20.109(F12): WF Blue pre-proposal

Investigators

• Kristine Kim
• Iris Sheu
• WF
• blue

20.109(F12) Pre-Proposal: Degrading biofilms by engineered enzymatic bacteriophage via functionalized graphene

Project Summary

Bacterial biofilms, composed of microorganisms embedded in a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), exhibit antibiotic resistance, presenting a problem in controlling biofilm-associated clinical infections. Previous research on biofilm control has shown phage therapy to be effective in disrupting the biofilm[ref]. We propose to use modified graphene oxide (GO) as a carrier to facilitate the delivery of engineered bacteriophages in order to improve the degradation of biofilms.

Introduction

ONE PARAGRAPH and at least TWO REFERENCES

• What is known about this field
• Why is this field important

Your idea

TWO PARAGRAPHS
Make clear what you see is the structural hole/gap in understanding or the need, and how you propose to fill in or satisfy what you've identified. You should specify your general approach (e.g. "will screen for mutants that enhance the contrast of the bacterial photography system") but do not need to think through the precise experimental details yet. Emphasize instead what results hope to collect and how they might improve the shortcomings that you've identified as interesting.

A sketch

Please make (don't copy or re-print another author's) a summary figure for your idea. This should give the reader a good idea about the idea you are proposing, cluing them in to the field you've focused on, the question you're asking and, ideally, the approach you're taking in your proposed research. These can be hand-drawn and scanned or designed digitally and posted.