Research
Two groups lead by identical twin brothers, Dr. Brian Lower and Dr. Steven Lower, team up to conduct research at Ohio State University. These scientists study elementary phenomena at the boundaries between traditional disciplines like biology, chemistry, geology, medicine, and physics. Below is a list of research endeavors along with the organism and mineral (or material) that has been investigated with each study.
See Publications for peer-reviewed papers related to each topic.
Electron transfer reactions catalyzed by bacterial cytochromes
Organism: Shewanella oneidensis (Bacteria, Gamma-Proteobacteria)
Mineral: hematite (Fe2O3) and goethite (FeOOH)
Biomineralization of nanometer scale, single domain magnets
Organism: Magnetospirillum magneticum (Bacteria, Alpha-Proteobacteria)
Mineral: magnetite (Fe3O4)
Membrane-associated protein kinase made by extreme acidothermophilic archaea
Organism: Sulfolobus solfataricus (Archaea, Crenarchaeota)
Mineral: elemental sulfur (S)
Polysaccharides involved in oxidation of sulfides by acidophilic bacteria
Organism: Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (Bacteria, Gamma-Proteobacteria)
Mineral: pyrite (FeS2)
Biofilms on implanted medical devices in humans
Organism: Staphylococcus aureus (Bacteria, Firmicutes)
Material: substrates coated with host proteins (e.g. fibronectin and fibrinogen)
Bacteria infection of lungs in patients with cystic fibrosis
Organism: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Bacteria, Gamma-Proteobacteria)
Material: substrates coated with bacterial polysaccharides (e.g. alginate, Psl, Pel)
Induction of mesothelioma cancer by inhaled asbestos fibers
Organism: Homo sapiens (Eukarya)
Mineral: blue asbestos or crocidolite [Na2(Fe,Mg)3Fe2Si8O22(OH)2]
Biological and environmental fate of lead
Organism: Homo sapiens (Eukarya)
Mineral: apatite [Ca5(PO4)3OH] and pyromorphite [Pb5(PO4)3OH]
See Publications for peer-reviewed papers related to each topic.
Electron transfer reactions catalyzed by bacterial cytochromes
Organism: Shewanella oneidensis (Bacteria, Gamma-Proteobacteria)
Mineral: hematite (Fe2O3) and goethite (FeOOH)
Biomineralization of nanometer scale, single domain magnets
Organism: Magnetospirillum magneticum (Bacteria, Alpha-Proteobacteria)
Mineral: magnetite (Fe3O4)
Membrane-associated protein kinase made by extreme acidothermophilic archaea
Organism: Sulfolobus solfataricus (Archaea, Crenarchaeota)
Mineral: elemental sulfur (S)
Polysaccharides involved in oxidation of sulfides by acidophilic bacteria
Organism: Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (Bacteria, Gamma-Proteobacteria)
Mineral: pyrite (FeS2)
Biofilms on implanted medical devices in humans
Organism: Staphylococcus aureus (Bacteria, Firmicutes)
Material: substrates coated with host proteins (e.g. fibronectin and fibrinogen)
Bacteria infection of lungs in patients with cystic fibrosis
Organism: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Bacteria, Gamma-Proteobacteria)
Material: substrates coated with bacterial polysaccharides (e.g. alginate, Psl, Pel)
Induction of mesothelioma cancer by inhaled asbestos fibers
Organism: Homo sapiens (Eukarya)
Mineral: blue asbestos or crocidolite [Na2(Fe,Mg)3Fe2Si8O22(OH)2]
Biological and environmental fate of lead
Organism: Homo sapiens (Eukarya)
Mineral: apatite [Ca5(PO4)3OH] and pyromorphite [Pb5(PO4)3OH]