Dr. Payne studies the genetics and molecular biology of bacterial pathogens, particularly Vibrio cholerae, the agent of cholera, and the Shigella-E. coli group, which cause a variety of human infections. By studying the interactions between bacteria and their hosts and the genes controlling these interactions, Dr. Payne hope to gain a better understanding of how bacteria cause disease, how new pathogens emerge, and how we can control these pathogens.