The genetic diversity of the dingo, Australia's largest indigenous carnivore, has been a long-standing research interest of Dr. Alan Wilton.
Cultivation of Yet-to-be Cultured Microorganisms from Soil Including Contaminated Soils from Antarctica
Over the past two decades, molecular phylogenetic studies have revealed that the diversity of microorganisms is significantly greater than can be cultured in the laboratory. In recent years, novel approaches have been required to grow these recalcitrant bacteria. The soil substrate membrane system is one such method that enables the growth of previously uncultured soil bacteria. This results in the growth microcolony-forming bacteria, which are invisible to the naked eye.
The aim of this project is to use this method combined with cell-sorting techniques to culture novel species of bacteria. This includes the cultivation of organisms from contaminated soils of Macquarie Island, a sub-Antarctic island.
Both projects offered by Belinda Ferrari will combine the use of fluorescence, epi-fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry for the isolation and subsequent characterisation of novel species of bacteria from the environment.
BABS personnel that are responsible for this project