Students part of oyster research team

A trio of students and two faculty members in the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Department of Biology are researching oysters from the Georgia coast to check for the presence of vibrio bacteria and for the level, if any, of antibiotic resistance in these bacteria.  

Dr. Nancy Dalman, department head of biology, and Dr. Dobrusia Bialonska, associate professor of environmental microbiology, are leading the project that should provide useful insights for both policymakers and business leaders seeking to expand the oyster farming industry in Georgia.

Vibrio bacteria can lead to infection in people who eat "raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Students have had a chance to collect oyster samples in Sapelo Island, Georgia, a rural and presumably clean site, and Brunswick, Georgia, which is nearby, urban and historically very polluted, and to test them for both bacteria and antibiotic resistance in the bacteria. The expectation is that Brunswick oysters could have higher antibiotic resistance.

Alyssa Pold, a junior from Acworth, Georgia, pursuing a degree in biology, enjoys the chance to go to the Georgia coast every two months to collect samples. She said the connections with faculty and chance to form bonds with her fellow students have been valuable parts of her experience. Pold also appreciates the variety.  

"The fact that I can do something so environmental and not just in the lab is great," Pold said. "I've loved it ever since I've been involved." 

Angela Ayala, a junior from Newnan, Georgia, pursuing a degree in biology, is analyzing an enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine and serves as a biomarker for pollutant exposure. Her work aims to discover the baseline health level of oysters in Sapelo Island. The trial-and-error element was rewarding for Ayala.  

"I had to tweak my methods," Ayala said. "After I got the method to work, it's been smooth sailing." 

Jessica Howard, a senior from Dawsonville, Georgia, pursuing a degree in biology, is examining whether the oysters express toxin genes that could cause seafood-borne illness. Howard wrote a Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities grant application that secured additional funding for the team's research.  

"I have very supportive mentors who allow me to find my own skills. They allow me to work really hard to figure things out before telling me what to do, letting me develop my own protocols," Howard said. "Then they come in and help me." 

All three students presented in spring 2024 at the Association of Southeastern Biologists annual conference.