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This version of NSU News has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of NSU News, visit news.nova.edu.
This version of SharkBytes has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of SharkBytes, visit sharkbytes.nova.edu.
Join Discussion on Research to Develop Bacteria to Control Human Parasitic Nematodes, Feb. 16
As part of the new Science Colloquium Series, the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences invites the NSU community to a discussion of research aimed at eradicating the threat of certain parasites to humans.
“Engineering a Synthetic Nematode-Killing Bacteria”
Robert Smith, Ph.D., assistant professor at the college
Monday, Feb. 16
Noon–1:00 p.m.
Carl DeSantis Building | Room 1048, 1049
Parasitic worms are the most common infectious agent worldwide and cause significant human morbidity and mortality. The vast majority of parasitic-worm infections are caused by nematodes, which feast on bacteria during their soil-dwelling larval stage prior to infecting humans.
While a few anthelmintics are available, and sanitation-based prevention programs are being implemented to reduce nematode infection, the effectiveness of such measures is low on a global scale.
Coupled with the rising incidence of anthelmintic-resistant nematodes, there is a dire need to develop novel methods to eradicate nematodes prior to infecting humans. Using synthetic biology, the speaker engineered a strain of Escherichia coli to act as a biocontrol agent against soil-dwelling nematodes. The engineered bacteria consists of a toxin module that kills the nematode upon ingestion and an attraction module, which serves to attract the nematodes.
Guided by mathematical modeling, the speaker intends to dynamically regulate the toxin and
attraction modules to achieve high-killing efficacy against the model nematode C. elegans. Overall, the results establish a proof of concept-engineered bacteria for the long-term goal of developing bacteria with broad and specific activity against human parasitic nematodes.
About the Series
The Science Colloquium Series, sponsored by the college’s Division of Math, Science, and Technology, provides an open forum for sharing scientific research and illuminating topics of current interest. The series features presentations by NSU science faculty and students, as well as invited guests from the greater scientific community.
For more information, contact Bryan Armentrout, Ph.D., assistant professor at the college, at (954) 262-8076.