Legionella pneumophila

What is Legionella?

Legionella are ubiquitous over the entire world found in a wide array of water systems. The bacteria are found primarily in association with unicellular protozoan and perhaps as members of biofilms. Many species are known to cause illness in humans, while others have only been isolated as environmental samples. The primary species isolated from patient material is Legionella pneumophila. The interaction of the bacteria with the host organism is the focus of numerous research programs and it serves as a model organism for facultative intracellular bacteria.
(Photo: Giemsa stain of Acanthamoeba polyphaga with L. pneumophila (dark rods) replicating within vacuoles)

Our Research Interest:

L. pneumophila can persist in the environment for a long time, often in association with biofilms and protozoa. Moist, man-made environments such as cooling towers, whirlpools and showers provide ideal places for contaminating biofilms of Legionella and other species. Aerosalization of bacteria from these biofilms can result in a pneumonia like infection called Legionnaire's Disease. Removal and prevention of such biofilms is difficult due to resistance to disinfectants and biocides as well as the limited use of such agents as regulated by the EPA and other agencies.

Our lab in collaboration with scientists from the Clemson University Department of Chemical Engineering and the Institute for Environmental Toxicology is investigating and developing applications using nanotechnology to remove and inactivate Legionella biofilms in man-made systems.

We are also interested in determining the effects of environmental nanoparticle contamination on microorganisms. In particular, we are working to identify the mechanisms behind the uptake of and resistance to metallic nanoparticles in bacteria.