Strap lab alumni
Graduate Students
Bruna Caroline Marques-Gonçalves (PhD)
(2016) Congratulations Dr. Bruna on the successful completion of your PhD. Thesis title: Evaluation of microorganism performance in hemicellulosic hydrolyzate detoxification and sugarcane bagasse lignin removal for ethanol production. Defended at the Department of Biotechnology at the Universidade de São Paulo at the Escola de Engenharia de Lorena, Brazil. |
Honours thesis students
- Hiba Khan (September 2022 - April 2023). Characterization of an exporter mutant in Komagataeibacter xylinus.
- Taylor Ruzgys (Sept 2021 - April 2022). Clean deletion of a transcription factor involved in bacterial cellulose regulation.
- Osama Khalid (Sept 2021 - November 2021). Clean deletion of an uncharacterized response regulator in Komagataeibacter hansenii.
- Terry-Ann Hemings (Sept 2020 - April 2021). Investigating the effect of two transcriptional regulators in Komagataeibacter xylinus and hansenii.
- Sylvia (Geeta) Harnarain (Sept 2020 - April 2021). In silico characterization of non-classically secreted conserved hypothetical proteins in Komagataeibacter species.
- Intisar Qamar (Sept 2019 - April 2020). Mutagenesis and characterization of a putative free methionine-R-sulfoxide reductase in Komagataeibacter spp.
- Aryaan Khan (Sept 2019 - April 2020). Complementation of a Komagataeibacter hansenii methionine-R-sulfoxide reductase mutant.
- Justin Saunders (Sept 2017 - April 2018). Analyzing the role of signal transduction systems in regulating cellulose synthesis in Komagataeibacter hansenii.
- Sheena Gopaul (Sept 2017 - Dec 2018). Investigation of the phytohormone response pathway in Komagataeibacter species.
- Sierra Dargan (Sept 2016 - April 2017). The ethylene response, growth, proteomic comparison and fixK knockout analysis of two Komagataeibacter species.
- Jon Kalmyer (Sept 2016 - April 2017). Identification and investigation of putative sRNAs in Komagataeibacter hansenii ATCC 23769.
- Michael Greenberg (Sept 2015 - April 2016). The influence of extracellular RNA on bacterial cellulose produced by Komagataeibacter xylinus and Komagataeibacter hansenii.
- Jean Nsanzeryaka (Sept 2015 - April 2016). Influence of eDNA and spent media on pellicle production in Komagataeibacter.
- Andrew Varley (Sept 2014 - April 2015). The influence of plant associated compounds on bacterial cellulose and enzyme regulation in Gluconacetobacter xylinus and Gluconacetobacter hansenii.
- Keisha Deoraj (Sept 2014 - April 2015). The effect of pH and bioavailable calcium on the growth rate and protein production of two strains of lactic acid bacteria.
- Joseph Mercado (Sept 2013 - Nov 2013). Analysis of Gluconacetobacter xylinus cellulose production mutants.
- Cassandra Scott (Sept 2012 - April 2013). Co-supervised with L. Trevani. Deposition of silver nanoparticles on cellulosic substrates for biomedical applications.
- Nick-Hugh Wisdom (Sept 2012 - April 2013). Co-supervised with L. Trevani. Replication of bacterial cellulose nano-architecture with metal oxide nanoparticles by a facile supercritical fluid aided method.
- Richard Augimeri (Sept 2012 - April 2013). An investigation into the mechanisms responsible for the effects of indole-3-acetic acid and abscisic acid on the growth and cellulose production of acetic acid bacteria.
- Justin Schwartzkopf (Sept 2011 - April 2012). Co-supervised with F. Gaspari. Isolation of bacterial pigments for dye-sensitized solar cells.
- Sarah Jespersen (Sept 2011 - Oct 2011). Characterization of a cellulose overproducing Gluconacetobacter xylinus Tn mutant.
- Christian Kielbowski (Sept 2010 - April 2011). Co-supervised with F. Gaspari. Bacterial pigment based dyes for application in dye-sensitized solar cells.
- Osama Qureshi (Sept 2010 - April 2011). Regulation of bacterial cellulose biosynthesis.
- Sandra Clarke (Sept 2009 - April 2010). Functional characterization of a compost metagenomic library expressing cellulase and xylanase activities.
- Andrei Bazyleu (Sept 2009 - April 2010). Screening for soil isolates that can produce phytotoxic effect in Arabidopsis thaliana.
- Khalil Thompson (Sept 2008 - April 2009). Investigation of plant-microbe interactions useful for feedstock bioprocessing.
Directed Studies/Research in biology students
- Maryam Ali (Fall 2022 & Winter 2023). Investigation of quorum sensing in a Komagataeibacter xylinus regulatory mutant.
- James Rey Lisondra (Fall 2022 & Winter 2023). Complementation of an exporter mutant in Komagataeibacter xylinus.
- Omar Afzalzada (Fall 2022). Investigation of quorum sensing in a Komagataeibacter xylinus exporter mutant.
- Terry-Ann Hemmings (Winter 2020). Mutagenesis of a CRP/FNR in Komagataeibacter xylinus.
- Terry-Ann Hemmings (Fall 2019). Insertional mutagenesis of luxR in Komagataeibacter hansenii.
- Gibran Edun (Winter 2019). Investigation of signal transduction pathways in Komagataeibacter.
- Sierra Dargan (Winter 2016). Review of the ethylene response pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana
Summer research - NSERC/STAr/SUSRA award recipients
- Mitchell Ng, NSERC-USRA (May - August, 2021). Mutagenesis of Komagataeibacter signaling proteins.
- Mitchell Ng, NSERC-USRA (May - July, 2020). In silico characterization of the Komagataeibacter kinome.
- Intisar Qamar, NSERC-USRA (May - August, 2019). The role of MsrC in mediating growth and cellulose production in response to phytohormones and oxidative stress in Komagataeibacter spp.
- Britney Messam, NSERC-USRA (May - August, 2019). Comparative proteomic analysis of ethylene biosynthesis and perception in Komagataeibacter spp.
- Gibran Edun, NSERC-USRA (May - August, 2018). Investigating the role of two-component signaling pathways in Komagataeibacter hansenii.
- Justin Saunders, NSERC-USRA (May - August, 2017). Analysis of PdeA2, a phosphodiesterase that controls cyclic diguanosine monophosphate levels and bacterial cellulose synthesis in Komagataeibacter xylinus.
- Jon Kalmeyer, (August 2 - 31, 2016). Effect of pH on Komagataeibacter species.
- Sierra Dargan, Science Undergraduate Student Research Award (SUSRA; May - August, 2016). Extracellular reception of phytohormone signals by Komagataeibacter species. WINNER: Best poster, UOIT Student Research Showcase (August 25, 2016). Poster title: Proteomic investigations of the ethylene response in Komagataeibacter spp.
- Nick-Hugh Wisdom, NSERC-USRA (2013). Co-supervised with L. Trevani. Synthesis and characterization of novel titanium dioxide/bacterial cellulose photocatalysts; WINNER: First prize for best poster, Canadian Society for Chemisty (Industrial Chemistry Symposium, Calgary, AB).
- Joseph Mercado, NSERC-USRA (2013). Characterization of acetic acid bacteria Tn mutants defective in cellulose production
- Nick-Hugh Wisdom, NSERC-USRA (2012). Co-supervised with L. Trevani. Production of cellulose nanowhiskers from Gluconacetobacter xylinus pellicle for pharmaceutical applications.
- Osama Qureshi, UOIT-Student Training Assistantships in Research (UOIT STAR; 2012). Endogenous production and effect of phytohormones on pellicle production of Gluconacetobacter xylinus.
- Khalil Thompson, Science Undergraduate Student Research Award (SUSRA; 2009). Valorization of feedstock biomass by designer bacterial isolates.
- Andrei Bazyleu, Science Undergraduate Student Research Award (SUSRA; 2008 & 2009). Identification of soil microbes with enhanced degradation ability against optimized feedstock.
- Aakash Modi, UOIT-Student Training Assistantships in Research (UOIT-STAR; 2007). Effect of environmental interactions on bioactive compounds.
- Kelsey Dermott, Science Undergraduate Student Research Award (SUSRA; 2007). Protoplast fusion methods for strain improvement.
Work Study Students
- Nathanaël Bozor-Mbobi (May 2022 – April 2023). Laboratory assistant.
- Paula Davila (Sept 2017 - February 2018). Mutational analysis of a putative histidine kinase in Komagataeibacter xylinus.
- Paula Davila (May - Aug 2017). Investigating the role of the GXY_RS03165 histidine kinase on biofilm formation in Komagataeibacter hansenii. WINNER: Honorable Mention for Faculty of Science, UOIT Student Research Showcase.
- Andrew Varley (May-Aug 2014). Tn mutational analysis of cellulose production by acetic acid bacteria; effect of plant associated compounds on bacterial cellulose production. WINNER: Best poster, Faculty of Science, UOIT Student Research Showcase.
- Jessica Pauze (Oct 2013-April 2014). Analysis of actinomycetes with biodelignification potential.
- Tanya Fernandes (May-Aug 2013). Pharmaceutical applications of modified bacterial cellulose. WINNER: Best poster, Faculty of Science, UOIT Student Research Showcase.
- Joseph Mercado (Sept 2012- April 2013). Generation of a kanamycin resistant Gluconacetobacter xylinus mutant for mutational analysis.
- Richard Augimeri (May - Aug 2012). Characterization of cellulose over-producing Tn mutants of Gluconacetobacter xylinus. WINNER: Best poster, Faculty of Science, UOIT Student Research Showcase.
- Derek Walker (Sept 2011- April 2012). Characterization of megtagenomic clones with enhanced cellulose degrading activity.
- Deena Al-Saad (Sept 2006- April 2007). Bioactivity of Streptomyces fusants in response to elicitors.
Science without borders
Research Assistants
- Christina Adams (May-Aug 2013). Characterization of bioactive peptides with modulatory effects on proinflammatory atherogenic mediators.
- Richard Augimeri (May-Aug 2013). Transcriptomic analysis of the effect of indole-3-acetic acid and abscisic acid on key regulators of cellulose biosynthesis.
- Hira Sohail (2011-2013). Screening of an environmentally-derived microbial culture collection for laccase and lignin peroxidase activity for use as biodelignifying agents; Effect of herbicides and phytohormones on bacterial cellulose development.
- Cassandra Scott (May-Aug 2012). Co-supervised with L. Trevani. Bulk deposition of bioactive compounds in bacterial cellulose using solvent exchange.
Research Associates
- Andrew Latos (2007-2009). Purification & characterization of a bioactive metabolite from a novel soil isolate with broad-spectrum activity against Gram negative and Gram positive pathogens; Elucidation of the mechanism responsible for cellulose inhibition in Gluconoacetobacter xylinus by a small molecule identified by a chemical genetics screen.
Volunteers
- Jamil Jabour (2009); Co-Supervised with F. Gaspari. Extraction of biologically produced pigments for use in dye-sensitized solar cells.
- Jamuna Sivapalan (Summer, 2009). Microscopic analysis of Gluconoacetobacter xylinus grown in the presence of a cellulose synthesis inhibitor.
- Sandra Clarke (2008-2009). Investigation of plant-microbe interactions useful for feedstock bioprocessing.
- Lisa Wagar (2007-2008). Screening soil microbes for cellulase and xylanase activity; analysis of protoplast fusants.
- Leena Chellakudam (2007). Purification of actinomycetes from soil.
- Meghan Perry (2007). Characterization of soil isolates for degradative ability.
- Vanessa Serapio (2007-2008). Screening of soil microbes for degradative ability.
Durham College placement students
- Chenniel Dixon (September 2022 - February 2023). Laboratory assistant.
- Derek Van Den Hoogen (2010-2011). Use of metagenomics to study plant-microbe interactions.
- Amanda Valenteyn (2010-2011). Characterization of biofilm disruptors.
- Stephen Charbonneau (2010-2011). Purification of bacterial pigments for dye sensitized solar cells.
- Heidi Thomas (2010-2011). Optimization of bacterial pigment production.
- Mateusz Wojtas (2009). Effect of microbial metabolites on plant development.
- Suzanne Quinn (2009). Biomass processing.
- Karen Lilwall (2008-2010). Microbial metabolite purification.
- Evelyn Cardinez (2008-2009). Microbial analysis of degradative consortia.
- Ted Paulsen (2007). Characterization of extracellular pigmented polysaccharides.
- Jennifer Lavis (2007-2008). Microbial analysis of degradative consortia.
- Kathy Tang (2007-2008). Cellulose degradation by environmental microbial isolates.
- Li He (2007-2008). Isolation of actinomycetes from soil environments.
- Sabrina Keates (2007). Isolation of actinomycetes from soil environments.
- Stephanie Kuzmych (2007). Antibiotic susceptibility testing.