A5048477716- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Metal Extraction and Bioleaching
- Enzyme Catalysis and Immobilization
- Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction
- Enzyme Production and Characterization
- Microbial bioremediation and biosurfactants
- Minerals Flotation and Separation Techniques
- Mine drainage and remediation techniques
- Probiotics and Fermented Foods
- Biofuel production and bioconversion
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Corrosion Behavior and Inhibition
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Enzyme Structure and Function
- Biochemical and Structural Characterization
- Advanced Proteomics Techniques and Applications
- Microbial infections and disease research
- Studies on Chitinases and Chitosanases
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- Protein Structure and Dynamics
- Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive Physiology
- Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
- Enzyme-mediated dye degradation
- Protein Hydrolysis and Bioactive Peptides
Bangor University
2015-2024
Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research
2000-2015
Technische Universität Braunschweig
2005-2007
German Center for Infection Research
2006
Alcanivorax borkumensis is a cosmopolitan marine bacterium that uses oil hydrocarbons as its exclusive source of carbon and energy. Although barely detectable in unpolluted environments, A. becomes the dominant microbe oil-polluted waters. SK2 has streamlined genome with paucity mobile genetic elements energy generation–related genes, but plethora genes accounting for wide hydrocarbon substrate range efficient oil-degradation capabilities. The further specifies systems scavenging nutrients,...
An isolate of an acidophilic archaeon, strain YT, was obtained from a bioleaching pilot plant. The organism oxidizes ferrous iron as the sole energy source and fixes inorganic carbon source. optimal pH for growth is 1.7, although observed in range 1.3 to 2.2. cells are pleomorphic without cell wall. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed this cluster phylogenetically within order 'Thermoplasmales' sensu Woese, with only 89.9 87.2% identity, respectively, its closest relatives,...
A metagenome expression library of bulk DNA extracted from the rumen content a dairy cow was established in phage lambda vector and activity-based screening employed to explore functional diversity microbial flora. Twenty-two clones specifying distinct hydrolytic activities (12 esterases, nine endo-beta-1,4-glucanases one cyclodextrinase) were identified characterized. Sequence analysis retrieved enzymes revealed that eight (36%) entirely new formed deep-branched phylogenetic lineages with...
RL5, a gene coding for novel polyphenol oxidase, was identified through activity screening of metagenome expression library from bovine rumen microflora. Characterization the recombinant protein produced in Escherichia coli revealed multipotent capacity to oxidize wide range substrates (syringaldazine > 2,6-dimethoxyphenol veratryl alcohol guaiacol tetramethylbenzidine 4-methoxybenzyl 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) >> phenol red) over an unusually broad pH 3.5...
Ubiquitous bacteria from the genus Oleispira drive oil degradation in largest environment on Earth, cold and deep sea. Here we report genome sequence of antarctica show that compared with Alcanivorax borkumensis—the paradigm mesophilic hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria—O. has a larger witnessed massive gene-transfer events. We identify an array alkane monooxygenases, osmoprotectants, siderophores micronutrient-scavenging pathways. also at low temperatures, main protein-folding machine Cpn60...
Esterases receive special attention because of their wide distribution in biological systems and environments importance for physiology chemical synthesis. The prediction esterases' substrate promiscuity level from sequence data the molecular reasons why certain such enzymes are more promiscuous than others remain to be elucidated. This limits surveillance space esterases potentially leading new versatile biocatalysts insights into role cellular function. Here, we performed an extensive...
Abstract Intriguing, yet uncultured ‘ARMAN’-like archaea are metabolically dependent on other members of the microbial community. It remains uncertain though which hosts they rely upon, and, because lack complete genomes, to what extent. Here, we report co-culturing ARMAN-2-related organism, Mia14, with Cuniculiplasma divulgatum PM4 during isolation this strain from acidic streamer in Parys Mountain (Isle Anglesey, UK). Mia14 is highly enriched binary culture (ca. 10% genomic reads) and its...
Abstract Two of the largest crude oil-polluted areas in world are semi-enclosed Mediterranean and Red Seas, but effect chronic pollution remains incompletely understood on a large scale. We compared influence environmental geographical constraints anthropogenic forces (hydrocarbon input) bacterial communities eight geographically separated sites along coastlines Seas. The differences community compositions their biodegradation potential were primarily associated (P < 0.05) with both...
Two novel cell-wall-less, acidophilic, mesophilic, organotrophic and facultatively anaerobic archaeal strains were isolated from acidic streamers formed on the surfaces of copper-ore-containing sulfidic deposits in south-west Spain North Wales, UK. Cells varied 0.1 to 2 μm size pleomorphic, with a tendency form filamentous structures. The optimal pH temperature for growth both 1.0-1.2 37-40 °C, substrates being beef extract (3 g l- 1) strain S5T tryptone 1 1, respectively) PM4. lipid...
Significance We report on cultivation and characterization of an association between Candidatus Nanohalobium constans its host, the chitinotrophic haloarchaeon Halomicrobium LC1Hm, obtained from a crystallizer pond marine solar salterns. High-quality nanohaloarchael genome sequence in conjunction with electron- fluorescence microscopy, growth analysis, proteomic metabolomic data revealed mutually beneficial interactions two archaea, allowed dissection mechanisms for these interactions. Owing...
A novel acidophilic, cell-wall-less archaeon, strain V(T), was isolated from a hydrothermal pool on Vulcano Island, Italy. The morphology of cells observed to vary pleomorphic coccoid. temperature range for growth V(T) 15-65 degrees C with an optimum at 45 C. pH ranged 0 4 optimal 1.4-1.6. Strain able grow aerobically and anaerobically, oxidizing ferrous iron reducing ferric iron, respectively. isolate grew chemo-organotrophically yeast extract glucose as the sources energy carbon. molar G+C...
Macroscopic growths at geographically separated acid mine drainages (AMDs) exhibit distinct populations. Yet, local heterogeneities are poorly understood. To gain novel mechanistic insights into this, we used OMICs tools to profile microbial populations coexisting in a single pyrite gallery AMD (pH ∼2) three compartments: two from stratified streamer (uppermost oxic and lowermost anoxic sediment-attached strata) one submerged non-stratified mat biofilm. The communities colonising those the...
Abstract Deep-sea hypersaline anoxic lakes (DHALs) of the Eastern Mediterranean represent some most hostile environments on our planet. We investigated microbial life in recently discovered Lake Medee , largest DHAL found to-date. has two unique features: a complex geobiochemical stratification and an absence chemolithoautotrophic Epsilonproteobacteria, which usually play primary role dark bicarbonate assimilation DHALs interfaces. Presumably because these features, is less productive...
A complete saccharification of plant polymers is the critical step in efficient production bio-alcohols. Beta-glucosidases acting degradation intermediate gluco-oligosaccharides produced by cellulases limit yield final product.
Abstract Metagenomics has made accessible an enormous reserve of global biochemical diversity. To tap into this vast resource novel enzymes, we have screened over one million clones from metagenome DNA libraries derived sixteen different environments for carboxylesterase activity and identified 714 positive hits. We validated the esterase 80 selected genes, which belong to 17 protein families including unknown cyclase-like proteins. Three metagenomic enzymes exhibited lipase activity, seven...
The continuous growth of global plastics production, including polyesters, has resulted in increasing plastic pollution and subsequent negative environmental impacts. Therefore, enzyme-catalyzed depolymerization synthetic polyesters as a recycling approach become focus research. In this study, we screened over 200 purified uncharacterized hydrolases from metagenomes sequenced microbial genomes identified at least 10 proteins with high hydrolytic activity against polyesters. These include the...