Jonathan Budzik, MD
My research is focused on the innate immune mechanisms that control M. tuberculosis infection. Autophagy is one mechanism that macrophages use to control microbial infection by targeting bacteria for degradation in the lysosome. Activation of autophagy is mediated by kinases that phosphorylate autophagy adaptors, which are proteins that direct cargo to the autophagy machinery. By using global phosphoproteomics, we are studying the changes in autophagy adaptor phosphorylation levels during TB infection. My ultimate hope is that a better understanding of the mechanism of autophagy targeting of TB will facilitate the development of host direct therapies for TB.
UCSF Center for Tuberculosis Initiatives:
TB RAMP Scholar | Class 2025