elizabeth barrett

I am currently working to understand how metabolic shut down is orchestrated during the onset of sporulation in Bacillus subtilis. Our group is very interested in how the different compartments of the sporulating cell (i.e. the mother cell and the developing forespore) communicate with each other and allocate nutrients so that the sporulation process can complete efficiently. The techniques I currently employ include in vivo biosensors for the detection of small metabolites, and transcriptional/translational profiling.

Identified treatments and conditions that give rise to metabolically inactive cell types of Clostridium thermocellum (spores and L-forms). Identified several histidine kinases involved in spore formation and possibly L-form formation in C. thermocellum. Demonstrated the regulatory roles of these kinases through targeted gene deletions, complementation, and overexpression analysis. Developed a novel inducible expression system based on the addition of laminaribiose for selective gene expression in C. thermocellum. The techniques primarily employed in the course of this work included fermentations, cloning, PCR amplification, DNA manipulation, qRT PCR and RNA isolation, HPLC, viability assays, growth measurements, and microscopy.

Initial development of a regulatable inducible expression system for C. thermocellum

Expressed and purified a hypothetical response regulator from Geobacter sulfurreducens and determined its ability to bind the regulatory region of its presumed target. Determined gene expression in Geobacter uraniumreducens via qRT PCR during growth on different substrates, and identified pH range for G. uraniumreducens optimum growth. Worked to identify polymorphisms that contribute to a rare disease, Diamond Blackfan Anemia (SHURP, Harvard) Techniques employed included protein purification by affinity chromatography, denaturing and native protein gel electrophoresis, Western blotting, Protein quantitation via Bradford and BCA Assay, EMSA, qRT-PCR and anaerobic cultivation with bottles and chemostats. As part of SHURP, I worked with human blood samples, cultivated mammalian cells and performed DNA sequencing and analysis.

Analyzed the quality of synthesized products primarily through HPLC, IR spectroscopy, and UV vis. Responsible for preparing accurate reagents and standards.

Activities and Societies: MCB Graduate Committee (2010-2011) Cold Spring Harbor Advanced Bacterial Genetics (2010) Future Faculty Teaching Series (2013) Member of American Society of Microbiology (2006-present)

Activities and Societies: Commonwealth College (2003-2007) Alpha Lambda Delta (2003-2004) Chemistry Club (2005) American Society of Microbiology (2006-present) Concert Band (2007) REU at Harvard Medical School (Summer 2006)