Picture of Jon Clardy

Jon Clardy, Ph.D.

Christopher T. Walsh Professor of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology

The laboratory focuses on biologically active small molecules, especially those from bacteria and fungi with an overall goal of understanding how small molecules control biological processes. 

Research:

The laboratory focuses on biologically active small molecules, especially those from bacteria and fungi with an overall goal of understanding how small molecules control biological processes.  Organizing themes include: 1) function-based discovery of microbially-produced small molecules and their roles in microbial symbioses , 2) function-based discovery of biologically active small molecules using high-throughput screening,  3) genome-based discovery of bacterially-produced small molecules. 

1.  We have focused on the small molecule exchanges that underlie multilateral symbioses involving bacteria, partly because they are widespread and poorly understood and partly because they lead to the discovery of new useful molecules in the biological context in which they evolved.  Current projects involve the bacterial symbionts of fungus-growing ants, members of the human gut microbiome linked to disease, and interactions between micro-algae and bacteria.

2.  We also continue to discover small molecules in a more medically relevant context: high-throughput screening for a variety of diseases.  In these projects we have focused on antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic agents along with immunomodulators and anticancer agents. 

3.  It is now quite clear that well studied bacteria – the producers of drugs that are used on the ton scale, for example – are genetically capable of producing many more potentially useful small molecules.  The biosynthetic gene can be seen but the associated molecules have never been characterized.  Ways to access these cryptic metabolites is a current focus of the laboratory.

Address: 

Room C-643

240 Longwood Avenue

Boston, MA 02115

Publications View
Biosynthesis of the Unusual Epoxy Isonitrile-Containing Antibiotics Aerocyanidin and Amycomicin.
Authors: Authors: Zheng Z, Clardy J, Liu HW.
J Am Chem Soc
View full abstract on Pubmed
Systematic mining of the human microbiome identifies antimicrobial peptides with diverse activity spectra.
Authors: Authors: King AM, Zhang Z, Glassey E, Siuti P, Clardy J, Voigt CA.
Nat Microbiol
View full abstract on Pubmed
A Cardiolipin from Muribaculum intestinale Induces Antigen-Specific Cytokine Responses.
Authors: Authors: Bang S, Shin YH, Ma X, Park SM, Graham DB, Xavier RJ, Clardy J.
J Am Chem Soc
View full abstract on Pubmed
Revisiting Coley's Toxins: Immunogenic Cardiolipins from Streptococcus pyogenes.
Authors: Authors: Shin YH, Bang S, Park SM, Ma X, Cassilly C, Graham D, Xavier R, Clardy J.
J Am Chem Soc
View full abstract on Pubmed
Discovering functional small molecules in the gut microbiome.
Authors: Authors: Seyedsayamdost MR, Clardy J.
Curr Opin Chem Biol
View full abstract on Pubmed
Collinsella aerofaciens Produces a pH-Responsive Lipid Immunogen.
Authors: Authors: Kwon J, Bae M, Szamosvári D, Cassilly CD, Bolze AS, Jackson DR, Xavier RJ, Clardy J.
J Am Chem Soc
View full abstract on Pubmed
Gut microbiome lipid metabolism and its impact on host physiology.
Authors: Authors: Brown EM, Clardy J, Xavier RJ.
Cell Host Microbe
View full abstract on Pubmed
Lyme Disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Lipid Immunogens.
Authors: Authors: Szamosvári D, Bae M, Bang S, Tusi BK, Cassilly CD, Park SM, Graham DB, Xavier RJ, Clardy J.
J Am Chem Soc
View full abstract on Pubmed
Bacillimidazoles A-F, Imidazolium-Containing Compounds Isolated from a Marine Bacillus.
Authors: Authors: Yan JX, Wu Q, Helfrich EJN, Chevrette MG, Braun DR, Heyman H, Ananiev GE, Rajski SR, Currie CR, Clardy J, Bugni TS.
Mar Drugs
View full abstract on Pubmed
Benefiting from big data in natural products: importance of preserving foundational skills and prioritizing data quality.
Authors: Authors: Cech NB, Medema MH, Clardy J.
Nat Prod Rep
View full abstract on Pubmed