Pierce, George - Georgia State University

个人简介

Ph.D. Microbiology Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1976 Applied and Environmental Microbiology Research Group Applied and Environmental Microbiology

研究领域

Biologically Based Systems for the Treatment of Hazardous Wastes In general, this research has been directed towards the biological treatment of industrial wastes and residues generated during the production of industrial organic chemicals. This work has involved both site remediation (site clean-up) and the development of biologically based systems for the treatment of process related waste (treatment of wastes generated by current chemical processes). Current activities in the laboratory are centered on understanding the fundamental nature of individual enzymes and immobilized enzymes used to treat process related wastes. The information developed will be used to rationally design catalyst types, which have improved and enhanced properties with respect to long-term stability and ruggedness. In addition, catalyst improvement and optimization experiments are directed towards understanding how immobilization may improve enzyme performance. Use of microbial-based systems for the production of industrial and specialty chemicals Increasingly, both greater interest and greater pressure has arisen for using microbial based systems (derived either through the use of single step enzyme mediated reactions or through the use of pathway engineering of complete synthesis routes) in processes to produce chemicals for industry, health care, etc., that are more pure, more active, but which generate far less pollution than conventional chemical synthesis, yet are still economical. Interests in the laboratory are focused primarily on using catalysts prepared using either the whole microorganism or enzyme(s) isolated from microbial cells. Current interest in the lab centers on fundamental applied enzymology studies directed towards understanding how these enzymes may be best employed to prepare industrial and specialty chemicals. Bacterial Sensing: Chemotaxis, Quorum sensing, and Attachment For over twenty years now, the various research projects have contained a common thread which has involved understanding how microbial attachment influences microbial activity in natural and man-made ecosystems. In the area of microbial degradation, this interest has centered upon developing an understanding of chemotaxis, microbial attachment, and the ability to develop and sustain very high densities of microbial communities that also maintain very high degradation rates. Early on these studies were predominantly physiological studies. Today, the physiological investigations are supported by molecular and genetic tools that permit not only a greater understanding of the process, but also permit us to investigate selected members of this community. By increasing our understanding of how the processes of biodegradation occur in natural systems, the ability to rationally and reliably use biodegradation processes will improve. By focusing on the fundamental mechanisms of microbial sensing and attachment, we expect to be able to define these mechanisms in terms that allow us to compare different systems (from biodegradation to microbial attachment on medical devices, etc.) where there is a strong relationship between microbial attachment and activity/effects. The identification of fundament mechanisms of attachment will enable programs for the rational control of these processes.

近期论文

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A preliminary report on the contact-independent antagonism of Pseudogymnoascus destructans by Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain DAP96253. Cornelison CT, Keel MK, Gabriel KT, Barlament CK, Tucker TA, Pierce GE, Crow SA. BMC Microbiol. 2014 Sep 26;14:246. doi: 10.1186/s12866-014-0246-y. Effect of growth media on cell envelope composition and nitrile hydratase stability in Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain DAP 96253. Tucker TA, Crow SA Jr, Pierce GE. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol. 2012 Nov;39(11):1577-85. doi: 10.1007/s10295-012-1168-z. Epub 2012 Jul 29. Preliminary report on a catalyst derived from induced cells of Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain DAP 96253 that delays the ripening of selected climacteric fruit: bananas, avocados, and peaches. Pierce GE, Drago GK, Ganguly S, Tucker TA, Hooker JW, Jones S, Crow SA Jr. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol. 2011 Sep;38(9):1567-73. doi: 10.1007/s10295-011-0947-2. Epub 2011 Mar 16. In vitro interactions of Fusarium and Acanthamoeba with drying residues of multipurpose contact lens solutions. Ahearn DG, Zhang S, Stulting RD, Simmons RB, Ward MA, Pierce GE, Crow SA Jr. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2011 Mar 28;52(3):1793-9. doi: 10.1167/iovs.10-5956. Relative in vitro rates of attachment and penetration of hydrogel soft contact lenses by haplotypes of fusarium. Ahearn DG, Zhang S, Stulting RD, Schwam BL, Simmons RB, Ward MA, Pierce GE, Crow SA Jr. Cornea. 2009 May;28(4):447-50. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0b013e31818d33fb. Erratum in: Cornea. 2009 Aug 31;28(8):957. Ahear, Donald G [corrected to Ahearn, Donald G]. Laboratory-scale biofiltration of acrylonitrile by Rhodococcus rhodochrous DAP 96622 in a trickling bed bioreactor. Zhang J, Pierce GE. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol. 2009 Jul;36(7):971-9. doi: 10.1007/s10295-009-0576-1. Epub 2009 Apr 22. Fusarium keratitis and contact lens wear: facts and speculations. Ahearn DG, Zhang S, Stulting RD, Schwam BL, Simmons RB, Ward MA, Pierce GE, Crow SA Jr. Med Mycol. 2008 Aug;46(5):397-410. doi: 10.1080/13693780801961352. Epub 2008 Apr 4. Review. Differences among strains of the Fusarium oxysporum-F. solani complexes in their penetration of hydrogel contact lenses and subsequent susceptibility to multipurpose contact lens disinfection solutions. Zhang S, Ahearn DG, Stulting RD, Schwam BL, Simmons RB, Pierce GE, Crow SA Jr. Cornea. 2007 Dec;26(10):1249-54.