Research

Bacteria seldom experience ideal growth conditions, as their environments are constantly changing. One of the key factors influencing bacterial behaviour is the rheology of the growth medium, which affects critical properties such as motility, metabolism, shape, and size.

In our lab, we focus on altering the rheological properties of bacterial growth media to study how these changes impact bacterial physiology. By exploring these dynamic interactions, we aim to gain deeper insights into the adaptive responses of bacteria and their underlying mechanisms.

While phenotypic changes in eukaryotic systems in response to physical cues are often easily observable, capturing such changes in bacterial systems remains challenging. Although evolution is typically understood through the lens of chemical processes, the role of physical forces in driving bacterial evolution is less clearly understood.

In our lab, we leverage the short life cycle of bacteria and apply selective evolution to investigate metabolic and epigenetic changes. By exploring how physical cues influence these processes, we aim to shed light on their contribution to bacterial adaptation and evolution.