Research/Areas of Interest
My laboratory investigates pathogenic spirochetal bacteria, with a special emphasis on Borrelia burgdorferi, the tick-borne agent of Lyme disease, and Treponema denticola, a major player in the development of periodontal disease. We seek to elucidate the mechanisms these bacteria rely upon to replicate, maintain resilience within host environments, and cause disease. These findings will inform the development of novel therapeutic and preventive approaches. To achieve these goals, we rely on interdisciplinary and collaborative deployment of genetic, genomic, biochemical, imaging, and computational approaches, as well as in vivo studies.
Education
- Ph.D., Rockefeller University, New York, United States, 2016
- B.S., Yale University, New Haven, United States, 2009
Biography
Dr. Constantin (Nick) Takacs is Assistant Professor in the Department of Basic and Clinical Translational Sciences in the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Takacs obtained his B.S degree from Yale University, his Ph.D. from Rockefeller University, and completed postdoctoral training at HHMI, Yale, and Stanford Universities. Over the past decade, Dr. Takacs has accumulated a rich record of innovative research while studying the Lyme disease agent, the spirochetal bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. At the Tufts School of Dental Medicine, in addition to their ongoing studies of B. burgdorferi and Lyme disease, Dr. Takacs and his team will leverage their spirochete biology expertise to elucidate the mechanisms by which the oral spirochete Treponema denticola and other oral microbes contribute to periodontal disease. Dr. Takacs looks forward to engaging with microbiology students as well as dental clinical researchers and dental trainees seeking research opportunities.