SHIKUMA LAB RESEARCH
Undergraduate student, Katherine Shaw, presents an overview of the work performed in the Shikuma Lab.
Check out our ScienceGlass YouTube channel for more outreach videos like this one.
Check out our ScienceGlass YouTube channel for more outreach videos like this one.
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BACTERIA-INDUCED METAMORPHOSIS IS WIDESPREAD
Bacteria-induced metamorphosis is critical for coral reef formation and causes the costly accumulation of encrusting organisms on the hulls of ships (i.e., biofouling). However, the molecular interactions that mediate bacteria-stimulated development remain enigmatic. Read more about bacteria-mediated metamorphosis in our recent publication: PNAS DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1603142113. |
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BACTERIA WIELD HARPOON-LIKE STRUCTURES TO INDUCE METAMORPHOSIS
We identified a harpoon-like structure that induces metamorphosis. These structures are related to bacterial viruses (the tail of bacteriophage). We named these structures MACs (Metamorphosis Associated Contractile structures). Read more about MACs in our recent publication: Science DOI: 10.1126/science.1246794. |
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A MODEL FOR MICROBE-ANIMAL INTERACTIONS
We study the tubeworm, Hydroides elegans. Larvae of Hydroides require interaction with bacteria to metamorphose and complete their lifecycle. Studying a simple bacteria-animal interaction will expand our fundamental understanding of how bacteria benefit animals and potentially yield new methods to manipulate microbes for beneficial purposes. |
Our Research is Funded By The Following Organizations
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