The Shopsin Lab at NYU Langone studies genetic markers reflecting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) adaptation. Our studies in humans focus on understanding precise temporal patterns of MRSA strain spread by defining genetic changes and virulence circuits in the pathogen that influence its success. Our goal is to develop lineage-specific countermeasures to increase our ability to prevent and manage MRSA infections. In associated projects, we study downstream mechanisms by which fitness adaptive mutations in MRSA help the bacterium evade lethal host and synthetic stressors.