Sporulation and Germination Biology of Model and Pathogenic bacteria

Bacterial sporulation provides a critical survival strategy against starvation for certain bacteria in the Firmicutes phylum, in addition to providing resistance from further environmental stressors. Spores can remain dormant for extended periods of time, and subsequently germinate to restore bacterial growth. Spore formation and germination are both highly mechanistically variable across species, and while much has been learnt about these processes in model organisms, much less is known regarding pathogens, where the effect of host-pathogen interactions on sporulation and germination remains poorly understood. In this project, aspects of the sporulation and germination of the model bacterium Bacillus subtilis and bee pathogen Paenibacillus larvae will be investigated using a combination of in vivo and in vitro assays while integrating techniques from bacterial genetics, molecular biology, and entomology. The knowledge gained will provide critical insight into the molecular circuits that modulate sporulation and host-pathogen interactions that are relevant to both agriculture and food security.