Effect of Curli on E. coli Biofilm Growth with Carbohydrates
Location
PANEL: Biological and Environmental Chemistry
Science Center A154
Moderator: Gaybe Moore
Document Type
Presentation - Open Access
Start Date
5-1-2026 2:30 PM
End Date
5-1-2026 3:30 PM
Abstract
Bacterial biofilm is an aggregation of individual cells surrounded by an extracellular polymeric substance that enhances the fitness of the colony and increases antibiotic resistance. Biofilm requires the presence of nutrients and extracellular structures to support its growth; consequently, the Ryno lab seeks to explore how different sugars contribute to biofilm growth and composition in addition to exploring how these different sugars interact with biofilm forming extracellular structures. In my research I am exploring how the absence of the csgA gene, which codes for a specific extracellular structure called curli that improves surface attachment of growing biofilms, in a strain of E. coli affects its biofilm growth in media containing different sugars. I measured colony and lawn growth, and the concentration of protein and carbohydrates in the extracellular polymeric substance at 37 °C after 48 hours of growth. We can then compare these results to our previous findings in a strain that expresses csgA and determine how sugars differentially impact these strains. These experiments will allow us to gauge the importance of curli in biofilm growth and EPS composition and determine which sugars contribute to the largest changes in growth in the absence of curli.
Keywords:
E.coli, Biofilm, Curli, Carbohydrate
Recommended Citation
Duncan, Rowan and Ryno, Lisa, "Effect of Curli on E. coli Biofilm Growth with Carbohydrates" (2026). Research Symposium. 8.
https://digitalcommons.oberlin.edu/researchsymp/2026/presentations/8
Major
Biochemistry
Award
STRONG
Project Mentor(s)
Lisa Ryno, Chemistry and Biochemistry
2026
Effect of Curli on E. coli Biofilm Growth with Carbohydrates
PANEL: Biological and Environmental Chemistry
Science Center A154
Moderator: Gaybe Moore
Bacterial biofilm is an aggregation of individual cells surrounded by an extracellular polymeric substance that enhances the fitness of the colony and increases antibiotic resistance. Biofilm requires the presence of nutrients and extracellular structures to support its growth; consequently, the Ryno lab seeks to explore how different sugars contribute to biofilm growth and composition in addition to exploring how these different sugars interact with biofilm forming extracellular structures. In my research I am exploring how the absence of the csgA gene, which codes for a specific extracellular structure called curli that improves surface attachment of growing biofilms, in a strain of E. coli affects its biofilm growth in media containing different sugars. I measured colony and lawn growth, and the concentration of protein and carbohydrates in the extracellular polymeric substance at 37 °C after 48 hours of growth. We can then compare these results to our previous findings in a strain that expresses csgA and determine how sugars differentially impact these strains. These experiments will allow us to gauge the importance of curli in biofilm growth and EPS composition and determine which sugars contribute to the largest changes in growth in the absence of curli.
Notes
Presenter: Rowan Duncan