A new way of thinking about biofilm formation

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Biofilms are a major mode of microbial life on earth and impact our lives due to their profound effects in clinical and industrial settings. Understanding biofilm formation is key to improving health, industrial safety, and lowering emissions. The traditional model of biofilm formation (attachment, maturation, dispersion) is now being challenged by new models that also include bacterial aggregates and pellicles, biofilms that float on the air-liquid interface. In this project we will investigate the formation, structure, function, and regulation of biofilms, pellicles and bacterial aggregates. The project will focus on Escherichia coli initially, although may diversify to other organisms such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We will use flow cytometry and microscopy techniques, as well as standard molecular microbiology approaches (eg mutants, reporter genes) and some physical science analytical methods (eg hydrophobicity, surface charge of bacteria).