Understanding the Breakdown of Man Made Pollutants in Motile Bacteria

Student Name: Christie Ho

UCD Department: Department of Microbiology

UCD Mentor: Dr. Rebecca Parales

The lab seeks to understand the breakdown of manmade pollutants in motile bacteria, which are able to move towards the source of the pollutant and degrade the compound. Specifically, Christie is researching how a certain strain of bacteria can detect the presence of a specific compound, known as phenylacetate – a common compound found in many plastics and perfumes. Applications of this research include reducing the accumulation of environmental pollutants and minimize the effects of pollutants, helping preserve the planet.