The Tseng Lab studies bacterial biofilms, which are complex communities of bacteria surrounded by a communally produced, protective matrix. A majority of bacteria in the environment reside in such communities, making them ecologically important. Additionally, because the biofilm protects its residents so effectively, biofilm associated infections are extremely difficult to eradicate, with human impacts ranging from economic detriment in industrial and agricultural settings, to potentially fatal outcomes in clinical settings.
Our lab focuses on the protein component of this matrix, using the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a model organism. Having identified promising matrix proteins, we aim to characterize the roles of these proteins in biofilm formation and antimicrobial tolerance, using advanced techniques in proteomics, genetics, molecular biology, and microscopy.