Professor of Biology
Director of Undergraduate Research
Office: Science Center 059
Phone: (319) 352-8339
FAX: (319) 352-8606
Lab Phone: (319) 352-7090
Email: roy.ventullo@wartburg.edu

Courses Taught
BI 151 Ecosystem, Cells, & Evolution
LS 206/216 Culture of Guyana & Trinidad/Tobago
BI 206/216 Ecology of Guyana & Trinidad/Tobago I, II
BI 305 Microbiology & lab
BI 406 Microbial Ecology & lab
BI 455 Methods of Biological Research
BI 456 Student Research

Advising Expertise
Biology
Environment/Conservation
Research
Graduate Studies: Environmental/Conservation
Graduate Studies: Public Health
Pre-nursing
Medical Technology
Exploring

Curriculum VITA (resume in PDF format)

Personal Interests

I am a computer geek at heart. I have been using computers for education and research since the early days of Radio Shack TRS-80s and IBM 8086 (We had to add floppy disc drives as no one thought they were needed!!) With much help from students, I run the Bio Department Website, the Virtual Laboratory Guide for BI 151, and the Virtual Microscope sites. There are six computers in my laboratory.

My tastes in music are somewhat eclectic. I still like the Beatles and much of the music from the 60s and 70s (Eric Clapton, Sanatana (old and new stuff), the Stones). I also listen to jazz (Miles Davis, Brubeck) and the Blues (BB King, Stevie Ray Vaughan).

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

Research/Areas of Interest
The Occurrence of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in Companion Animals
Ecology of bacterial biofilm communities using molecular methods
Biodegradation synthetic organic chemicals by Phanerochaete
Biofilm microbial communities in disease and nature

Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria. Dogs and cats may serve as reservoirs for infections in humans.  Current research involves the presence and characterization of antibiotic resistant staphylococci and MRSA in otherwise healthy domestic animals in NE Iowa.

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

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.

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.