OVERVIEW: Our lab focuses on three areas of research: Neural Development; Phage Genetics; and Synthetic Biology. Although seemingly disparate in nature, these are synergistic with one another and share common approaches and methodologies. For example, synthetic biology utilizes phage tools too address questions of neural development and regeneration.
NEURAL DEVELOPMENT: The overarching question that defines the research interests of the neural development section of my laboratory is how cells progressively acquire and maintain their unique identity during early vertebrate embryonic development. We wish to understand the continuous interplay between the cell-cell interactions, gene regulation, and environmental effects that mediate the process by which embryonic cells adopt and maintain a specific fate in the face of continual perturbations.
Our focus in on the nervous system and on understanding the molecular mechanisms by which the profound cellular diversity present in the brain and spinal cord is generated. Of particular interest is the process by which neural cells acquire a specific neurotransmitter phenotype that allows the cell to become part of a functional network of neuronal signaling. Also of interest is the early and often continuing, plasticity of this cell fate--and the limits to this plasticity when the embryo is challenged with environmental perturbations such as physical perturbations, perturbations of the Notch signaling pathway, and mercury exposure. We are particularly interested in the role of calcium and other ions, and in electrical signaling mechanisms.
Because of the large embryos, external fertilization, easy access to the presumptive nervous system at early stages, and the well-developed embryology and molecular biology, we employ the amphibian Xenopus laevis as the model organism for our experiments … although we have also employed zebra finch, zebrafish, and murine models.
PHAGE GENETICS: As a participant in the SEAPHAGES (a program for freshmen to identify novel phages from environmental samples - https://seaphages.org) program for 14 years, our lab has identified a number of novel actinobacteriophages – phages that have completely novel properties, genes, and mechanisms of infection. We are particularly interested in mycobacteriophages – which are of high interest due to the pathology of many of the hosts they infect. We are investigating these phages for their applications in biotechnology and synthetic biology as well as for their intrinsic interest – learning about the incredible diversity of environmental phages.
SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY: Since 2014 I have served as the faculty advisor for the W&M iGEM team. iGEM (international Genetically Engineered Machine - https://igem.org) is the leading organization for synthetic biology and sponsors an annual competition for designing a genetic device or devices that address a global problem. Instead of copper or silicon, these circuits are made of DNA! Many of the W&M iGEM projects have led to interesting discoveries and follow-up questions that our lab is now pursuing. We are particularly interested in doing the basic science that will expand the range of synthetic biology applications, making synthetic biology “fieldable.” In particular, our lab is engaged in making sensors for a variety of environmental applications.