Xiao Fei
Job Title
My name is Xiao Fei. I obtained my bachelor’s degree in biological engineering at Zhejiang University. I’m continuing my studies in Edinburgh by pursuing a PhD in the Horsfall Group. My research will focus on refactoring microbial nanoparticle synthesis pathways. Metal nanoparticle synthesis has important application prospects, but its mechanism is still unclear. I hope to identify the key genes involved and use them for microbial synthesis.
Public Abstract
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Scientific Abstract
Metal nanoparticle synthesis has been observed in several species of bacteria but the underlying mechanisms of synthesis are not well understood. Previous work has shown ways to manipulate nanoparticle size and yield in the native producers and has demonstrated the utility of the resulting nanoparticles for catalysis. Furthermore, nanoparticles have been generated from wastes and there are obvious applications in the area of bioremediation. This project will delve into the genes responsible for nanoparticle synthesis and metal resistance. Identifying the minimal microbial genes and pathways required for nanoparticle synthesis. It will also seek to demonstrate new mechanistic understanding through transferal of genes to new, more industrially relevant chassis and will provide new routes by which to access nanoparticles.
