Uncovering Hidden Viral Predators and Partners in Bacterial Genomes
Do you love thinking about the millions of viruses in your mouth – and wonder what they are doing?
Project is Not Currently Available
This project has reached full capacity for the current term. Please check back next semester for updates.
Project description
A big question for human health is: How do our microbiomes influence our well being? Though the research and medical communities have learned a lot about the bacteria in our microbiomes in recent years, we are still early on in understanding what roles the even more abundant viruses play. Most viruses in the human body infect bacteria (and are called “phages”) – and these phages are the focus of this research project. You will learn and use bioinformatic approaches to investigate genomes of bacteria that live in our mouths to uncover the phage predators and partners that are hiding there.
Project outcome
The product of this project will include a scientific poster describing the viruses you uncovered and characterized.
Project details
| Length of commitment | About a semester (3-5 months) |
| Start time | Spring |
| In-person, remote, or hybrid? | In-person |
| Level of collaboration | Individual student project |
| Benefits | Research experience; academic credit |
| Who is eligible | Undergraduate students enrolled in ORB 498 |
Project mentor
Kathryn Kauffman
Assistant Professor
Oral Biology
Phone: (716) 829-5830
Email: kmkauffm@buffalo.edu
Start the project
- Email the project mentor using the contact information above to express your interest and get approval to work on the project. (Here are helpful tips on how to contact a project mentor.)
- After you receive approval from the mentor to start this project, click the button to start the digital badge. (Learn more about ELN's digital badge options.)
Preparation activities
The specific preparation activities for this project will be customized through discussions between you and your project mentor. Please be sure to ask them for the instructions to complete the required preparation activities.
Keywords
Oral Biology