Non-Canonical Amino Acids in the Interrogation of Cellular Protein Synthesis
Project Leader(s)
Caltech
Dissecting protein synthesis in bacterial biofilms. The red images on the right show typical biofilms formed by the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The green images on the left show regions of the same biofilms in which specific control signals are active. This project is developing methods that allow the study of specific regions of bacterial biofilms that contribute to chronic infections.
Biofilms contribute to more than 80% of microbial infections in humans. Microorganisms growing in biofilm communities exhibit important differences as compared to those growing freely, including – most importantly –resistance to antimicrobial agents. These differences contribute to the persistence of biofilms in chronic diseases and to the severity of infection of implanted medical devices and chronic wounds. The objectives of this work are to understand more deeply the role of biofilm formation in chronic infections, and to provide new tools for the study of complex microbial communities. These methods will provide new insights into the threats posed by infectious disease, bioterrorism and biological warfare.
Date Completed
