Microbiology poster prizes at Microbial Cycling of Volatile Organic Compounds and Microbes & RNA 2022
In a year of celebrations for our flagship journal’s 75th anniversary, Microbiology-sponsored poster prizes were awarded at each of these events. Find out more about two of the winners, Daniel Tetreault (Microbes & RNA 2022) and Wenxin Bai (Microbial Cycling of Volatile Organic Compounds) in this blog.
Daniel Tetreault: “Characterization of Borrelia burgdorferi sRNAs detected by 5′ and 3′ RNA-sequencing” Microbes & RNA 2022
Who or what inspired you to be a scientist?
Because my mother is a professor of psychology, I was raised under the extended care of her students and her fellow faculty, who instilled in me an esteem for research. Now, however, I think I am better suited to dissecting the inner workings of bacteria than I am the psyche.
What are you currently working on and what area of your research excites you the most?
The Adams group studies regulatory RNAs in Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiological agent of Lyme disease. My project uses a combination of RNA-seq methods to identify potential small base-pairing RNAs (sRNAs). We characterised one novel sRNA and found it regulates virulence genes and is important during mouse infection.
How would you explain your poster to a child under 10?
Lyme Disease is the most common disease carried by ticks (a cousin to spiders) in the United States. My work takes a look inside the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, and asks questions like, “what does this microbe need in order to live in both ticks and us humans?”
What would you be doing in your career if you weren’t a scientist?
If I were not pursuing further development of my scientific abilities in a PhD, I would likely be a portrait artist. My hobby has been painting portraits in a variety of media for several years now, and I have received enough commissions to make it overwhelming at times.
Wenxin Bai: “Smelly sediment dwellers —Characterization of microorganisms driving DMSO reduction in anoxic sediments”
Who or what inspired you to be a scientist?
I haden't decided to be a scientist until I took part in the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition during my undergraduate studies, I like the process of creating novel gene circuits and investigating cell mechanisms.
What are you currently working on and what area of your research excites you the most?
I am currently working on the characterisation of some anaerobic sulfate-reducing bacteria with the ability to reduce dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). During my research, the most exciting thing is to investigate the possible mechanisms and related proteins of sulfur reduction inside the organisms through bioinformatic tools.
How would you explain your poster to a child under 10?
Have you ever been to the seaside? Did you know that the smell of the sea comes from some tiny invisible creatures? That's what I am researching on! I am looking for creatures that can help form the smell of the sea and how did they manage to do those things.
What would you be doing in your career if you weren’t a scientist?
I might want to be a designer, I really fancy doing some design work during my research, so that could be an alternative choice for me if I wasn't a scientist.
Find out more about Microbiology's 75th anniversary and its journey to open access below.
Microbiology 75th
In 2022, Microbiology, our founding journal, will celebrate 75 years since publishing its first articles. We are excited to mark this milestone with a series of activities throughout the anniversary year which celebrate our past and look forward to our future.
Image: iStock/Claudio Ventrella