Fall 2020 Update

With our current times, Pierce lab is doing everything possible to prevent further spread of COVID-19. Apart from abiding to Georgia State University’s new policies, members are continuing research at home when possible and practicing social distancing with lab capacity limitations. We all look forward to continuing our projects and our education at GSU!

Congrats, Ilona!

Congrats, Ilona!

Everyone at Pierce lab would like to congratulate Ilona Golynker on her new position as a Research Associate at Icahn School of Medicine Mount Sinai! Ilona graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from Georgia State University in Spring 2020 before accepting her current position. Now, at tenOever lab, she is analyzing existing therapeutics that can be utilized to reduce and ameliorate the morbidity of COVID-19. We wish her the best with her career moving forward!

Spring 2020 Awards

Spring 2020 Awards

We would like to congratulate two of our PhD students for being recognized by Georgia State University’s Biology Department!

Brianna (Galbreath) Chilton received the Steven Kudravi Memorial Award for excellence in teaching!

Nosa Amadasun received the Donald Ahearn Endowed Fellowship in Applied and Environmental Microbiology! We take pride in last year’s recipient as well– our own Maurice De La Croix!

Both have shown an arduous passion for their respective projects and we are fortunate to have them as mentors in the lab!

Nosa Amadasun’s Defense

Nosa Amadasun’s Defense

We here at Pierce lab would like to congratulate Nosa on a successful dissertation defense! His presentation titled “Preliminary Report on Protein Preparations Exhibiting Both Asparaginase and Glutaminase Activity Purified from Rhodococcus rhodochrous DAP 96253” discussed the methods utilized for the induction, purification and characterization of L-asparaginase obtained from R. rhodochrous during his time at Georgia State University. L-asparaginase presents a substantial portion of treatment necessary for individuals diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), with survival rates increasing to 90% since the introduction of L-asparaginase as part of the treatment regimen in the 1960s. Nosa’s work with Rhodococcus rhodochrous DAP 96253 aims to circumvent treatment-limiting side effects associated with currently approved L-asparaginases experienced by up to 30% of treated patients. For the rest of his time with us, Nosa will be investigating post purification modifications to the protein, attempting to improve their asparaginase activity while completely eradicating their glutaminase activity and determining the efficacy of the modified protein utilizing specific cancer expressing cell lines.

2019 ASM Abstract Reviewers

2019 ASM Abstract Reviewers

Congratulations to Kelly Cannon, Brianna Galbreath, and Maurice de la Croix for being selected to review abstracts for the ASM Microbe 2019 hosted by the American Society for Microbiology this year in San Francisco, California. Kelly, Brianna, and Maurice will be reviewing numerous abstracts for ASM Microbe 2019 that theme around fermentation and biotransformation. Several AEM lab members are active members of the American Society for Microbiology and participated at the ASM Microbe 2018 that was hosted in Atlanta, GA.  

Strong AEM Showing at the GeorgiaBio Innovation Summit 2018

Strong AEM Showing at the GeorgiaBio Innovation Summit 2018

This year the 2018 GeorgiaBio Innovation Summit saw the attendance and poster presentations of nine students from the Applied and Environmental Microbiology group which encompassed the labs of both Dr. Pierce and Dr. Gilbert. In attendance were Merhawi Mihreteab, Barielba Nenbee, Maurice de la Croix, Etna Sanchez, Raza Momin, Nimna Wijewantha, Brianna Galbreath, Mariya Campbell, and Yathreb Bayan. 

WNS-Treated Bats Released into Wild

WNS-Treated Bats Released into Wild

     On Tuesday, May 19th, bats that were treated for white-nose syndrome (WNS) were released back into the wild. This past winter’s experimental treatment has been heralded a success by researchers and federal wildlife management agencies. This marks the first time WNS-affected bats have been collected, treated, and released back into their natural environment.

White River Cave Survey

White River Cave Survey

On February 24, 2015, Chris Cornelison, Kyle Gabriel, and Kelly Cannon joined Katrina Morris and Jackie Jeffery of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for a population and white-nose syndrome (WNS) survey of bats in the private White River Cave, just outside...