Dr. Lamar Thomas, July 2026 Snapshot
Dr. Lamar Thomas, an Assistant Professor in the Biological Sciences Department, and her student researchers investigate how streptococcal bacteria colonize mucosal tissues and, why under certain conditions, these bacteria can transition from harmless microorganisms of the human microbiota to invasive pathogens.
The Thomas Lab focuses on the female reproductive system and the urinary tract, where asymptomatic colonization can serve as a reservoir for inflammation, ascending infection, and transmission. A major emphasis of their work is on Group B Streptococcus (Streptococcus agalactiae), an important cause of maternal and neonatal infections, as these bacteria are often transmitted from mother to child causing neonatal sepsis and meningitis.
Dr. Thomas and her students also study Group A Streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes), a known cause of Strep throat and skin infections, which can lead to severe gynecologic and postpartum disease. Despite their clinical significance, the mechanisms that allow these organisms to persist in mucosal environments and progress to disease are not quite understood, and the applicability of Dr. Thomas and her team's work lies in its potential to improve prevention and management strategies of streptococcal infections across varied mucosal sites.
By defining how streptococci colonize host tissues, evade immune defenses, and persist without symptoms, their research addresses an important gap between bacterial carriage and the transition to invasive diseases, with direct clinical relevance for maternal, neonatal, and general human health.
Learn more about the Thomas Lab.
