Microbiology Research

• Antimicrobial drugs
  • Inhibiting growth
  • Inhibiting quorum sensing
  • Development of new drugs

• Growing bacteria and yeast
• Performing antimicrobial assays
• Quantifying the expression of the gene(s) that code(s) for the signal molecule used in bacterial communication
• Identifying and isolating microorganisms producing antimicrobial compounds

• Understanding and characterization of novel bacteriophage.

• Bioinformatics
• Microbial cultivation and phage propagation
• RNA extraction
• PCR
• qPCR
• Gel electrophoresis
• Presentations

Lee M, Puglisi KM, UMBC STEM-BUILD Cohort 1, Erill I, Caruso SM. 2018. Complete genome sequences of HonestAbe, Anthony, and Taffo16, three Cluster C Bacillus cereus group bacteriophages. Genome Announcements 6(25):e00493-18.


Wang DB, Sun MQ, Shao HB, Li Y, Meng X, Liu ZY, Wang M. 2015. Characterization and genome sequencing of a novel bacteriophage PH101 infecting Pseudoalteromonas marina BH101 from the Yellow Sea of China. Current Microbiology: 71(5):594-600.

• Detection of antibiotic resistant bacteria in local water supplies.
• Detection of disease of amphibians and reptiles.

• Microbial culturing
• Molecular techniques (DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis)
• Data collection
• Data entry
• Data analysis
• Presentations at conferences (local, regional, and national)

Leavell, M., Morgan, J., Flood, M., and Bhat, S. (2018) "Quantification of extended-spectrum-beta lactamaseproducing Enterobacteriaceae from water sources in Hall County, Georgia, USA," Papers & Publications: Interdisciplinary Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 7, Article 9.