Dr. Doster's long-term career goal is to lead research focused on defining mechanisms by which clinical infections occur and developing translational approaches to mitigate infection risk. The Doster lab has focused on understanding the pathogenesis of infections caused by Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus, GBS) a common cause of infections during pregnancy and in neonates. He is particularly interested in the role of biofilm, which may allow GBS to colonize the female reproductive tract and lead to pregnancy infections. The Doster lab utilizes in vitro culture models, high-resolution microscopy techniques, and animal models of pregnancy infection to understand the factors necessary for GBS to form biofilms, colonize epithelial surfaces, and evade immune response on the way to causing perinatal infections which result in significant morbidity and mortality to mothers and infants. Current projects in the lab investigate how metabolic disease (diabetes) might influence GBS colonization, how commensals bacteria such as Lactobacillus protect against GBS colonization and looking at multidisciplinary approaches to prevent GBS colonization and infection including novel probiotic delivery mechanisms.