Karen Maxwell

Karen Maxwell completed her Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto, where she worked in Dr. Marvin Gold’s lab studying the assembly of bacteriophage lambda. Her postdoctoral work was done at the Ontario Centre for Structural Genomics where she led a project focused on phage structural genomics. She then moved on to a Research Associate position at the Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto before starting in the Department of Biochemistry as an Assistant Professor in 2016. 

Phage-Host Evolutionary Arms Race 

While phages have been studied for over a century now, we still don’t know the function of the vast majority of their genes. These unknown genes are collectively known as viral “dark matter”. Importantly, this dark matter can increase the severity of human diseases by transmitting toxins and antibiotic resistance genes. We are working to characterize the dark matter encoded by phages that infect Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an important human pathogen.  

Dark Matter of Phage Genomes 

Bacteria and the viruses that infect them engage in an intricate evolutionary dance; bacteria evolve defence systems to protect themselves from phage infection, and phages, in turn, find ways to overcome these defences. Our lab is investigating various anti-phage defences and counter defences in pathogenic bacteria. The long term goal is to use this information to engineer phages for treating antibiotic resistant infections in human patients.  

Appointments, Cross Affiliations, Memberships 

Canada Research Chair in Bacteriophage Biology and Therapeutics

Courses Taught 

BCH2112 From chaperones to CRISPR-Cas: the incredible genius of phages 
BCH374Y1 Research Project in Biochemistry 
BCH473Y Advanced Research Project in Biochemistry 

Awards and Distinctions

2020 — John C. Polanyi Award The NSERC John C. Polanyi Award honours an individual or team whose Canadian-based research has led to a recent outstanding advance in the natural sciences or engineering.