Will Ludington

Will Ludington is an Associate Professor of Biology at Johns Hopkins University, where his lab studies the ecological and molecular principles that govern stable host-microbe symbioses. His research focuses on lactic acid bacteria, using genetically tractable animal models, particularly Drosophila, to uncover how bacterial surface molecules and host tissues interact to determine tissue specificity, spatial organization, and long-term colonization of the gut. By integrating microbial genetics, host genetics, and quantitative ecology, his work aims to translate fundamental insights into strategies for engineering beneficial microbes for health and disease prevention.