|
Research
Microbiology,
bacterial physiology, biofilm research
My research
focus is to study the control of the development of complex bacterial
communities known as biofilms. These communities represent a higher
order of structure and function than is found when bacteria are
grown traditionally in broth cultures. Biofilm communities are
responsible for much of the biological activity attributed to
bacteria in the wide range of habitats occupied by these biochemically
complex microorganisms.
 |
My
lab is currently investigating the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
perhaps the most abundant organism on the planet, and one that
is found predominantly in biofilms. I am interested in how this
organism changes the regulation of biofilm-specific genes during
the four stages of biofilm development. My research includes investigating
the influence of specific genes such as those involved in cell-to-cell
communication on the production of the matrix polymer material
that is responsible for cementing biofilm bacteria to surfaces
and for maintaining the integrity of the biofilm architecture.
I am also looking at the mechanisms by which Pseudomonas biofilms
are "autodispersed" in an effort to develop methods
by which biofilm disruption can be reproducibly induced. The disruption
of biofilms is of major importance in medicine where treatment
of biofilm infections has proved to be generally ineffective.
In another area of my research, I am looking at the protein profile
or "proteome" of the bacteria during the biofilm developmental
process in order to characterize the phenotypic changes that are
experienced by the bacteria and to help reveal targets for agents
that will interfere with normal biofilm development.
 |
|
