Microbes can impact human health in a number of different ways, the most obvious way is by having a direct influence like the microbiota or pathogens. Microbes can also help to improve human health indirectly by using microbial components for more application based technologies. The Higgins lab aims to understand microbial processes that have both direct and indirect effects on human health.
Natural Products
The Higgins lab is interested in identifying novel bioactive natural products that are made by unique biosynthetic enzymes.
Glycan Degradation
The Higgins lab studies how bacteria degrade complex carbohydrates in different environments like the gut.