Brinkman Lab: General Info

For the Public (general information and resources)

The following general information is available:

Lab research overview:

Our laboratory is using computer-based analysis, combined with laboratory experimentation, to gain a better understanding of how some bacteria cause disease. In particular, we are interested in learning how bacteria evolve from harmless microbes to bacteria that cause a harmful infection. We hope that by understanding how bacteria change their disease-causing properties over time, that we can gain a better understanding of the mechanisms by which bacteria cause disease, and possibly be able to predict which bacteria are more likely to be a threat to us in the future. In addition, we may be able to better predict which disease-causing bacteria may be more easily converted back to a harmless microbe.

We are also interested in developing better ways to predict, using computers, what components of a given disease-causing bacteria are most likely to play a role in infection, so we may better prioritize what components, or genes, to study further in the laboratory ("genes" are, in general, the portions of DNA in the bacteria that encode the instructions to make the different components of the bacteria). In particular, we are interested in predicting what components of a bacteria are located on its cell surface. Such components, being on the cell surface, are more easily accessible and so are the primary drug and vaccine targets for the development of new infectious disease treatments and vaccines.

To do this, we are studying complete DNA sequences ("the genetic code" or "genome"), for certain disease-causing bacteria. This genetic code contains the "blueprint" for each particular bacteria (i.e. all the genes that make up all the components of the bacteria are contained in this code). We are studying this DNA code using computer analyses, and are then generating predictions about how the bacteria function and what proteins they make from these analyses. Certain hypotheses will be tested in the laboratory and some will be tested through further computer-based analysis.

There is currently an overwhelming amount of DNA code in research databases worldwide - essentially a backlog to be analyzed - and so important discoveries still remain hidden in the code. The Brinkman Lab hopes to gain new insights about harmful bacteria, the diseases they cause, and possible new treatment targets, through an interdisciplinary approach that uses the resources of both a microbiology laboratory and computer facilities.

Common myths or unappreciated facts regarding bacteria or genomics

See the myths and facts webpage the provides a few simple facts regarding genomics, bacteria, and bacterial diseases that are often misunderstood or not appreciated.

Bacterial Genomics 101

Don't understand what the heck a genome is? Go to a separate webpage that describes the basics for such items as a genome, genes, proteins ... and what bacterial genomics is generally all about.

More General Info:

The following links provide general information related to the fields of research that this laboratory is involved in:

See what's in the News

Introduction to Bioinformatics - from the NCBI

Biocomputing in a Nutshell - a general introduction
NHGRI's Education Kit Videos and Website - Excellent summaries about the human genome project (thanks to Muriel Lawson for bringing this link to our attention)
NHGRI Booklet on the Human Genome Project - Human genome organization and function differs in some ways from that of bacteria genomes, but this is still a useful introduction to genomics
DOE's Primer on Medical Genetics - basic info about DNA and genes, primarily describing human genetics
NCBI's Education Website - bioinformatics, sequence analysis, and sequence database information

MicrobeWorld - the ASMs information on microbes for the public
MICROBES: Invisible Invaders, Amazing Allies - What is a Microbe?
Microbe.org - general information, education and news
MITs Biology Hypertextbook - textbook information
Cool Microbiology - web links about microbes, primarily for microbiology students
Microbes.info - a microbiology information portal
MicrobeLibrary.org - many microbe pictures etc.

NHGRI's Glossary of Genetic Terms
NCBI's Glossary of Terms - primarily relevant to BLAST sequence analysis
PhRMA and FGM Genomics Lexicon