Expertise

Topics:  Single-cell Biophysics, Soft Living Matter, Physics, Physics of Living Systems, Molecular and Cell Biology

Industries: Research, Education/Learning

Shiladitya Banerjee develops theoretical models to understand how the internal structures and machineries of a living cell impacts its shape, physical properties and ability to communicate with other cells. His previous work showed that the mechanical form, function and regulatory biochemistry in living matter relate to that matter’s collective decision-making strategies. He found that the interplay between protein synthesis and cell mechanics regulates cell shape, division timing and survival in stressed conditions. His recent work demonstrates how certain types of bacteria can adapt to long-term exposure to antibiotics by changing their shape.

Media Experience

Some bacteria grow resilient to antibiotics by changing shapes: Study  — Hindustan Times
This new research led by Carnegie Mellon University's Assistant Professor of Physics Shiladitya Banerjee suggests that while antibiotics have long helped people prevent and cure bacterial infections, many species of bacteria have increasingly been able to adapt to resist antibiotic treatments.

Bacteria Have Been Seen Literally Changing Shape to Avoid Antibiotics  — ScienceAlert
"Using single-cell experiments and theoretical modelling, we demonstrate that cell shape changes act as a feedback strategy to make bacteria more adaptive to surviving antibiotics," says first author and Carnegie Mellon University biophysicist Shiladitya Banerjee.