Quorum Sensing in Bradyrhizobium japonicum
Department
Biological Sciences
Major
Biological Sciences
Research Advisor
Westenberg, David J.
Advisor's Department
Biological Sciences
Funding Source
Missouri S&T OURE Fellows Program
Abstract
Bradyrhizobium japonicum is a soil dwelling bacterium that is known to nodulate soybean roots and conduct nitrogen fixation for the plant. We hypothesize that for this to happen, a process known as quorum sensing is important. Quorum sensing is a density dependent process, and it is the way the way that B. japonicum communicate with each other. We predict that B. japonicum must have a gene that controls production of the quorum sensing molecule. By finding this gene, it may be possible to use this information to better use B. japonicum as a natural fertilizer. Companies currently sell pre-inoculated seedlings that grow and nodulate efficiently in the lab, but in real world application the plants do not nodulate efficiently. We believe that this may be because the plants are pre-inoculated at high concentrations, which allows quorum sensing molecules to be released at high concentrations. This high concentration of quorum sensing molecules may hinder the ability of the bacteria to nodulate efficien
Biography
Adrian is from Corydon, IA and is a senior majoring in Biological Sciences at Missouri S&T. She will graduate in May 2015, and will be attending the School of Clinical Laboratory Science at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. She works for the Missouri S&T Police as a Campus Service Officer, along with doing research in Dr. Westenberg’s lab. She would like to thank Dr. Westenberg for the opportunity to conduct research in his lab.
Presentation Type
OURE Fellows Final Oral Presentation
Document Type
Presentation
Location
Gasconade Room
Presentation Date
15 Apr 2015, 1:00 pm - 1:20 pm
Quorum Sensing in Bradyrhizobium japonicum
Gasconade Room
Bradyrhizobium japonicum is a soil dwelling bacterium that is known to nodulate soybean roots and conduct nitrogen fixation for the plant. We hypothesize that for this to happen, a process known as quorum sensing is important. Quorum sensing is a density dependent process, and it is the way the way that B. japonicum communicate with each other. We predict that B. japonicum must have a gene that controls production of the quorum sensing molecule. By finding this gene, it may be possible to use this information to better use B. japonicum as a natural fertilizer. Companies currently sell pre-inoculated seedlings that grow and nodulate efficiently in the lab, but in real world application the plants do not nodulate efficiently. We believe that this may be because the plants are pre-inoculated at high concentrations, which allows quorum sensing molecules to be released at high concentrations. This high concentration of quorum sensing molecules may hinder the ability of the bacteria to nodulate efficien
