Postdoctoral Research fellowship in Microbial Biology for FY-2000

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This action funds an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Microbial Biology for 2000.The research and training plan is in the area of Regulation of Gene Expression and is entitled "Identification of Novel Pseudomonas aeruginosa Quorum Sensing Genes". Monitoring of surroundings by quorum sensing in P. aeruginosa, a gram-negative bacterium, plays an important role in its ability to grow in a wide variety of conditions. The two best studied quorum-sensing systems are the las and rhl systems. This research utilizes a fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS)-based approach to identify novel genes positively and negatively regulated by the las and/or rhl system. Temporal induction or repression of the identified genes is examined during the growth cycle, and regulatory factors dictating the induction and/or repression of these genes are identified. In addition, the functions of these genes are examined via insertional activation and observation of the phenotypic changes.