Overview
Jonathan Dworkin, PhD, is Professor of Microbiology & Immunology at the Columbia University Medical Center. He received his BS (Physics) with Honors from Swarthmore College in 1989 and his PhD in Microbiology from the Rockefeller University in 1997. Following postdoctoral research at Harvard with Richard Losick, he started his group at Columbia University in 2004. His research program focuses primarily on the genetic and molecular basis of quiescence in bacteria and its relevance to antimicrobial resistance
Academic Appointments
- Professor of Microbiology and Immunology
Credentials & Experience
Education & Training
- BS, 1989 Physics, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA
- PhD, 1997 Microbiology, Rockefeller University, NY
- Fellowship: 2004 Harvard University
Committees, Societies, Councils
- Harvey Society
- American Society for Microbiology
- Graduate Admissions Committee, Microbiology PhD Program, Columbia Unversity Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Honors & Awards
- 2007: Irma T. Hirschl Scholar
- 2009: Ellison Medical Foundation Senior Scholar in Aging
- 2011: Burroughs-Wellcome Fund Investigator in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease
- 2024: Member, American Association for the Advancement of Science
Research
Dr. Dworkin's laboratory is interested in the mechanisms used by quiescent cells to survive stressful conditions, such as nutrient limitation with particular attention on how these strategies affect antibiotic sensitivity including the emergence of tolerance (“persisters”). They focus on the down-regulation of protein synthesis, with most recent work examining the nucleotide ppGpp and the protein Hibernation Promoting Factor which induces ribosome dimerization. Their work employs a range of techniques, ranging from genetics and physiology to in vitro biochemistry and single molecule biophysical studies.
Research Interests
- Bacterial Growth Regulation
- Dormancy
- Quiescence
Selected Publications
- Nygaard, R., C L.B. Graham, M Dufrisne, J D Colburn, J Pepe, M Hydorn, B Kloss, OB Clarke, L Columbus*, J Dworkin*, PJ Stansfeld*, D Roper*, F Mancia* (2023) Structural basis of peptidoglycan synthesis by E. coli RodA-PBP2 complex. Nature Communications, 14(1):5151. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-40483-8 (*co-corresponding author)
- Harrellson, SG, M DeLay, X Chen, A-H Cavusoglu, J Dworkin, HA Stone, and O Sahin (2023). Hydration Solids. Nature, 619:500-505. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06144-y.
- Feaga, H., H-R Hong, C.R. Price, A. Rankin, A.R. Buskirk, J. Dworkin (2023) Elongation Factor P is important for sporulation initiation J. Bact. 205(2): 1-10. doi: 0.1128/jb.00370-22.
- Huemer, M., SM Shambat, S Hertegonne, J Bergada-Pijuan, C Chang, S Pereira, Al Gómez-Mejia, L Van Gestel, J Bär, C Vulin, S Pfammatter, TP Stinear, IR Monk, J Dworkin, AS Zinkernagel (2023) Serine-threonine phospho-regulation by PknB and Stp contributes to quiescence and antibiotic tolerance in Staphylococcus aureus. Science Signalling, 16, eabj8194
- Diez, S., M Hydorn, A Whalen, J Dworkin (2022) Crosstalk between guanosine nucleotides regulates cellular heterogeneity during nutrient limitation. PLoS Genetics, 18(5): e1009957
- Feaga H. and J. Dworkin (2021) Transcription regulates ribosome hibernation. Molecular Microbiology 116:663–673.
For a complete list of publications, please visit PubMed.gov