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Biofilm Physiology & Ecology Research Group
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Matthew Fields
Assistant Professor of Microbiology
Biofilm Physiology & Ecology Team Leader
 MSU
Microbiology
MSU
Molecular Biosciences
I am interested in environmental signals that are sensed by cells to mediate
control over physiology and modes of growth. In particular, we are interested in
the genes used to sense environmental changes in response to biotic and abiotic
parameters, and how microbial cells respond in order to optimize metabolism. We
study both monocultures and indigenous microbial communities to better
understand the interrelationships between genomic content and phenotype at
different levels of resolution (i.e., DNA to community), and how these
attributes contribute to stress and survival of biological cells. Within the
contexts of cellular responses, we study bacterial systems important for heavy
metal bioremediation, metal corrosion, extremophilic lifestyles, and bio-energy.
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Kara Bowen
Ph.D. Candidate
Microbiology, Molecular Biosciences Program
My interests are in the microbial diversity at high level waste sites.
The Hanford site in Washington, USA was active in the production of
plutonium for nuclear weapons from 1943-1990. During this time, the direct
discharge of the irradiated cooling water was piped into the Columbia River
causing the nearby land and river sediment to become contaminated with
radioisotopes. I am studying the microbial ecology and its variability based
on the geochemistry of heavy metal-contaminated sediment. This work also
involves the characterization of select organisms in order to determine
their function in the ecosystem in hopes of finding candidates for
bioremediation.
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Kristen Brileya
Ph.D. Candidate
Microbiology, IGERT Program
My project involves the syntrophic interaction of a sulfate-reducing
bacterium, Desulfovibrio vulgaris, and a methanogen, Methanococcus
maripaludis, with a focus on physiological responses to various stresses
in a biofilm state. Methane is both a valuable source of energy as well as a
notoriously potent greenhouse gas, thus an understanding of microbial
communities involved in methane cycling is essential. As natural microbial
communities are likely to interact in a biofilm, this growth state and its
regulation, formation and structure are of primary interest. |
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Melinda E. Clark
Ph.D. Candidate
Microbiology
D. vulgaris is a key component for bioremediation of contaminated water
and soil due to the ability to reduce heavy metals. SRBs are also
notoriously known for corrosive capabilities of underground pipes. Our lab
focuses on physiological responses of D. vulgaris to different stresses
under different growth states (i.e. planktonic vs. biofilm). The components
contributing to D. vulgaris biofilm matrix and the role flagella may play in
biofilm formation are also being analyzed. Studies are also being conducted
to compare the ability of biofilm and planktonic cells to reduce chromium,
uranium, and other metals. These results will contribute to the application
of sulfate reducers in situ for bioremediation along with the understanding
of biofilm formation within pipelines and possible prevention of corrosion. |
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Chiachi Hwang
Ph.D. Candidate
Microbiology
My projects are mainly involved in studying bacterial ecology with a focus on
changes in bacterial communities in relation to environmental variables. Working
in collaboration with other researchers at the site, my projects have focused on
the bacterial communities that help facilitate the removal of nitrate and
uranium. Current results have shown that certain bacterial populations such as
denitrifiers, sulfate-reducers, and metal-reducers indeed respond differently
and their presence correlates to the variables in the subsurface. I am also in
the process of characterizing the physiology of an isolate, Anaeromyxobacter
fw109-5. The bacterium was isolated from the site and is able to reduce nitrate
and iron. Studying this bacterium will provide a better understanding to the
eco-physiology of indigenous organisms in contaminated environments and how this
bacterium may play a role in uranium bioremediation. |
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Kelly O’Shea
Ph.D. Candidate
Microbiology, Molecular Biosciences Program
Bio-diesel is derived from carbon-fixing biological sources and can be
used as an alternative to fossil fuels. One of the major by-products from
bio-diesel production is crude glycerin which is a complex mixture of
glycerol, salts, and methanol. My project involves culturing different
microorganisms and testing their capacity to utilize pure glycerol and crude
glycerin as carbon and energy sources. The ability to utilize glycerin as a
feedstock for microbial conversions will circumvent industrial purification
processes and will possibly alleviate price constraints for the bio-diesel
market.
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Brad Ramsay
Research Associate
I am isolating unique sulfate-reducing bacteria from contaminated
environments, testing phenotypes in Desulfovibrio mutants, and
characterizing microbial community structure in Yellowstone hot springs. As
a biochemist, my research interests lie more within the physiology aspect of
our research. I have always been interested in the workings of
extremophiles, such as those found in Yellowstone National Park's hot
springs. To be working on two different projects involving such organisms
is exciting. The identification and understanding of survival mechanisms
utilized by these organisms has great potential to assist with environmental
disasters (e.g. superfund sites) and even human health (e.g. lead
poisoning). When not in the lab, you're most likely to find me enjoying
Montana's beautiful outdoors by skiing, cycling, and/or hiking.
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Anitha Sundararajan
Ph.D. Candidate
Microbiology
My project involves study of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1,
facultative, g-Proteobacterium
that has a versatile metabolism as it can utilize numerous organic and
inorganic compounds including oxygen, nitrates, and metals. My research
particularly focuses on characterizing a sensory box protein. Its unique
architecture with PAS, PAC, EAL, GGDEF domains have made the protein
particularly significant physiologically as it is involved in a wide array
of signaling pathways, including, oxygen sensing, anaerobic growth, biofilm
formation, cytochrome expression and reductase activity. Data has revealed a
direct liaison between oxygen sensing/anoxia and biofilm formation and this
explains how SO3389 interacts with multiple signal transduction pathways. We
have incorporated physiological, molecular and microarray approaches to
attempt elucidating the role(s) of the protein.
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