Elias Research Lab
Evolution
ENGINEERING & STRUCTURAL Biology
Research Projects
Microbes are capable of thriving in most extreme conditions, including high temperature, acidity, high pressure, radiation, dessication, or poisonous environments. We focus on the molecular mechanisms and determinants that allow for their extreme adaptability.
Numerous ions are both essential for Life and limiting in natural environments. We investigate the elaborated molecular strategies utilized by microbes to scavenge these essential nutrients from depleted environments while excluding potentially toxic competitors.
Bacteria are using chemical signalling to exchange information and coordinate behaviors. We develop molecular tools to hijack this communication and study this information flux. This is a promising way to address microbial resistance.
ABOUT
Biological macromolecules comprise fantastic objects with nearly unlimited activities and potentialities. Their use in biotechnology has already changed several segments of industry including the detergents, paper industries, the food industry (e.g. sugar), and is expected to revolutionize the medical industry.
Our Lab aims to decipher the mechanisms by which those molecules evolve, to understand the molecular basis of their biological functions, and to develop new methods for their engineering, with the aim of developing soft, ecological solutions to current or emerging society issues. The current methods used in the Lab are spanning from molecular biology and microbiology, to protein engineering, structural biology and bioinformatics.
Concepts & Methods
Contact
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Join the lab !
Inquiries
For any inquiries, or questions, please call: 612-626-9741 or fill out the following form
Elias Lab
Elias Lab
BioTechnology Institute
1479 Gortner Avenue
158 Gortner Laboratory
St. Paul, MN 55108
Lab
158 Gortner Lab
Phone: 612-626-9741
Email: mhelias@umn.edu
Office
158a Gortner Lab
Phone: 612-626-1915
credit pictures - wix - wikipedia