Dr. Gilbert John
Associate Professor

Phone: (405)744-7914
E-mail: ghjohn@okstate.edu

I am currently an Assoicate Professor in the Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics at Oklahoma State University . I earned my B.S. (1985) and Ph.D. (1990) degrees in microbiology from Colorado State University. I did a post-doctorate at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) where I studied Borrelia burgdorferi , the causative agent of Lyme Disease. I also did another post-doctorate at the University of Arizona , Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, where I studied cytochrome P450.

My research interest involves studying the metabolic capacity of human intestinal bacteria, specifically xenobiotic metabolism. Our interest lies with the enzyme azoreductase, which is commonly associated with a number of bacterial genera in the intestine. Our focus is on Enterococcus faecalis , as we are interested in determining the molecular and biochemical mechanisms associated with bacterial azo dye metabolism and its interaction with hepatic cytochrome P450, in which together they can assist in the development of certain cancers. In addition, we are using molecular and biochemical techniques to determine the diversity of azo reductases in different intestinal bacteria, as multiple specificities and functions may exist.

Our second research interest is biosensor development. We are using molecular biology techniques to generate stable proteins, and combining sophisticated computer assisted analysis to identify potential toxic compounds in water under field conditions. Currently, hepatic and intestinal bacterial proteins are being used to develop the biosensor.