Peter Newell

I study how bacteria and animals initiate and maintain symbiotic interactions. I’m currently investigating the association between Drosophila melanogaster and its gut microbiota using a combination of approaches including bacterial and fly genetics, physiology and microscopy. My research questions include:

1) How does colonization of the gut by certain bacterial species impact the development and physiology of the fly?

2) Which bacterial genes and pathways are required for colonization of the gut and establishment of a beneficial relationship with the host?

3) What are the spatiotemporal dynamics of the association between the fly and its gut microbiota during development, and how do interactions between bacterial species play into these dynamics?

My objective is to uncover the molecular basis for these interactions, and thus contribute to our fundamental understanding of beneficial associations between microbial communities and animals.

My Background
I completed my B.A. at Middlebury College and my doctoral research with George O'Toole at Dartmouth Medical School.  After nine years of research on bacterial biofilms, I came to the Douglas Lab to broaden my horizons and learn how symbiotic microbes impact the health of their animal hosts.  My CV is available as a a download on the left sidebar of this page.

Peter’s  Publications
Newell, P.D., Yoshioka, S., Hvorecny, K.L., Monds, R.D., And O’Toole, G.A. (2011) “Systematic analysis of diguanylate cyclases that promote biofilm formation by Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf0-1” J. Bacteriol. 193(18):4685-98.

Newell, P.D., Boyd, C.B., Sondermann, H., and O’Toole, G.A. (2011) “c-di-GMP Effector System Controls Cell Adhesion by Inside-out Signaling and Surface Protein Cleavage” PLoS Biol 9(2): e1000587. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1000587

 Navarro, M.V.A.S.*, Newell, P.D.*, Krasteva, P.V.*, Chatterjee, D.*, and O’Toole, G.A., Sondermann,H.(2011) “Structural Basis for c-di-GMP-mediated Inside-out Signaling Controlling Periplasmic Proteolysis” PLoS Biol 9(2): e1000588. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1000588. *Authors contributed equally

Monds, R.D., Newell, P.D., Wagner, J.C., Schwartzman, J.A., Lu, W., Rabinowitz, J.D., and O'Toole, G.A. (2010) “Di-adenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A) metabolism impacts biofilm formation by Pseudomonas fluorescens via c-di-GMP-dependent pathways.” J. Bacteriol. 192(12):3011-23

Newell, P.D., Monds, R.D., and O'Toole, G.A. (2009) “LapD is a bis-(3',5')-cyclic dimeric GMP binding protein that regulates surface attachment by Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf0-1.” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 106(9):3461-3466

Monds, R.D., Newell, P.D., Gross, R.H., and O'Toole, G.A. (2007) “Phosphate-dependent modulation of c-di-GMP levels regulates Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf0-1 biofilm formation by controlling secretion of the adhesin LapA.” Molecular Microbiology 63(3):659-679.

Wu, H., Bu, S., Newell, P., Chen, Q., and Fives-Taylor, P. (2007) “Two gene determinants are differentially involved in the biogenesis of Fap1 precursors in Streptococcus parasanguis.” J. Bacteriol. 189(4):1390-8 

Monds, R.D., Newell, P.D., Schwartzman, J.A., and O'Toole, G.A. (2006) “Conservation of the Pho regulon in Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf0-1.” Applied and Environmental Microbiology 72(3):1910-1924.