Dr. Pierce
Assistant Professor of Biology
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Research
Research
Tumors in plants are often caused by the pathogenic soil bacterium, Rhizobium radiobacter (formerly Agrobacterium tumefaciens). To cause these tumors, R. radiobacter transfers oncogenic DNA into its host plant, where it is integrated into the genome and expressed. This process is unique, as it is the only known instance of regular inter-kingdom gene transfer, and continues to be used by countless plant scientists for creating transgenic plants. Our lab seeks to understand how these bacteria commit to this process, starting with the reception of signals released by a wounded plant and resulting in a molecular signaling cascade that leads to the expression of virulence genes in the bacteria. Additionally, through engineering R. radiobacter as fluorescent probes, we are creating spatio-temporal maps of the signaling landscape using various host plants. Through the use of botanical, fluorescence microscopy, and molecular biology tools, we study this mechanism to uncover how bacteria evolved these pathogenic strategies.
Areas of Expertise
Areas of Expertise
Molecular Biology
Bacterial Pathogenesis
Tumorigenesis
Synthetic Biology
Education
Education
Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University
Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University
Cell, Molecular, Developmental Biology and Biophysics
B.S., Davidson College
B.S., Davidson College
Biology
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