He earned an M.Sc. in Health and Global Environment from the University of Salford (2024), an M.Sc. in Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology from the University of Ibadan (2021), and a B.Sc. in Microbiology from the University of Abuja (2017).

Functional Diversity of Type IV Pili Fibers in Xylella fastidiosa My current research investigates the molecular and structural biology of Xylella fastidiosa, a devastating plant pathogen responsible for incurable agricultural diseases worldwide . Specifically, I study the functional diversity of Type IV pili (TFP)—filamentous protein appendages that are absolutely essential for the bacterium’s pathogenesis, driving behaviors like twitching motility, surface adhesion, biofilm formation, and natural DNA uptake . Unlike many other bacteria, X. fastidiosa possesses an unusually complex TFP genetic architecture, encoding seven distinct sets of TFP genes with multiple paralogs, including three copies of the major pilin subunit PilA . My overall hypothesis is that X. fastidiosa leverages this genetic diversity to assemble specialized TFP fibers, each tailored for distinct roles during its complex life cycle transitioning between plant xylem vessels and the foregut of its insect vectors . To address this, my project is broken down into three main aims: Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Genomics: I conduct in silico comparative genomics and phylogenetic analyses (using tools like BLAST, Mauve, Roary, and IQ-TREE) to identify clade-specific TFP gene clusters and trace their evolutionary relationships across different X. fastidiosa host-range subgroups . Structural Assembly Dynamics: I utilize transmission electron microscopy (TEM), immunoblotting, and protein-protein interaction assays to determine how different environmental cues (such as plant pectin versus insect chitin) trigger the bacterium to assemble specific combinations of major and minor pilins . Phenotypic and Functional Analysis: By screening mutant strains that assemble only specific TFP fibers, I assess how each fiber variation contributes to distinct virulence phenotypes, such as adhesion force, motility, planktonic growth, and DNA uptake for natural transformation . I also employ glycan array analysis to test how these specific TFP fibers bind to different host and vector carbohydrates . Broader Impacts: By elucidating the specific functions of these diverse TFP fibers, my research aims to uncover the precise molecular mechanisms X. fastidiosa uses to colonize its hosts and vectors . Ultimately, identifying these host-pathogen and vector-pathogen interaction factors will provide critical targets for developing novel antimicrobial strategies to protect economically vital crops and secure global agriculture against this reemergent threat.