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Richard Gerald Brennan

James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry
Biochemistry

Current Appointments & Affiliations


James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry · 2011 - Present Biochemistry, Basic Science Departments
Professor of Biochemistry · 2011 - Present Biochemistry, Basic Science Departments

In the News


Published February 8, 2024
Sex Hormones Help Gonorrhea Fight Off Antimicrobials and Antibiotics
Published November 19, 2020
Researchers Peer Inside Deadly Pathogen’s Burglary Kit
Published September 21, 2018
Basic Science Day Showcases Wide Spectrum of Discovery Research at Duke

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Recent Publications


A single amino acid in the Salmonella effector SarA/SteE triggers supraphysiological activation of STAT3 for anti-inflammatory gene expression.

Journal Article Cell Rep · April 22, 2025 Salmonella causes ∼1 million cases of gastroenteritis annually in the United States. Critical to virulence are secreted effectors that reprogram host functions. We previously discovered the effector SarA facilitates phosphorylation of STAT3, inducing expre ... Full text Link to item Cite

Structures of trehalose-6-phosphate synthase, Tps1, from the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans: A target for antifungals.

Journal Article Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A · August 6, 2024 Invasive fungal diseases are a major threat to human health, resulting in more than 1.5 million annual deaths worldwide. The arsenal of antifungal therapeutics remains limited and is in dire need of drugs that target additional biosynthetic pathways that a ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


Tri-Institutional Molecular Mycology and Pathogenesis Training Program

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2029

The Molecular Mechanism and Pathophysiology of Robust STAT3 Signaling During Oral Salmonella Typhimurium Infection

FellowshipCo-Sponsor · Awarded by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2024 - 2027

Molecular elucidation of the Francisella tularensis virulence mechanism

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2021 - 2026

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Education, Training & Certifications


University of Wisconsin, Madison · 1984 Ph.D.