Research Assistant
Chapel Hill, Nc
I investigated the abilities of Listeria monocytogenes (LM), a foodborne, human pathogen, to attach to plant roots. While LM exits ubiquitously in the environment, little is known about its life cycle and relationship to the flora and fauna of a true environmental setting.I worked on a team and independently to conduct literature searches and experiments for this project, and found that LM readily colonizes and persists on plant roots by modeling this plant-microbe relationship using a hydroponic assay. Additionally, I manipulated several environmental parameters, including the addition of other soil microbes, and found that some organisms may promote or inhibit the attachment of LM to plant roots.These findings hold implications for how LM attaches to plants, including crops, and persists throughout the food processing environment, ultimately reaching consumers. Additionally, with this knowledge, we may be more informed of potential interventions for this issue. We are currently developing a manuscript for this work, and plan to publish in 2020. I will be co-first author on this publication.