Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen, and one of the greatest threats to modern medicine. Its currently estimated that as many as 60% of all ventilator associated pneumonia cases are attributed to multidrug resistant A. baumannii, with mortality rates >35%. Our research seeks to address the bacterial mechanisms underlying the success of this pathogen during infection. Using a multifaceted approach, our work explores the genetic regulation and function of different virulence attributes, deciphering the complex network of how this bacterium interacts with, and influences the host immune response. By enhancing our understanding of the mechanisms of disease, our research aims to promote a more rational therapeutic design to combat this deadly pathogen.