Investigation of Microbial Motility

Digital holographic microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and other imaging techniques are utilized by our lab to better understanding microbial motility in the context of life detection and virulence. Life detection research focuses on distinguishing biotic swimming from abiotic motion in laboratory cultures and extreme environments that can act as analogs to off world environments. Specifically this work uses advancements in optical systems and alterations in the environmental conditions to attempt to improve our ability to detection swimming microbes. Virulence research focuses on how microgravity alters motility fo microorganisms and how that my be linked to virulence.