Dr. Rice’s research program focuses on aspects of bacterial physiology and cell communication that contribute to biofilm development of pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria. Specific research projects currently under investigation include: (1) Determining the contributions of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) to biofilm, physiology, and cell-signaling in Staphylococcus aureus; (2) Investigating the role of the cid and lrg operons in Streptococcus mutans oxidative stress resistance and interspecies competition, and (3) Characterizing archaeal nitric oxide synthase in the haloalkaliphile Natronomonas pharaonis.
