Bringing Light to Bacterial Electrophysiology - Bacterial Optogenetics

Bacterial electrophysiology, the study of electric phenomena in bacterial systems, is an emergent field with implications for microbiology, synthetic biology, and bioengineering. Recent findings have revealed that bacterial membrane potentials are dynamic and capable of non-linear behaviours such as spiking and oscillations, influencing key processes including biofilm formation, sporulation, and antibiotic susceptibility. However, unlike in neuroscience, the tools for manipulating bacterial membrane potential with high spatiotemporal precision remain underdeveloped.
This PhD project aims to develop bacterial optogenetics by using genetically encoded and chemical optical tools to modulate bacterial membrane potential. Using light-responsive proteins and azobenzene-based photoswitches, we aim to establish novel platforms for optical control of bacterial electrophysiology. These tools will be applied to study and manipulate physiological processes including biofilm dynamics, sporulation pathways, growth kinetics, and antibiotic responses in Bacillus subtilis.
The outcomes of this project will advance microbial bioelectricity by establishing optogenetic strategies for precise, non-invasive modulation of bacterial physiology, laying the groundwork for light-driven microbial engineering.