Spectroscopy Studies of Biofilms Formed by Sinorhizobium meliloti
Author: Santosh Bajagain
Faculty Supervisor: Huizhong Xu
Department: Physics & Astronomy
Biofilm is a multicellular community of microorganisms that are stably attached to a surface and frequently encased in an extracellular matrix of secreted biopolymers. Cells in biofilms develop greater resistance to antimicrobial agents,and contribute to persistent infections. Thus, it is of paramount importance to understand the intricacies of biofilm formation, structure, and resistance mechanisms, which will enable us to devise effective strategies to mitigate biofilm-related challenges. In this study, Raman Spectroscopy, a powerful analytical technique enabling nondestructive characterization of molecular vibrations, is employed to study biofilms formed by Sinorhizobium meliloti, a type of alpha-proteobacteria. By studying the spatial distribution of adhesin molecules within the biofilm, we aim to shed light on the molecular mechanisms that control adhesin production and biofilm formation in alpha-proteobacteria.