Description:

Microbial Symbiosis and Synergy: Innovating Disease Control One “Biome” at a Time

Microorganisms coexist and interact in complex communities that have immense impacts on their hosts and the abiotic environment. My research focuses on developing biologically-informed strategies for treating disease and controlling pathogen transmission. My approach centers on the promotion of microbial diversity and the reduction of antibiotic, therapeutic, and anthropogenic chemical overuse. In the human microbiome, I aim to understand mechanisms underlying microbial community interactions with anticancer chemotherapeutics. Findings have translational applications for alleviating intervention side effects. Regarding the plant microbiome, I am interested in promoting synergy among native bacterial consortia and refining targets for pesticide use to enhance biocontrol of plant pathogens. I further aspire to improve microbial contaminant fate and transport risk assessment by advancing understanding of microbial community movement, transitions, and internal adaptations at different scales. Collectively, this work will uncover novel solutions for human and plant disease control and inform best practices in the management of agricultural and built environments to protect public health.

Bio
Dr. Blaustein is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Hartmann Lab. His NUCATS-TL1 Fellowship is co-mentored by Dr. Erica Hartmann and Dr. Patrick Seed. Previously, he earned his Bachelors and Masters at the University of Maryland (2011 & 2014) and PhD at the University of Florida (2017; mentored by Dr. Max Teplitski). Additional training was received at the USDA-ARS in the lab of Dr. Yakov Pachepsky (2011-2015).