In my lab, we study the biochemical pathways and metabolic requirements that enable tumor survival and growth,  spanning the areas of cancer metabolism, the tumor microenvironment and immunometabolism.  We used Biolog’s PMM plates and the OmniLog™ system to  determine novel nutrients utilized by Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA).

One of my career goals is to increase our understanding of how anthropogenic activities influence ecology and evolution of microbial populations. I’ve been using Biolog’s EcoPlate for many years now to study microbial communities in various settings including Waste Water Treatment Plants and recently cave ecosystems, and even classroom settings through course-based undergraduate research experiences.

In my lab, we focus on using clinically relevant systems such as 3-Dimensional co-cultures to study cancer and its interaction with the microenvironment.  Specifically, pathways involved in redox signaling and DNA repair through APE1/Ref-1 under conditions of hypoxia are interrogated as therapeutic targets.  We use the Biolog’s S-1 MitoPlates to evaluate effects of Ref- inhibition on mitochondrial function.

The research in my lab focuses on microbial indicators of soil quality and microbiological markers of ecological soil status and health. Our interests concern plant-soil-microbiome interactions, biotechnological solutions for diagnostics, control and monitoring of key phytopathogens in sustainable organic agriculture. We use many of Biolog’s products: EcoPlates, PMs, MT2, GEN III & FFplates as well as MicroStations, OmniLog, and more.

My studies focus on Legionella bacteria and their interactions with the host cells. We used Biolog’s OmniLog system for metabolic and phenotypic profiling along with 16S rRNA identification to investigate the effect of an insect antimicrobial protein, apolipophorin III (apoLp-III), against two newly isolated, identified and characterized clinical strains of Staphylococcus spp.