DF/HCC Program Affiliation

Cancer Cell Biology

Research Abstract

My research group focuses on the microbial ecology of disease-causing bacteria and environmental indicators of fecal contamination. We use DNA fingerprinting methods including denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and automated terminal restriction fragment length polymorphisms (T-RFLP) to characterize the biodiversity and population dynamics of these bacteria in nature. Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis are two of the model bacteria that we use. One connection to cancer research is to understand why some bacteria display selective replication or preferential accumulation in the tumor microenvironment. This has potential value in the treatment of malignant tissue. In addition to this research role, I am a member of the UMass Boston-DF/HCC NIH U56 grant (Health Disparities) steering committee.

Publications

• Yasuda M, Shiaris MP.Differentiation of bacterial strains by thermal gradient gel electrophoresis using non-GC-clamped PCR primers for the 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer region.FEMS Microbiol Lett 2005 Feb 1;243(1):235-42.
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• Berardesco G, Dyhrman S, Gallagher E, Shiaris MP.Spatial and temporal variation of phenanthrene-degrading bacteria in intertidal sediments.Appl Environ Microbiol 1998 Jul;64(7):2560-5.
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• Macgillivray AR, Shiaris MP.Relative Role of Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic Microorganisms in Phenanthrene Transformation in Coastal Sediments.Appl Environ Microbiol 1994 Apr;60(4):1154-1159.
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• Yang Y, Chen RF, Shiaris MP.Metabolism of naphthalene, fluorene, and phenanthrene: preliminary characterization of a cloned gene cluster from Pseudomonas putida NCIB 9816.J Bacteriol 1994 Apr;176(8):2158-64.
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• MacGillivray AR, Shiaris MP.Biotransformation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by yeasts isolated from coastal sediments.Appl Environ Microbiol 1993 May;59(5):1613-8.
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• Shiaris MP.Seasonal Biotransformation of Naphthalene, Phenanthrene, and Benzo[a]pyrene in Surficial Estuarine Sediments.Appl Environ Microbiol 1989 Jun;55(6):1391-1399.
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• Shiaris MP, Rex AC, Pettibone GW, Keay K, McManus P, Rex MA, Ebersole J, Gallagher E.Distribution of indicator bacteria and Vibrio parahaemolyticus in sewage-polluted intertidal sediments.Appl Environ Microbiol 1987 Aug;53(8):1756-61.
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• Pettibone GW, Sullivan SA, Shiaris MP.Comparative survival of antibiotic-resistant and -sensitive fecal indicator bacteria in estuarine water.Appl Environ Microbiol 1987 Jun;53(6):1241-5.
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