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Biofilm Control Research Group

Phil Stewart

Professor of Chemical Engineering

Biofilm Control/Antimicrobials Team Leader

I want to understand the basic biological, chemical, and physical explanations for why microorganisms in biofilms are hard to kill. Understanding these mechanisms has potential to lead to advances in biofilm control, but it also is likely to shed light on the basic biology of life in a biofilm. One of the themes that especially interests me these days is the multicellular nature of microbes in biofilms. All of the antimicrobial resistance mechanisms that we are investigating are inherently multicellular.
 

Betsey Pitts

Research Associate, Physics, Environmental Science

I am the Center Microscopist, and part of my time is spent maintaining the confocal and light microscopes and training Center researchers in their use.  I really enjoy working together with microscope users to get the most beautiful, illuminating images possible of bacterial biofilms. I also work on a research project with Willy and Phil. We are using the flow cytometer to investigate the physiological state of biofilm and planktonic bacteria (see Willy Davison, below). In my spare time, I've discovered the fascinating world of art and science collaboration - see our latest work at

http://www.erc.montana.edu/

Bioglyphs/default.htm

Ross Carlson

Assistant Research Professor,

Chemical & Biological Engineering

We are investigating surface coating strategies for retarding or preventing the formation of biofilms under medically relevant conditions. The surface associated process of microbial colonization and biofilm formation is a persistent and ubiquitous problem facing a broad range of disciplines. Examples include tenacious medical infections related to biofilm formation on implanted medical devices as well as microbial fouling of municipal water distribution systems. By testing these coatings under rigorous biofilm forming conditions, we hope to develop systems which can reduce infection rates on implanted medical devices like catheters.

Brenda Grau

Post-Doctoral Research Associate

I am studying differences in gene expression in colony biofilms of two different species of bacteria. We are interested in spatial growth patterns, so I first fractionate Pseudomonas aeruginosa colony biofilms and then prepare each fraction for microarray analysis. We are also interested in temporal growth patterns, so I harvest Haemophilus influenzae colony biofilms during different stages of growth and analyze their proteins by 2-D gel electrophoresis. We hope to better understand the molecular changes that occur during biofilm growth and development, including those that lead to antimicrobial resistance.

Audrey Corbin

Research Associate, Microbiology, Biotechnology Engineering

Using a capillary flow cell reactor and confocal microscopy, I am currently investigating the penetration of chemical compounds into a dental biofilm model. This project, sponsored by Colgate-Palmolive, also includes a study of their antimicrobial action. Understanding the diffusion of chemical actives that kill or remove the dental plaque is a fundamental key in the control of oral biofilm formation.

Willy Davison

Ph.D. Candidate, Chemical Engineering

I am investigating a variety of fluorescent staining approaches to characterize the physiological status of staphylococcal biofilms. I am growing biofilms in capillary flow cell systems, as well as colony biofilms, and will be using both light microscopy and confocal scanning laser microscopy to study these cultures. I will compare this data to that of planktonic cultures using our new flow cytometry equipment.

Jennifer Hornemann

Ph.D. Candidate, Chemical & Biological Engineering

I am extending magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM) techniques to study the structure-function and micro-fluidics surrounding growth and decay of biofilms in capillaries and porous media. Understanding pore-scale reactive flows between biofilm-impacted surfaces and surrounding bulk fluids is fundamental to developing bioremediation of subsurface contamination models and modeling flow through medically relevant filtration devices.

Susana Sanchez-Gomez

Ph.D. Candidate, Microbiology

I am visiting from the University of Navarra, in Spain. I am investigating the antimicrobial and antiendotoxic activity of several cationic peptides derived from a human protein. I study these therapies against P.aeruginosa and multirresistant isolates of this bacteria. During my four months at the CBE, as part of the Biofilm Control Group, I will test the possible antibiofilm activity of those antimicrobial peptides against P.aeruginosa biofilms grown in the CDC reactor.

Liz Sandvik

MS Candidate, Chemical & Biological Engineering

I am currently working on a project investigating the bioelectric effect on bacterial biofilms. Using low levels of electric current we have been able to enhance the efficacy of antibiotics against biofilms which otherwise respond poorly to antibiotic treatment. We believe this type of treatment could potentially be utilized to treat challenging device-associated infections in orthopedic implants such as those found in artificial knees and hips.

Mike Sutton

M.S. Candidate, Mechanical Engineering

I am researching the material properties of colony biofilms. The goal of my research is to demonstrate that it is possible to either increase or decrease the material strength of the biofilm by treatment with various chemicals and enzymes. Creep tests run on a rheometer are used to determine the visco-elastic properties of the biofilm.

Reed Taffs

M.S. Candidate, Chemical & Biological Engineering

Drip flow reactors are being used to investigate chitosan, a polymeric surface coating that inhibits biofilm growth. This surface has been tested against several different organisms that form biofilms. The surface is being compared with other biofilm-inhibiting surfaces and surface treatments. Hopefully, these experiments will lead to a convenient and effective process for preventing biofilm infections on the surfaces of medical devices which must be left inside the body (such as catheters). Additional work is being done with the drip flow reactors to investigate the biofilm-forming characteristics of a recombinant yeast strain which produces a biodegradable plastic.

Aaron Hedegaard

B.S. Candidate, Chemical & Biological Engineering

I will be investigating surface treatments for the inhibition of biofilm growth, particularly under medically relevant conditions. This research will be focusing on the innate antimicrobial properties of chitosan, and will then be extended to explore techniques for immobilizing antimicrobial peptides in chitosan and other polymeric coatings. The coatings will be tested for biofilm resistance in drip-flow reactors to try to simulate real medical conditions.

Katie Hoyt

B.S. Candidate,

Chemical Engineering

Currently I am growing S. epidermidis biofilms in a capillary flow cell reactor. These biofilms will be studied using MRM (Magnetic Resonance Microscopy) in the MSU MRM Lab. MRM has the potential to allow in-vivo 3-D mapping of both the structure and physiological function of the biofilm. My biofilms will also be used to investigate the use of novel MRM contrast agents.

Ben Unterreiner

B.S. Candidate, Chemical Engineering

I am an undergraduate in chemical and biological engineering and have been working here at the CBE since March 2005. My research deals with the penetration of antimicrobials in dental biofilms, and is sponsored by Colgate-Palmolive. So far I have really enjoyed my time here and have found the Control Lab to be a very pleasant working environment.

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