Biosensor Strain Construction
Department
Biological Sciences
Major
Biological Sciences
Research Advisor
Westenberg, David J.
Advisor's Department
Biological Sciences
Funding Source
Biological Sciences Department
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to create a method to determine the modality in which E. coli bacteria is damaged through the application of metallic nanoparticles. By constructing a biosensor strain of E. coli. The form of damage can be determined based on the hypothesis that when the cell is damaged, a bioluminescence will occur as a product of the promoterless lux operon which has been fused within the induction of a biosensor promotor which has been fused to the lux operon . Previous experiments have successfully constructed such a biosensor for the purpose of determining antibiotic damage modality, however in this experiment, the successful construction of a biosensor is the intention to be used in a future examination of the effects of metallic nanoparticles on an E. coli biosensor strain. In turn, these effects will be analyzed for the eventual purpose of nanoparticle use in the medical field as a disinfectant and bacterial infection treatment as opposed to antibiotics which bacteria are gaining resistance to.
Biography
Alex Daniels grew up in the small town of Troy, Missouri and moved to Rolla in 2019. Presently, she is a senior at Missouri S&T working towards her Bachelor's of Arts in Biological Sciences with an emphasis in Secondary Education and a minor in Psychology. She has worked on several undergraduate research projects including "The Effects of pH on Bacterial Growth," "Application of Copper Nanoparticles to Legionella Bacteria," and her current project, "Biosensor Strain Construction." Alex is active in the Residential Life and Education Department here on campus and plans to work in the research industry before moving into teaching.
Presentation Type
OURE Fellows Final Oral Presentation
Document Type
Presentation
Location
Ozark Room
Presentation Date
14 Apr 2022, 10:00 am - 10:30 am
Biosensor Strain Construction
Ozark Room
The purpose of this study is to create a method to determine the modality in which E. coli bacteria is damaged through the application of metallic nanoparticles. By constructing a biosensor strain of E. coli. The form of damage can be determined based on the hypothesis that when the cell is damaged, a bioluminescence will occur as a product of the promoterless lux operon which has been fused within the induction of a biosensor promotor which has been fused to the lux operon . Previous experiments have successfully constructed such a biosensor for the purpose of determining antibiotic damage modality, however in this experiment, the successful construction of a biosensor is the intention to be used in a future examination of the effects of metallic nanoparticles on an E. coli biosensor strain. In turn, these effects will be analyzed for the eventual purpose of nanoparticle use in the medical field as a disinfectant and bacterial infection treatment as opposed to antibiotics which bacteria are gaining resistance to.
