Mack Ivey, University of Georgia, 1987

RESEARCH: Research in my laboratory deals with the biochemical and genetic mechanisms by which bacteria respond to their ionic environment. One focus is on alkaliphilic Bacillus species, which grow at pH 10.5 or higher. These bacteria simulta neously maintain a large reversed pH gradient and high internal ATP concentrations via the actions of sodium/proton antiporters and an unusual ATP synthase. In my laboratory, molecular genetic and biochemical techniques are used to characterize these two enzymatic processes. A second project involves the molecular characterization of ion transporters and other potential virulence determinants in the intestinal pathogen Clostridium difficile. We are characterizing an unusual locus associated with peptide transport. In addition, we have identified, cloned, and sequenced a novel Clostridial cycloserine resistance determinant.