We are developing tools to utilize antisense RNA or RNA interference (RNAi) for controlling beneficial gene expression as well as pathogen propagation. Our research concept stems from the fact that there are many microbial constitutive functions which are not important in microorganisms used for bioremediation applications. Thus, if a method could be devised to silence the non-essential genes, in principle, the microbe should have a thermodynamic advantage and could harness some energy towards more critical metabolic activities such as contaminant biodegradation. Similarly, pathogens could be inactivated by silencing essential metabolic functions which would eventually lead to the death of these microorganisms without the use of toxic chemicals. This approach to removing pathogens would be appealing because no toxic by-products would remain. S. Wang* and C.K. Gunsch, “Antisense DNA: A Novel Gene Silencing Method”. Submitted for presentation at the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors Meeting, Blacksburg, Virginia (July 28-August 1, 2007).
Publications and Presentations:
S. Wang* and C.K. Gunsch, “Impact of Antisense Target DNA Length on Gene Silencing in Pseudomonas putida F1”. Accepted for presentation at the 106th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, Toronto, Canada (May 21-26, 2007).