Biofilm Formation

The focus of my group is the study of biofilm development.  Biofilms can be defined as communities of bacteria attached to a surface.  We use a combination of genetics, molecular techniques, and microscopy to study these communities.  In addition to studying these bacteria in the lab, we also want to know the role of genes required for biofilm formation in the "real world".

Ongoing projects in the lab are listed below.


Pseudomonas aeruginosa
biofilm formation



A biofilm of GFP-labeled
P. aeruginosa
on PVC plastic.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
biofilm antibiotic resistance


An antibiotic-treated biofilm stained
with a viability stain.


Pseudomonas fluorescens

biofilm formation



GFP-labeled P. fluorecens
colonizes a tomato root.  


Staphylococcus aureus
biofilm formation



A rendered 3D image of a
Staphylococcus aureus
biofilm.
Biofilm Biocontrol



A false-color EM of Bdellovibrio (pink) attached to an E. coli biofilm.

New Phage

A TEM of phage DMS3

Biofilm Methods



A flow cell - used to monitor biofilm
development in real time.

Vector Tools