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Research Areas
Research in microbiology at UCR focuses on three areas: environmental, plant, and molecular/cellular microbiology. Information about individual faculty working in these areas can be found on the faculty page.
Environmental Microbiology
Environmental microbiology is a rapidly developing field that frequently involves the use of molecular methods for studying the distribution of microorganisms in their environment and the processes they catalyze. These studies also impinge upon public health aspects including environmental pathogens and engineering practices for treatment of waste products. Specific areas of research at UCR are:
- Genetic exchange in soil
- Genetic construction of recombinant bacteria for degradation of hazardous chemicals
- Bioreactors for remediation of gases and waste products
- Phytoremediation by enhanced activity of rhizosphere bacteria
- Survival and transport of pathogens in soil
- Wastewater recharge and constructed wetlands for remediation
- Volatilization of arsenic and selenium by microbial enhancement in soil
- PCR and microarray methodology for identification of pathogens, rhizosphere bacteria, and catabolic genes in soil.
Plant Microbiology
Many fungi, bacteria, and viruses interact with and survive in association with plants. The plant/microbe interactions may benefit plants or may cause plant disease. The world-wide known group of plant microbiologists at UCR study the biology, physiology, biochemistry, and molecular genetics of plant-interacting fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Specific research questions include determining how:
- Fungi interact with plant roots and other soil microorganisms
- Bacteria overcome copper pesticides
- Bacterial avirulence genes influence plant disease
- Viruses evolve into sub-viral parasites
- Viruses interact in mixed infections
- Viruses move through plants
- Plant viruses are assembled.
- Plants can be protected through the use of plant resistance
- Biocontrol using beneficial fungi, bacteria, and viruses can help plants
Molecular and Cellular Microbiology
The study of basic and applied microbiology at the molecular and cellular level is the cornerstone of many of the research projects at UCR. In addition to molecular-based approaches to research in the areas of environmental microbiology and plant microbiology, UCR microbiologists also:
- Study the cellular and molecular basis of fungal morphogenesis and differentiation
- Focus on molecular analysis of bacterial, viral and fungal pathogenesis
- Analyze biochemical and molecular host-pathogen and host-parasite relationships in insect systems
- Use cellular and molecular approaches to characterize insecticidal toxins
- Study the dynamics of viral coat proteins
- Analyze the molecular basis of structural diversity, genetic organization in animal mitochondrial DNAs
- Characterize the membrane structure and function of erythrocytes infected with malaria parasites
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