Wartburg Undergraduate Research Web site:
http://www.wartburg.edu/wcur/

Research/Areas of Interest
Ecology of bacterial biofilm communities using molecular methods
Biodegradation synthetic organic chemicals by Phanerochaete
Biofilm Microbial Communities in disease and nature

Biofilms. Attached bacterial communities, called biofilms, have a major impact on ecological, economic, medical, and industrial processes. We are using molecular methods (metabolic stains, FISH, DGGE) to study bacterial biofilm development and activity using CDC bioreactors and flow cells.

Antibiotic resistant bacteria in aquatic biofilms. I have been studying SLIME (microbial biofilms) since my post-doc days at the University of Calgary. There has been a resurgence of interest in the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria in ecosystems. This project combines the techniques of microscopy (SEM, FISH) and molecular biology (plasmid isolation, DGGE) to study antibiotic resistance of bacteria in epilithic (SLIME ON ROCKS) communities

Biodegradation of azo dyes by Phanerochaete chrysosporium (PC). I spent my sabbatical leave in the laboratory of Dr. John Bumpus at the University of Northern Iowa. Studies continue on the biodegradative enzymes of PC under various nutrient conditions. Projects in my lab include growing PC in biofilms and measuring the effect of nutrients on enzymes which degrade azo and aryl dyes.

Analysis of bacterial communities in Bromeliad tanks. This project developed from my many trips to the tropics in May term. Many species of Bromeliads (epiphytic tropical American plants of the family Bromeliaceae) are structured so they "trap" water in what are called tanks. These tank bromeliads contain a myriad of micro- and macro-organisms. Little has been done to analyze the bacteria and fungi in these tanks. We are using Scanning electron (SEM), light, and fluorescent in-situ hydridization (FISH) microscopy to characterize these communities. Work is continuing using FISH to determine community structure.