Ithaca College

Bryan Stefek '09 gave a talk, entitled "Production of Hydrogen Cyanide in Chromobacterium violacium Is under Quorum Sensing Control," at the Rochester chapter of the American Chemical Society.

Abstract

Chromobacterium violacium is lethal to the soil nematode C. elegans when ingested. This pathogenicity is controlled by a signaling system found in many bacteria called "quorum sensing" such that the bacterium is not lethal when quorum sensing is genetically or chemically disabled. As such, this a useful model system to determine if anti-quorum sensing drugs could serve as a new type of antibiotic. 

Bryan's talk described his research to find what specific genes that are under quorum sensing control mediate this pathogenicity. He found that Chromobacterium violacium makes hydrogen cyanide, a generic biocide, and he could block HCN production by chemical or genetic inhibition of quorum sensing.

The research was carried out with Scott Ulrich in the chemistry department.