Research Summary:

1. A number of projects relating to insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) I am engaged in a number of projects pertaining to the isolation and utilization of Bacillus thuringiensis for the control of insect pests, particularly soil nematodes and mosquitoes. Projects include:

• Characterizing novel proteins which may be related to known Cry and Cyt toxins
• Searching for environmental isolates with novel properties.
• Characterizing rare isolates with attached crystals.
• Characterization of isolates with DNA homology to a nematocidal gene.
• Determination of genes involved in disease

2. Molecular Diagnostics - I am involved broadly with design/utilization of DNA-based diagnostic tests for:

• (i) the detection of organisms and their virulence factors that affect the health of humans and animals. The focus is on organisms that are difficult to diagnose by conventional methods.
• (ii) the detection of mutations that are the underlying cause of genetic diseases and cancer.

3. The identification and characterization of bacteria with spore-associated appendages - I am part of a research group that has recently identified a new class of bacteria with appendages arising from parasporal bodies. We are currently characterizing two unique isolates from this group and screening environmental samples for others. In particular we are interested in answering fundamental questions such as whether these parasporal bodies contain known toxin proteins, the function of the appendages, identifying gene(s) coding for these structures and whether they are associated with pathogenesis.