Halmos Alumnae, Faculty, Students Publish Research on Virulence

In September 2021, Halmos College of Arts and Sciences master’s graduate Rebecca Quinn and a team of graduate and undergraduate students from the Department of Biological Sciences were published in the American Society for Microbiology Journal.  Under the guidance of Halmos Department of Biological Sciences faculty member Robert Smith, Ph.D., Rebecca Quinn led work on virulence factors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Quinn graduated from the NSU Master’s in Biological Sciences program in the summer of 2020 and is now a vaccine R&D associate scientist with Pfizer.

Research involved using the Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 bacterium, which is of increasing concern in clinical healthcare, to study environmental factors that affect virulence.  Pyoverdine, a virulence factor produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is essential for infection in humans.  The study found that disturbing spatial arrangements in some P. aeruginosa strains can reduce the amount of pyoverdine produced, thus reducing their ability to infect people.  Results of this research could lead to new treatments and reduced infection rates.

The American Society for Microbiology is an organization of professional scientists that explores the complete spectrum of microbiology including bacteria, viruses, algae, protozoa, and fungi.   With over 30,000 members, including researchers, educators and health professionals, ASM is one of the largest life science societies in the world.

Posted 11/14/21