BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//jEvents 2.0 for Joomla//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:34ea9c0fce032974238387d8f64adfc5 CATEGORIES:Physical Chemistry Seminar CREATED:20170908T125059 SUMMARY:Physical Chemistry Seminar: Dr. Jing Yan DESCRIPTION:
Friday, September 8, 2017
12:00PM, Prote omics 120
"Biophysical Principles of Biof ilm Formation"
Biofilms are surface-associated bacterial communities
embedded in an extracellular
matrix. Biofilm cells are more resistant
to antibiotics than their planktonic counterparts,
which is a major pr
oblem in the context of chronic infections. Investigations so far have
focused on the genetic and regulatory features driving biofilm formation.
However, still
lacking is a fundamental biophysical understanding of h
ow bacteria, in time and space,
build these three-dimensional structur
es that attach to surfaces and resist mechanical and
chemical perturba
tions.
In this talk, I will present our recent progresses in understa
nding
the biophysical principles of biofilm formation using Vibrio cho
lerae (the causal agent of
cholera) as the model organism. We develope
d the first technology capable of imaging
three-dimensional, living, g
rowing biofilms with single-cell resolution. By combining the
single-c
ell imaging technology with molecular genetics and biochemistry, we discove
red
how bacteria build biofilms cell by cell and how the biofilm archi
tecture is influenced by
specific matrix components and by external st
imuli including osmotic pressure differences
and fluctuations in nutri
ents. We also established platforms to measure biofilm material
proper
ties such as shear modulus and surface adhesion strength, and based on thes
e
mechanical data, we developed a new biofilm removal and transfer tec
hnology. Our
ultimate goal is provide a comprehensive understanding of
how bacteria, given their
limited material choices and energy constra
ints, cooperate in space and time to synthesize
a unique, living soft
material: the biofilm.
Friday, September 8, 2017< /p>
12:00PM, Proteomics 120
"Bi ophysical Principles of Biofilm Formation"
Biofilms are surface-assoc
iated bacterial communities embedded in an extracellular
matrix. Biofi
lm cells are more resistant to antibiotics than their planktonic counterpar
ts,
which is a major problem in the context of chronic infections. Inv
estigations so far have
focused on the genetic and regulatory features
driving biofilm formation. However, still
lacking is a fundamental bi
ophysical understanding of how bacteria, in time and space,
build thes
e three-dimensional structures that attach to surfaces and resist mechanica
l and
chemical perturbations.
In this talk, I will present our r
ecent progresses in understanding
the biophysical principles of biofil
m formation using Vibrio cholerae (the causal agent of
cholera) as the
model organism. We developed the first technology capable of imaging
three-dimensional, living, growing biofilms with single-cell resolution. By
combining the
single-cell imaging technology with molecular genetics
and biochemistry, we discovered
how bacteria build biofilms cell by ce
ll and how the biofilm architecture is influenced by
specific matrix c
omponents and by external stimuli including osmotic pressure differences
and fluctuations in nutrients. We also established platforms to measure
biofilm material
properties such as shear modulus and surface adhesion
strength, and based on these
mechanical data, we developed a new biof
ilm removal and transfer technology. Our
ultimate goal is provide a co
mprehensive understanding of how bacteria, given their
limited materia
l choices and energy constraints, cooperate in space and time to synthesize
a unique, living soft material: the biofilm.