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Surface-layer proteins form highly ordered, crystalline lattices that coat the exterior of many microorganisms. These layers are striking examples of precise self-assembly driven by relatively simple building blocks. Our lab studies how surface-layer proteins organize into regular patterns and how these patterns respond to external stimuli, with our most recent work focused on nanobody therapeutics that we envision as an antivirulence strategy. Ultimately, we aim to understand how symmetry, interaction strength, and geometry work together to produce robust structures. This research reveals fundamental principles of self-assembly at interfaces. It also informs the design of engineered surfaces with nanoscale order and tunable functionality.