Global regulatory systems in pseudomonas aeruginosa

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Until recently it was thought that bacteria were simple, single celled organisms and that their environmental advantage was very rapid growth.  However, it is becoming increasingly clear that bacteria are exquisitely sensitive to the environment and can function in communities called biofilms.  Much research is being directed towards an understanding of how bacteria function as communities and how they can respond to the environmental signals. Our research is focussed on an analysis of how a bacterium called Pseudomonas aeruginosa can adapt to sometimes-hostile environments.  Our approach will be to look at the circuits that control the expression of bacterial genes and the how these circuits interact.  We will specifically examine three systems. One system allows the bacterial populations to communicate with each other and control the expression of genes so that population works together.  Another system is involved with controlling genes involved in the formation of bacterial communities or biofilms.  The third system controls the bacterium's response to nutrient deprivation that occurs during infection.  In the long term, research of this nature will lead to the development of new therapies to treat bacterial infections.