NCTR’s Division of Microbiology - Quick Facts

The Division of Microbiology at NCTR serves a multipurpose function with specialized expertise to provide technical support and perform fundamental and applied research in microbiology.

The Divisional research program is divided into five focal areas:

• Foodborne pathogens, food safety and methods development
• Antimicrobial resistance in foodborne and commensal bacteria
• Intestinal microflora and xenobiotics interactions
• Environmental biotechnology
• Counterterrorism initiative

The surveillance/diagnostic component’s mission is to assure that the animals at NCTR are healthy and free from infections that could compromise research data. This component also responds to the microbial identification and diagnostic needs of research projects within the NCTR and FDA.

The Division of Microbiology consists of twenty-one Ph.D. research scientists, three M.S., and thirteen B.S. research support staff, ORISE and FDA post-doctoral fellows, undergraduate/graduate students, visiting scientists, and Two FTEs in the administrative office. The total number of FTEs for the Division of Microbiology is twenty-seven. With other appointments, post-doctoral fellows, students and visiting scientists, the number of personnel at any given period ranges from 30-40 individuals. In the Microbiology Division at NCTR, we have the staff, the know-how and the faculties to help address the challenges encountered in today society.

Ongoing research projects in the Division of Microbiology include

• Novel molecular approach for the detection and analysis of the most populous bacterial species in the human gastrointestinal tract.
• In vitro model and molecular analysis of competitive exclusion products.
• Molecular screening methods for the determination of vancomycin resistance in competitive exclusion products
• Studies on the fluoroquinolone resistance in Campylobacter sp. isolated from poultry. In vitro culture systems to measure the effects of antimicrobial compounds on the human intestinal microflora.
• Mechanism of fluoroquinolones resistance in Salmonella spp. isolated from poultry.
• Biodegradation and environmental fate of veterinary drug residues. Molecular methods to identify and quantitate human foodborne pathogens.
• Biodegration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
• Proteomic approaches to elucidate biodegrative pathways. Importance of human intestinal microflora in conversion of phytoestrogens to estrogenic compounds.
• Elucidation of the mechanism of resistance development anaerobic bacteria from the human intestinal tract.
• Probiotic affects on host defense against enteric pathogens.
• Contributions of membrane-associate efflux systems to antibiotic resistance in Lactobacillus
• Genomic approaches to determine the role of skin microflora in the metabolism of tattoo dyes
• Proteomic approaches to identify Staphylococcus aureus extracellular proteins responsible for staphylococcal disease.

Additional information about NCTR's Division  of Microbiolog