GGDEF-EAL Circuitry of Vibrio Parahaemolyticus

海洋细菌副溶血性弧菌适应于表面的集体生活。当生长在表面或粘性层时，生物体诱导出一个大的基因系统，并分化成一个群集细胞。分化允许在表面上移动和定植。这项工作的长期重点是阐明调控网络，而不是使细菌在表面上发展成多细胞群落。这种类型的定植，被称为生物膜的形成，导致对环境损害的抵抗力增强以及降解能力增强。因此，微生物与表面的相互作用对于诸如生物污染等环境问题具有重要意义。副溶血性弧菌是研究细菌表面适应性的良好模式生物。该项目将研究细菌如何感知、整合和响应环境中的多种信号。就更广泛的影响而言，提出了一项基因发现计划，该计划将通过让本科生直接参与研究过程来整合教学和研究。

The marine bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus is adapted to communal life on surfaces. When grown on a surface or in a viscous layer, the organism induces a large gene system and differentiates to a swarmer cell. Differentiation allows movement over and colonization of surfaces. The long-term focus of this work is to elucidate the regulatory networks than enable bacteria to develop as multicellular communities on surfaces. This type of colonization, known as biofilm formation, results in heightened resistance to environmental insult as well as increased degradative capabilities. Thus, microbial interactions with surfaces have significant implications with respect to environmental issues such as biofouling. V. parahaemolyticus is an excellent model organism for studying surface adaptation by bacteria. This project will investigate how bacteria sense, integrate and respond to multiple signals in their environment. With respect to broader impact, a gene discovery plan is proposed that will integrate teaching and research by allowing undergraduate students to directly participate in the research process.