Biology

WKU biology students Sarah Schrader of Bowling Green and Sherry Helm of Eastview presented the results of their undergraduate research projects Oct. 21-22 at the annual meeting of the Kentucky-Tennessee branch of the American Society for Microbiology at Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin, Tenn.

Schrader and Helm are members of Dr. Rodney King’s laboratory and work on different aspects of bacteriophage biology; bacteriophages are viruses that specifically infect bacteria.

Schrader described the bioinformatic analysis of seven mycobacteriophage genomes. The mycobacteriophages characterized in her study specifically infect the bacterial host Mycobacterium smegmatis, a harmless relative of the human pathogen, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Her presentation was recognized as one of the top three oral presentations at the meeting. She received a $50 prize.

Helm presented a poster on the characterization of an unusual mechanism of gene expression control found in a bacteriophage that infects Erwinia tasmaniensis, a pathogen of plants.

Contact: Rodney King, (270) 745-6910.