# Quorum sensing regulation of bacterial development

> **NIH NIH R35** · TRUSTEES OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $5,513

## Abstract

Project summary
 Quorum sensing is a method of cell-cell communication used by bacteria to detect and
respond to changes in population density and control behaviors that benefit the group for
adaption and survival in their environment (e.g., symbiosis and pathogenesis). My research
program is focused on how bacteria use quorum sensing signaling to control expression of
virulence genes. Toward this goal, we study quorum sensing gene regulation in Vibrio species,
both as relevant pathogens and as established quorum sensing model systems. We focus on
the master Vibrio quorum sensing transcription factor LuxR, which is conserved in all Vibrio
species and is the core regulator of hundreds of genes. My research group uses microbial
genetics to dissect the LuxR regulatory networks of Vibrio species that influence gene
expression for virulence. One of the key behaviors of Vibrio species is flagellar motility, known
to be an important virulence factor during host infection. We study flagellar motility and gene
regulation because it is controlled by quorum sensing, and we use the model bacterium Vibrio
campbellii.
 In the proposed application, I am requesting funds to support a summer research
experience for Ms. Mackenzie Quist in my lab during the summer of 2021. The purpose of this
summer project is to enable Ms. Quist to gain research experience in molecular biology and
microbial genetics to support her goals to pursue a career in scientific research. Ms. Quist’s
research project will examine the transcriptional regulation of swimming motility in Vibrio
bacteria, a key behavior controlled by quorum sensing. Ms. Quist aims to design GFP reporter
strains to examine gene expression of genes co-regulated by transcription factors FlrA and FlrC.
She will conduct two experiments with the GFP reporters: 1) assay gene expression under
varying conditions and in isogenic mutant strain backgrounds, and 2) perform a transposon
mutagenesis screen for mutants that are altered in expression. Ms. Quist will attend and present
at our weekly group meeting, and she will present a poster in the Indiana University
Undergraduate Research Symposium at the end of summer 2021.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10392554
- **Project number:** 3R35GM124698-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** TRUSTEES OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Julia C. van Kessel
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $5,513
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-08-01 → 2021-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10392554

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10392554, Quorum sensing regulation of bacterial development (3R35GM124698-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10392554. Licensed CC0.

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