Interactions between nanoparticles and bacteria

该项目旨在了解纳米颗粒如何干扰细菌代谢，以及这些相互作用如何导致细胞死亡，溶解和生物膜的分散。纳米材料的大量使用导致其不断释放到环境中。虽然各种纳米颗粒对生态系统中的微生物具有抑制甚至毒性作用，但其潜在机制尚不清楚。该项目将在细胞、酶和基因表达水平上研究模式生物对纳米颗粒的反应。这些发现将有助于评估纳米颗粒对生态系统健康的直接和长期影响，以改善环境管理。

This project aims to understand how nanoparticles interfere with bacterial metabolism, and how these interactions lead to cell death, lysis and dispersal from biofilms. Intensive use of nanomaterials results in their continuously releases into the environment. While various nanoparticles have inhibitory and even toxic effects on microorganisms in ecosystems, the underlying mechanisms are not understood. This project will investigate model organisms’ responses to nanoparticles at the cellular, enzymatic and gene expression levels. The findings are expected to help assess the immediate and long-term effect of nanoparticles on ecosystem health, for improved environmental management.