Research at the Center for Biofilm Engineering is driven by industrial, environmental, and health issues of national importance. CBE research has contributed new insights into microbial processes in a wide variety of contexts.
CBE RESEARCH:
- is motivated by industrial concerns and involvement of industry partners;
- is conducted at multiple scales of observation, from molecular to field-scale;
- involves interdisciplinary investigations;
- provides relevant research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students;
- is enhanced by productive collaborations with researchers at other institutions;
- is funded by competitive grants and industrial memberships; and
- produces both fundamental and applied results.
The CBE's long history of research success results from adaptability to new information and analytical technologies and flexibility in addressing biofilm issues in comprehensive ways, using its deep bench of MSU researchers with diverse specialties in biofilm studies. Discover the breadth and depth of the CBE's research team by exploring our Associated Faculty.
NOTE: The Center's research topics are searchable. Content will be provided on the following research topics.
APPLIED RESEARCH AREAS & PROJECTS
Biofilm control strategies: antimicrobial efficacy | biocides | bioelectric effect | disinfectants | inhibitory coatings | nitrous oxide
Energy solutions: biofuels | microbial fuel cells
Environmental technologies: bioremediation | wetlands | CO2 sequestration | biobarriers
Health/medical biofilms: chronic wound healing | catheter infections | oral health | food safety
Industrial systems & processes: biofouling | biocorrosion | product contamination | microbe-metal interactions | biomineralization
Standardized methods: product claims | regulatory issues | ASTM methods acceptance
Water systems: drinking water quality | premise plumbing | water treatment | distribution systems
FUNDAMENTAL TOPICS
Biofilms in nature: microbes in cold environments | role of biofilms in natural processes | thermophiles
Multicellular/extracellular: flow and transport in biofilm systems | material properties | quorum sensing | structure-function | heterogeneities | matrix
Ecology/physiology: population characterization | spatial and temporal population dynamics
Cellular/intracellular: phenotype | genetics | metabolic pathways | proteomics
ANALYTICAL TOOLS & TECHNIQUES
Instrumentation: microscopy | nuclear magnetic resonance imaging | gas chromatography | ToF SIMS
Methods development: experimental design | variability | ruggedness | repeatability statistical evaluation
Modeling: cellular automata modeling | mathematics | hydrodynamics
Basic Microbiology Techniques: total and direct counts | MIC determination | viable cell counts
Molecular Biology Techniques: DNA extraction | PCR | DGGE | microarrays | sequencing
RELATED LINKS:
Facilities overview
Publications
Research publication cover images gallery
CBE milestones (history)
