elizabeth-kenkel@uiowa.edu
Mentor: James McNamara, Ph.D.
Lab Room: 5241 MERF
Lab Phone: 319-335-8466

A molecular probe based diagnostic test for rapid detection of E. coli

Research in the McNamara Lab focuses on the development of oligonucleotide-based probes for the detection of microbial pathogens. When a probe is cleaved by a nuclease, fluorescence is emitted, thus allowing for detection of a microbe of interest. Nucleic acid chemical modifications can be used to increase probe digestion by the nuclease and also reduce digestion by other non-specific nucleases. My project focuses on developing a molecular probe based assay for rapid detection of human E. coli infections.