As part of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Seminar Series, Oberlin's own Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Lisa M. Ryno will present her sabbatical report on the topic "Using intra- and extracellular leverage points in E. coli to influence biofilm growth, composition, and antibiotic tolerance."

The seminar will be preceded by a light reception at 4:30 p.m. in the David Love Lounge.

Sponsored by the Luke E. Steiner Lecture Fund.

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Abstract:

Antibiotic resistance has reduced the efficacy of current antibiotics and led to livestock culling, compromised crops, and increased human deaths. Resistance to antibiotics is heightened for bacteria in their sedentary, biofilm state, highlighting the importance of understanding how to control and disrupt biofilm formation. Our laboratory explores how the activation of different signaling pathways and the availability of environmental nutrients influence biofilm formation and composition in bacteria. Recently, we have learned that the signaling pathway controlled by the transcription factor FliA, which regulates late-stage flagellar assembly and chemotaxis, significantly increases biofilm growth at higher temperatures. We are currently examining how overexpression of FliA and the heat shock transcription factor, RpoH, influence the tolerance of E. coli to different classes of antibiotics. We are also studying how various sugars impact biofilm formation and composition using UV-visible growth, biochemical assays, confocal scanning laser microscopy, and whole-transcriptome analysis. We aim to understand how different metabolic and signaling pathways are interlinked with biofilm formation and composition. Moreover, we will identify leverage points in these linked metabolic and signaling pathways that could work synergistically to eradicate or promote biofilm formation.