Biofilm Formation

The focus of my group is the study of bacterial biofilms.  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 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 fluorescens

biofilm formation

 

GFP-labeled P. fluorescens

colonizes a tomato root. 

Phage Lysogeny and Group Behaviors

 

Phage DMS3

P. aeruginosa-Host Cell Interactions

 

P. aeruginosa biofilms on airway epithelia

Biofilm Biocontrol

 

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

Staphylococcus aureus

biofilm formation

  

A rendered 3D image of a

Staphylococcus aureus biofilm.

Biofilm Methods

 

A flow cell - used to monitor biofilm

development in real time.

Vector Tools