Binghamton
University researcher
discovers molecule that may help combat biofilms
Dr. David Davies
In
the late 1990s, Dr.
David Davies, a microbiologist at Binghamton University,
discovered that bacteria communicate with each other.
These communication molecules are part of what makes
the formation
of biofilms, or colonies of microorganisms that include
bacteria, possible. Now he has built upon that research
and isolated a molecule that takes advantage of that
cell-to-cell communication and can tell the biofilm to
disperse, or break apart. The bacteria are then much
more susceptible to treatment with antibiotics or by
the body's own immune system. Being able to successfully
disperse these biofilm colonies may mean that doctors
will have a greater weapon in the fight against a number
of diseases.
In
this YouTube video by WSKG, David Davies, assistant
professor of biology
at Binghamton University, describes biofilms and experiments underway
to learn more about them:
This series
of slides illustrates the formation of biofilms and
the effects of the dispersion molecule that Dr.
Davies has discovered:
As
part of WSKG's five-part series on genetic science and
research in our area, Crystal Sarakas spoke with Dr.
Davies about his research into biofilms and what effect
that research may have in the future.
Transcript
of radio report
Listen
now (9
minutes):
