Faculty

Leonard Foster

Professor

Departments

Professional Profile

  • CFI Advisor to VP Research & International

Research Area

Our lab studies a variety of host-pathogen combinations. We mostly use quantitative proteomics, employing stable isotope labeling and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) but also use other high-throughput methods, such as high content screening and massively parallel sequencing. To fill in the gaps we then turn to more focused biochemical and cell biological methods. Recently we have described a novel method for mapping the protein interaction network within cells (the interactome) that drives the time and cost involved in such an analysis down by nearly two orders of magnitude; this technique will play an important role in many current and future projects.

The Foster Lab runs the Proteomics Core Facility that offers a broad range of services from mass confirmations to large-scale quantitative proteomic screens, along with all the associated bioinformations. 

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Research Questions

  1. How do host cells respond to pathogens?
  2. How do honey bees resist disease?
  3. How do all the molecules in a cell interact to give the cell its functions?

Research Keywords

Biochemistry, biotechnology, bioinformatics, immunology, systems biology, infectious disease, protein regulation, proteomics, computational modeling, microbiome, agriculture, bioproducts, microbial pathogenesis, protein chemistry, metabolomics

To learn more about the Foster Lab, please visit fosterlab.msl.ubc.ca.