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Alan W. Decho , M.Sc., Ph. D.
Professor
ENHS Associate Chair
ENHS Graduate Director
Director, Microbial Interactions Laboratory
University of South Carolina
Department of Environmental Health Sciences
Public Health Research Center (PHRC), 509A
Arnold School of Public Health
921 Assembly Street
Columbia, SC 29208
Phone: (803) 777-6584
Fax: (803) 777-3391
E-mail: awdecho@mailbox.sc.edu
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| BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION |
2002: PROFESSOR, Environmental Health Sciences, USC
1998: ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, Environmental Health Sciences, USC
1995: Associate Faculty, School of the Environment, USC
1994: Associate Faculty, Marine Sciences Program, USC
1994: ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, Environmental Health Sciences, USC
1989-93: Post-doctoral researcher, USGS, Menlo Park, Calif.
1988-92: Post-Doctoral researcher: Marine Sciences, SUNY- Stony Brook, NY
1987-88: Post-Doctoral researcher, CSIRO Marine Laboratories, Queensland, Australia
HONORS AND AWARDS
2003: Recipient, USC Educational Foundation Research Award for Health Sciences
1999: Recipient, USC School of Public Health Research Award (School-wide Compeition);
1989: National Research Council (NRC) Post-Doctoral Fellow;
1987: Fulbright Hays Post-Doctoral Scholar - AUSTRALIA
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| RESEARCH |
Dr. Decho's laboratory researches attached microbial communities, called "BIOFILMS". Biofilms occur when bacteria and/or other microbes attach to surfaces and surround themselves with protective extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Cells then begin communicating with each other, coordinate expression of certain genes, and organizing their activities. These properties make the biofilm a 'resilient refugia' for bacteria; one that is able to resist natural stressors, and most antimicrobial agents. Biofilm formation is important and fundamental parameter of natural systems, but is also a significant problem in engineered systems and biomedical processes (e.g. hospital-acquired infections and persistent infections, biofouling of implant devices, cancer and engineered drug delivery).
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS: (total: 82)
Decho, AW, RL Frey, JL Ferry 2011. Chemical challenges to bacterial AHL signaling in the environment. Chemical Reviews 111: 86-99
Ferry JL., P Craig, C Hexel, P Sisco, R Frey, PL Pennington, MH Fulton, IG Scott, AW Decho,
S Kashiwada, CJ Murphy, TJ Shaw (2009). Transfer of gold nanoparticles from the
water column to the estuarine food web. Nature Nanotechnology 4:441-444.
Decho AW, PT Visscher, J Ferry, T Kawaguchi, L He, KM Przekop, RS Norman, RP Reid
(2009) Autoinducers extracted from microbial mats reveal a surprising diversity
of N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs) and abundance changes that may relate to diel pH. Environmental Microbiology 11:409-420.
Decho AW, T Kawaguchi, M Allison, E Louchard, RP Reid, C Stephens, KJ Voss, RA Wheatcroft, BB Taylor (2003) Sediment properties influencing upwelling spectral reflectance signatures: the "biofilm gel effect". Limnology and Oceanography 48:431-443.
Reid RP, PT Visscher, AW Decho, et al. (2000) The role of microbes in accretion, lamination, and early lithification of modern marine stromatolites. Nature 406: 989-992.
Decho AW (1990) Microbial exopolymer secretions in ocean environments: Their role(s) in food webs and marine processes. Oceanography & Marine Biology Annual Review 28:73-154.
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