just throwing a bunch of PAMPs at them!)
Rachel also made great use of the conference badge ribbons!
First publication
April 10, 2024
Our review on the historical observations and mechanistic studies of intracellular P. aeruginosa was published in the Journal of Bacteriology! Both Zach and Abby independently printed and taped the paper to their respective workspaces.
Welcome Millie and Gustavo!
February, 2024
As of December, we've grown to a group of five!
Here, we took some inspiration from our friends and neighbors, the Mounce Lab, for our updated 2024 photo location. Unlike the Mounce lab, though, the Kroken lab's music taste is a bit more metal.
First posters
October 21, 2023
Rachel and Adam presented posters at Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference!
2023 Summer Party
July 15, 2023
Belated welcome to Zach, the lab's first postdoc! He brings strong experience with S. aureus pathogenesis, macrophages, protein biochemistry, and some peptidoglycan purification protocols not for the faint of heart.
Adam Thota, MS!
June 23, 2023
Adam successfully defended and earned his Master's degree! Thankfully, we don't even have to say goodbye. He'll be sticking around for a PhD starting this fall!
Abby named Faculty Member of the Year!
October 28, 2022
Truly honored and humbled that the students selected me for this award. I promise to continue doing my best to help them with their projects and grow as scientists.
Funded!
August 22, 2022
Today we recieved the lab's first Notice of Award. Hoping there at least a few more of these in our future!
First Party and Lab Photo
July 28, 2022
In 2022, the lab welcomed its first students, Rachel and Adam. Here, we also bid farewell to our inaugural lab member, Keith, who made the brave choice spend a year with a new PI fumbling through the chaotic journey of starting a lab. Keith went on to attend medical school at UIC.
Microscope arrives!
April 29, 2021
We may not have pipettes or bacteria yet, but we'll be ready for them!
The Beginning
February 1, 2021
Abby's first day at a new school. She receieved a COVID vaccine, an office, and an empty lab space.
