Biofilms are aggregates of cells that develop on natural and synthetic surfaces and interfaces. Some biofilms are beneficial, but many are associated with pathology, for example when they develop in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients or on catheters. Biofilms also introduce industrial challenges, for example when they clog water systems or food manufacturing facilities. The biofilm shields its cells with a network of self-secreted biopolymers, making the biofilm cells significantly less susceptible to antimicrobial treatment relative to single nomadic cells.

The extracellular network, termed the extracellular matrix (ECM), is composed of nucleic acids, proteins and polysaccharides. We study the ECM of the model organism for biofilm formation, the Gram positive and soil bacterium, Bacillus subtilis. The major ECM components that we are interested in are the proteins, TasA and TapA, and the polysaccharides, EPS, and Levan. In particular, we focus on the ECM composition, the interactions between the components that govern the ECM formation and structure, and the effect of the ECM biopolymers on biomineralization.

Our research focuses on the following topics: