Hi, I am Xiaohui Gao. Actually, our lab members call me schwing! Why? That’s my big secret! Furthermore, I am suppose to be a ”Kung-fu master” who always fights with someone who is supposed to be a Ninja, no lies!
Right now, I am working on a project correlating with c-di-GMP signaling in Bacillus subtilis. As a ubiquitous secondary messenger in prokaryotes, bis-(3’–5′)-cyclic-dimeric-guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) has been of increasing interest due to its central roles in microbe adaptability and regulation mechanisms. C-di-GMP is involved in bacterial processes related to human health, such as switching planktonic bacteria to a biofilm lifestyle and stimulating pathogenic virulence. Current studies reveal that c-di-GMP is prevalent in Gram-negative bacteria but a couple rare examples in Gram-positive bacteria have been studied. In our study, Bacillus subtilis, a model laboratory organism, was used to analyze the function of c-di-GMP in Gram-positive bacteria. We are combining different techniques including microbial genetic, biochemistry and X-ray crystallography to characterize and identify important factors in c-di-GMP signaling of B. subtilis Additionally, we aim to develop a novel c-di-GMP biosensor to help with c-di-GMP signaling characterization in multiple bacteria species.
In my personal perspective, science is a career that can inspire my intelligence and give me peace. I look forward to the challenges of science in my future!
The College of Arts