---
OA_place: publisher
_id: '14641'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: "Mutation rates represent the net result of complex interactions among various\r\ncellular
    processes and can dramatically influence the evolutionary fate of\r\nmicrobial
    populations. However, many popular techniques used to study\r\nmutations are subject
    to the confounding effects of heredity and the subtleties\r\nof adaptation to
    selection, all of which make it difficult to observe any dynamic\r\nresponses
    of mutation rates to fitness challenges. Furthermore, in spite of the\r\nubiquity
    of quorum sensing systems across the bacterial domain and relevance\r\nfor many
    physiological behaviors, the effects of such mechanisms on mutation\r\nrate and
    adaptation remain poorly understood. In the following work, I\r\npresent the development
    of a microfluidic droplet-based method to measure\r\nsingle base-pair mutation
    rates in growing populations of the bacterium\r\nEscherichia coli. I use this
    method to observe a stress-induced increase in\r\nmutation rate that is mediated
    by luxS, a highly conserved bacterial quorum\r\nsensing component. I also show
    that the aforementioned increase in mutation\r\nrate, and its associated control
    by luxS, corresponds to a higher degree of\r\nadaptability under competitive environments."
acknowledged_ssus:
- _id: LifeSc
- _id: Bio
- _id: CampIT
alternative_title:
- ISTA Thesis
article_processing_charge: No
author:
- first_name: Mike
  full_name: Hennessey-Wesen, Mike
  id: 3F338C72-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87
  last_name: Hennessey-Wesen
citation:
  ama: Hennessey-Wesen M. Adaptive mutation in E. coli modulated by luxS. 2023. doi:<a
    href="https://doi.org/10.15479/at:ista:14641">10.15479/at:ista:14641</a>
  apa: Hennessey-Wesen, M. (2023). <i>Adaptive mutation in E. coli modulated by luxS</i>.
    Institute of Science and Technology Austria. <a href="https://doi.org/10.15479/at:ista:14641">https://doi.org/10.15479/at:ista:14641</a>
  chicago: Hennessey-Wesen, Mike. “Adaptive Mutation in E. Coli Modulated by LuxS.”
    Institute of Science and Technology Austria, 2023. <a href="https://doi.org/10.15479/at:ista:14641">https://doi.org/10.15479/at:ista:14641</a>.
  ieee: M. Hennessey-Wesen, “Adaptive mutation in E. coli modulated by luxS,” Institute
    of Science and Technology Austria, 2023.
  ista: Hennessey-Wesen M. 2023. Adaptive mutation in E. coli modulated by luxS. Institute
    of Science and Technology Austria.
  mla: Hennessey-Wesen, Mike. <i>Adaptive Mutation in E. Coli Modulated by LuxS</i>.
    Institute of Science and Technology Austria, 2023, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.15479/at:ista:14641">10.15479/at:ista:14641</a>.
  short: M. Hennessey-Wesen, Adaptive Mutation in E. Coli Modulated by LuxS, Institute
    of Science and Technology Austria, 2023.
corr_author: '1'
date_created: 2023-12-04T13:17:37Z
date_published: 2023-11-30T00:00:00Z
date_updated: 2026-04-07T13:29:59Z
day: '30'
ddc:
- '570'
degree_awarded: PhD
department:
- _id: GradSch
- _id: BjHo
doi: 10.15479/at:ista:14641
ec_funded: 1
file:
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  date_created: 2023-12-06T13:13:26Z
  date_updated: 2024-11-30T23:30:05Z
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  date_created: 2023-12-06T13:14:15Z
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  date_created: 2025-05-20T12:59:12Z
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  description: for printing purposes only
  embargo_to: open_access
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  file_name: 2023_Hennessey_Michael_Thesis_print.pdf
  file_size: 45847968
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  title: Print version
file_date_updated: 2025-07-17T11:20:25Z
has_accepted_license: '1'
keyword:
- microfluidics
- miceobiology
- mutations
- quorum sensing
language:
- iso: eng
month: '11'
oa_version: Published Version
page: '104'
project:
- _id: 2564DBCA-B435-11E9-9278-68D0E5697425
  call_identifier: H2020
  grant_number: '665385'
  name: International IST Doctoral Program
publication_identifier:
  issn:
  - 2663-337X
publication_status: published
publisher: Institute of Science and Technology Austria
status: public
supervisor:
- first_name: Björn
  full_name: Hof, Björn
  id: 3A374330-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87
  last_name: Hof
  orcid: 0000-0003-2057-2754
title: Adaptive mutation in E. coli modulated by luxS
type: dissertation
user_id: ba8df636-2132-11f1-aed0-ed93e2281fdd
year: '2023'
...