RESEARCH

The varied research interests of the Biology Department faculty provide King's Biology Majors with opportunities to gain experience with a wide variety of research approaches and techniques:

Dr. David Glick, Associate Professor of Biology, a microbiologist, uses the newly acquired DNA sequencer for sizing and characterizing DNA fragments from bacterial samples in order to determine bacterial diversity in a variety of samples such as soil and water. Dr. Glick also uses gas chromatography to analyze bacterial lipids as a means of identification of species within a population of bacteria. Dr. Glick also uses computer modeling programs to analyze complex events in biological systems that involve multiple components and variables. Such model systems provide King's students with valuable experience in application of computer technology toward understanding biological problems.

Dr. Ann Yezerski, Associate Professor of Biology, was the recent recipient of a $100,000 grant from the George I. Alden Trust for the establishment of a mobile computer laboratory designed to provide computer integration for all biology courses and to serve as the hub for the Genomics Center which will provide students the ability to study all areas of genetic analysis. The computers have available the latest software packages applicable to the life sciences, especially the rapidly growing area of bioinformatics which integrates molecular biology with worldwide databases of gene sequences in order to extract and apply information to many areas of life sciences research. Dr. Yezerski's research utilizes the flour beetle as a model system to investigate and map the genes that may be involved in physiology and behavior. The genetic work generates data that requires analysis using bioinformatics and provides students with experience in the use of these new and important computer-assisted techniques. Students who have worked with Dr. Yezerski have presented their research at scientific conferences, and at the U.S. governments "Posters on the Hill" program, where selected students present their research to members of Congress. In addition, some students are also co-authors on papers published in scientific research journals. Explains Dr. Yezerski: "The beauty of small schools like King's is that undergraduates are getting full attention from their professors. ….they're doing real research work"

Dr. James Slock, Professor of Biology, and Director of the Molecular Biology Program at King's, recently secured a $100,000 matching grant from Beckman Coulter Company and Sinofi-Pasteur for the purchase of a DNA Sequencer the cornerstone technology of the Genome Center at King's College, whereby DNA and gene analysis information can be generated and analyzed using the computer capability of the new Biology Computing Center. Not only will the new technology provide King's students experience with state-of-the-art technology, but the Biology Department intends to make the technology available to high school students and their teachers by way of summer workshops. Dr. Slock's research uses the model system of the luxR gene regulation of bioluminescence in the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri to study genetic control mechanisms. These studies utilize many molecular biological techniques and provide students with valuable experience in the application of such techniques to biological studies. Dr. Slock's students regularly participate in the annual Thomas Jefferson University Student Research Day program, where undergraduate from all over Pennsylvania present their research to a panel of scientific experts who judge the quality of the research as well as the students' presentation of their work. On several occasions, King's students have placed first in the judging. Several King's students have also been co-authors with Dr. Slock on research publications in scientific journals.

Dr. Robert Paoletti, Professor of Biology and Chair of the Biology Department, has developed and maintains a cell culture laboratory facility that provides students with the experience of using living cells for the study of a wide range of biological processes. The students' opportunity to learn and use cell culture techniques is not readily available to undergraduates at most colleges and universities and affords King's students the opportunity to develop these techniques which have wide application in many areas of life science.

Dr. Brian Mangan, Assistant Professor of Biology and Director of the Environmental Science Program at King's is an environmental biologist whose primary research interests involve the population and community ecology of rivers. Through field and laboratory experiences, Dr. Mangan's students learn to assess and monitor the environmental health of ecosystems using data generated from studies of weather and climate, variety of organisms, energy fluctuations, environmental toxic agents and bioremediation. The research work, supported by several grants totaling more than $230,000.00, involves student collaboration with many local community officials and government agencies, emphasizes the multidisciplinary and multidimensional nature of environmental science, and provides students with valuable experience in these interactions.Dr. Mangan founded the Susquehanna River Institute, which provides a formal venue for industry, the community and educators to jointly consider all aspects related to the maintenance and well-being of the Susquehanna River and watershed.

Dr. Garrett Barr, Assistant Professor of Biology, uses digital cameras, image-processing and analyzing software to measure changes in larval salamander morphology in response to interactions with other organisms, especially predators, in their immediate environment. Dr. Barr has commented on the research program at King's: "It seems to me that King's is different from many other schools because all Biology Majors are required to participate in actual research projects, in my view an incredibly valuable educational experience."

Dr. Jeramia Ory, Assistant Professor of Biology, applies strategies and techniques from genetics, biochemistry and bioinformatics to address the role that metals play in the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans, a common soil fungus, normally harmless, that can cause serious and sometimes fatal lung infection in individuals with compromised immune systems. Because current treatments are limited, Dr. Ory is utilizing genetic databases for the organism as a strategy to discover molecular pathways that the fungus uses to import metals, necessary for establishing an infection. The long- term goal is to determine ways to block the metal import pathways as a means of developing medications that can treat infections.

Dr. Chad Welsh, Assistant Professor of Biology, main research topic examines the Host:Pathogen Interation in bacterial infections. One line of research examines the serum antibody responses to newly identified oral bacterial antigens. Using a recombinant protein expression system, antigens from Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) are used to determine the level of serum antibodies specific for that antigen in dental patients. It has been shown that presence and pathogenicity of both Pg and Aa correlates to the severity of periodontal disease in dental patients. This project is attempting to determine the correlation between the levels of antibody responses and antigens to the severity of disease progression. A second project will be examining the alteration of host intracellular signaling pathways by an intracellular bacterial pathogen. What signals are altered by Mycobacterium avium ssp avium for it to survive within the intracellular vacuole of the protist Tetrahymena pyriformis will be examined.