Jonanthan Livny, B. S., Molecular Biology,
University of Wisconsin, Madison WI
Ph.D. Molecular Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Postdoctoral Fellow
E-mail: jonathan.livny@tufts.edu

The initial stage of my project involves developing a bioinformatic approach to search for small, non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) in the genomes of Vibrio cholerae, and the Vibrio spp., V. vulnificus, and V. parahaemolyticus as well as in the LEE pathogenicity island of EHEC (enterohemorrhagic E. coli). Functional analysis of candidate sRNAs will include testing for their expression under various growth conditions. In addition, analysis of sRNAs identified in EHEC will include testing for their role in virulence both in vitro and in vivo. The overall goal of my work is to first create bioinformatic protocols to predict genomic features such as sRNAs, promoters, and regulatory sequences, then to test the function of these predicted elements in an effort both to gain insight into their biological roles and to test the utility of the algorithm used in their prediction.