Amanda Finck

As an X-Sig Summer Research Fellow (2015) in the Whatley lab, we isolated, identified, and characterized bacteria from the built environment at Gettysburg College. My research continued throughout the following school year in an individualized study and a research internship. Thus far we have monitored biofilm and planktonic growth following exposure to Personal Care Products and Pharmaceuticals (PCPPs). Last year we investigated cell-cell interactions within mixed species biofilms through various approaches. Some of which including the determination of plasmid composition, aggregation status, and the gram status of the isolated bacteria. Currently we are developing a mutant library of each species to determine the involvement of specific genes in multi-species biofilm formation. Additionally, we've been studying the role of the epsilon subunit in the SOS response and its relevance to quinolone sensitivity and resistance, as well as biofilm formation in E.coli lab strains.