A5027131438- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Microbial bioremediation and biosurfactants
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Wastewater Treatment and Nitrogen Removal
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Oil Spill Detection and Mitigation
- Hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir analysis
- Microbial Natural Products and Biosynthesis
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Biofuel production and bioconversion
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Vibrio bacteria research studies
- Marine Sponges and Natural Products
- Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Polar Research and Ecology
- Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- Microbial Fuel Cells and Bioremediation
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
The Mediterranean Science Commission
2011-2024
University of California, Santa Cruz
2018-2022
University of California, Berkeley
2018
University of Massachusetts Amherst
2018
SIL International
2018
University of California, Merced
2018
National Bureau of Economic Research
2018
Institute for Coastal Marine Environment
2008-2017
National Research Council
2004-2015
Institute of Marine and Coastal Research
2010
Deep hypersaline anoxic basins in the Mediterranean Sea are a legacy of dissolution ancient subterranean salt deposits from Miocene period. Our study revealed that these not biogeochemical dead ends, but support situ sulfate reduction, methanogenesis, and heterotrophic activity. A wide diversity prokaryotes was observed, including new, abundant, deeply branching order within Euryarchaeota . Furthermore, we demonstrated presence unique, metabolically active microbial community Discovery...
The taxonomic characteristics of two bacterial strains, RB-8T and RB-9, isolated from hydrocarbon-degrading enrichment cultures obtained Antarctic coastal marine environments (Rod Bay, Ross Sea), were determined. These bacteria psychrophilic, aerobic Gram-negative with polar flagella. Growth was not observed in the absence NaCl, occurred only at concentrations Na+ above 20 mM optimal an NaCl concentration 3–5 % (w/v). major cellular fatty acids monounsaturated straight-chain acids. strains...
The biosphere of planet Earth is delineated by physico-chemical conditions that are too harsh for, or inconsistent with, life processes and maintenance the structure function biomolecules. To define window on (and perhaps gain insights into limits could tolerate elsewhere), hence understand some most unusual biological activities operate at such extremes, it necessary to causes cellular basis systems failure beyond these windows. Because water plays a central role in biomolecules...
Microcosm experiments simulating an oil spill event were performed to evaluate the response of natural microbial community structure Messina harbour seawater following accidental load petroleum.An experimental microcosm, supplemented with nutrients and crude oil, was monitored above 15 days in comparison unpolluted ones (control microcosms). Bacterial cells counted a Live/Dead BacLight viability kit; leucine aminopeptidase, beta-glucosidase, alkaline phosphatase, lipase esterase enzymes...
Within the complex of deep, hypersaline anoxic lakes (DHALs) Mediterranean Ridge, we identified a new, unexplored DHAL and named it 'Lake Kryos' after nearby depression. This lake is filled with magnesium chloride (MgCl2 )-rich, athalassohaline brine (salinity > 470 practical salinity units), presumably formed by dissolution Messinian bischofite. Compared Discovery, contains elevated concentrations kosmotropic sodium sulfate ions, which are capable reducing net chaotropicily MgCl2 -rich...
Three bacterial isolates identified as Alcanivorax borkumensis SK2, Rhodococcus erythropolis HS4 and Pseudomonas stutzeri SDM, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, were isolated from crude oil enrichments of natural seawater. Single strains four consortia designed by mixing the single cultures respectively in following ratios: (Alcanivorax: Pseudomonas, 1:1), Rhodococcus, (Pseudomonas: Pseudomonas: 1:1:1), analyzed order to evaluate their degrading capability. All experiments carried out...
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...
An aerobic, heterotrophic, Gram-negative, curved bacterial strain, designated MIL-1 T , was isolated by extinction dilution from an n-tetradecane enrichment culture that established sea water/sediment samples collected in the harbour of Milazzo, Italy. In primary enrichment, isolate formed creamy-white, medium-sized colonies on surface agar. The did not grow absence NaCl; growth optimal at 2·7 % NaCl. Only a narrow spectrum organic compounds, including aliphatic hydrocarbons (C 7 –C 20 ),...
Urania basin in the deep Mediterranean Sea houses a lake that is >100 m deep, devoid of oxygen, 6 times more saline than seawater, and has very high levels methane particularly sulfide (up to 16 mM), making it among most sulfidic water bodies on Earth. Along depth profile there are 2 chemoclines, steep one with overlying oxic another between anoxic brines different density, where gradients salinity, electron donors acceptors occur. To identify differentiate microbes processes contributing...
Summary In September 2008, an expedition of the RV Urania was devoted to exploration genomic richness deep hypersaline anoxic lakes (DHALs) located in Western part Mediterranean Ridge. Approximately 40 nautical miles SE from Lake, presence lake, which we named Thetis , confirmed by swath bathymetry profiling and through immediate sampling casts. The brine surface Lake is at a depth 3258 m with thickness ∼157 m. Brine composition found be thalassohaline, saturated NaCl total salinity 348‰,...
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...
The purpose of present study was the simulation an oil spill accompanied by burial significant amount petroleum hydrocarbons (PHs) in coastal sediments. Approximately 1,000 kg sediments collected Messina harbor were spiked with Bunker C furnace fuel (6,500 ppm). rapid consumption oxygen aerobic heterotrophs created highly reduced conditions subsequent recession biodegradation rates. As follows, after three months ageing, anaerobic did not exhibit any levels and more than 80% added remained...
For preliminary screening of human impact on Antarctic coasts, the compositions microbial communities were analyzed in seawater at two sites located Terra Nova Bay Antarctica (Ross Sea) by a combination 16S rRNA gene sequencing and culture techniques. The bacterial community sample from Rod site, proximity to Italian Station, was characterized high abundance sequences belonging microflora typically found soil freshwater environments. In contrast, Adelie Cove station, pristine reference...
Summary An ecological study on distribution of Antarctic bacterial communities was determined by 16S‐based phylogenetic analyses clone libraries derived from RNA and DNA extracted two different marine areas compared between each other. Superficial seawater samples were collected four stations in Ross Sea, three them located Rod Bay one Evans Cove; for station (16S rDNA 16S rRNA) prepared evident divergences site obtained. Of all phylotypes 93.6% found libraries; contrast, only 31 (70.5%)...
Abstract Meso- and bathypelagic ecosystems represent the most common marine ecological niche on Earth contain complex communities of microorganisms that are for part ecophysiologically poorly characterized. Gradients physico-chemical factors (for example, depth-related gradients light, temperature, salinity, nutrients pressure) constitute major forces shaping at activity ‘hot spots’ ocean floor, such as hydrothermal vents, cold seepages mud volcanoes hypersaline lakes, though relationships...
The marine pelagic zone situated > 200 m below the sea level (bls) is largest subsystem, comprising more than two-thirds of oceanic volume. At same time, it one least explored ecosystems on Earth. Few large-scale environmental genomics studies have been undertaken to examine phylogenetic diversity and functional gene repertoire planktonic microbes present in mesopelagic bathypelagic environments. Here, we description deep-sea microbial community thriving at 4900 depth Matapan-Vavilov Deep...