email: pascale_beauregard@hms.harvard.edu

Bacillus subtilis is a soil bacterium found in the rhizosphere where it lives in a close relationship with plant roots. Plants benefit from these interactions, as they promote growth and help prevent infections. However, little is known regarding the molecular details of how B. subtilis colonizes roots and whether biofilm formation is a key factor in this process. I investigate the plant-associated lifestyle of B. subtilis, particularly focusing on the genetic pathways important for plant colonization.