Description: Pigmented microbes are all around us! They produce different pigments to help protect themselves against environmental stressors such as UV rays and competition with other microbes. Bacterial pigments can also have many utilities in our world. Some pigments can kill other microbes, so they have potential as novel antimicrobial agents. Other potential uses include sunscreen, antioxidant, and even in the textile industry as a sustainable and environmentally friendly way to dye clothes. This CURE will engage students in hypothesis-driven research to investigate how pigmented bacteria and their pigments can help create a better world. In addition, students will perform whole genome sequencing of their isolates and will contribute their work to genomic databases.
Skills Gained: Culturing using selective media, DNA extraction, PCR, BLAST analysis for specie ID, Interpretation of MALDI-ToF results for specie ID, extraction and characterization of pigments, thin-layer chromatography, antibacterial screening, bioassays, next generation sequencing including library prep and experience using bioinformatic pipelines to assemble a genome. The lab will conclude with a textile dyeing experiment using live bacteria.