In the lab, we use fluorescence and atomic force microscopy to characterize the effect of antimicrobial compounds on the biomechanical properties of bacteria, investigating both the bacterial cells and their membranes. We are particularly interested in understanding how the lipopolysaccharide in the Gram-negative outer membrane and the thick peptidoglycan layer of Gram-positive bacteria can affect antimicrobial efficacy. We are also interested in the predatory bacterium Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus and how it might be used to control bacterial growth inside an established microbiome.