News
Awards, stories and milestones from the lab.
2026
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Testing a cure for corn wilt
The lab is developing enzymes that protect corn from Goss's wilt, a bacterial disease with no known cure.
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An eye on innovation
Mikael Elias shares his vision for moving discoveries from the lab to real-world applications.
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Petri Dish: Small but mighty
Mikael Elias joins a panel on whether microorganisms could be the next big thing in treating disease and improving health.
2025
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Scientists Discover How To "Hack" Bacterial Conversations To Prevent Gum Disease
SciTechDaily covers our study on blocking bacterial signals in dental plaque.
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Disrupting bacterial "chatter" to improve human health
Blocking bacterial signals with enzymes can shift dental plaque toward microbes linked to good oral health.
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Speaking the language of bacteria
Minnesota Corn profiles our work on lactonase, an enzyme that disrupts bacterial communication without killing the bacteria.
2024
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Enzyme-Based Coatings for Sustainable AIS and Biofouling Control
A project developing enzyme-based coatings to reduce biofouling and limit the spread of zebra mussels, now in its fourth phase.