#  Sarah Fortune 

Professor and Chair, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases

 

 

 



   ![fortune](/sites/g/files/omnuum12386/files/styles/hwp_4_5__320x400/public/2026-08/Fortune.png?itok=3mjscYxR) 

 



 





 

HSPH B1-809

**Tel:** 617-432-6965

**Email:** <sfortune@hsph.harvard.edu>

**Website:** [https://sites.sph.harvard.edu/fortune-lab/ ](https://sites.sph.harvard.edu/fortune-lab/)

**Research Summary:**

My laboratory focuses on the molecular basis of population heterogeneity in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and the extent to which differences between mycobacterial cells contribute to differences in disease and treatment outcomes. I am committed to providing training in bacterial genetic approaches with high throughput methodologies. Trainees are exposed to TnSeq, high density whole genome sequencing, RNAseq and quantitative live cell imaging to define the molecular mechanisms by which Mtb generates diversity and how this diversity enables the bacterium to survive subsequent selective forces including antibiotics and immune selection. We further seek to understand the impact of host immune responses on the interaction of Mtb with the infected host, again working at both single cell and genomic levels. My work engages a broad network of collaborators including experts in technologies to assess single cell behavior at MIT and MGH, experts in sequencing methodologies at the Broad Institute and experts in human immunology at the Ragon Institute, where I am the Director of the TB Program.



 

 

 





 

 

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