A5015013857- Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- Algal biology and biofuel production
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Microbial Fuel Cells and Bioremediation
- Biocrusts and Microbial Ecology
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir analysis
- Bioeconomy and Sustainability Development
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Mycobacterium research and diagnosis
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Electrochemical Analysis and Applications
- Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction
- Microbial bioremediation and biosurfactants
- Enzyme Production and Characterization
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Electrochemical sensors and biosensors
- Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology
- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- Biomedical and Engineering Education
- Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics
- Supercapacitor Materials and Fabrication
- Building materials and conservation
University of East Anglia
2018-2024
Norwich Research Park
2019-2024
University of Edinburgh
2023
University of Cambridge
2010-2021
Australian Research Council
2007-2008
Monash University
2005-2007
Hydrocarbons are ubiquitous in the ocean, where alkanes such as pentadecane and heptadecane can be found even waters minimally polluted with crude oil. Populations of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria, which responsible for turnover these compounds, also throughout marine systems, including unpolluted waters. These observations suggest existence an unknown widespread source hydrocarbons oceans. Here, we report that strains two most abundant cyanobacteria, Prochlorococcus Synechococcus, produce...
The Mariana Trench is the deepest known site in Earth's oceans, reaching a depth of ~ 11,000 m at Challenger Deep. Recent studies reveal that hadal waters harbor distinctive microbial planktonic communities. However, genetic potential communities within zone poorly understood. Here, implementing both culture-dependent and culture-independent methods, we perform extensive analysis populations their different depths Trench. Unexpectedly, observed an abrupt increase abundance...
Recent advances in synthetic biology research have been underpinned by an exponential increase available genomic information and a proliferation of advanced DNA assembly tools. The adoption plasmid vector standards parts libraries has greatly enhanced the reproducibility exchange between different labs biological systems. However, standardized modular cloning (MoClo) system is not yet for cyanobacteria, which lag behind other prokaryotes despite their huge potential regarding...
Abstract Cyanobacteria perform photosynthesis and respiration in the thylakoid membrane, suggesting that two processes are interlinked. However, role of respiratory electron transfer chain under natural environmental conditions has not been established. Through targeted gene disruption, mutants Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 were generated lacked combinations three terminal oxidases: membrane-localized cytochrome c oxidase (COX) quinol (Cyd) cytoplasmic alternative oxidase. All strains...
The aerobic electron transport chain in Mycobacterium smegmatis can terminate one of three possible terminal oxidase complexes. structure and function the pathway leading from menaquinol-menaquinone pool to cytochrome bc1 complex terminating aa3-type c was characterized. M. strains with mutations subunit II cyctochome were found be profoundly growth impaired, confirming importance this respiratory for mycobacterial under conditions. Disruption resulted an adaptation network that is...
Biological photo-voltaic systems are a type of microbial fuel cell employing photosynthetic microbes at the anode, enabling direct transduction light energy to electrical power. Unlike anaerobic bacteria found in conventional cells that use metals environment as terminal electron acceptors, oxygenic organisms poorly adapted for transfer out cell. Mutant strains cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 were created which all combinations three respiratory oxidase complexes had been...
Abstract Reducing excessive light harvesting in photosynthetic organisms may increase biomass yields by limiting photoinhibition and increasing penetration dense cultures. The cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 harvests via the phycobilisome, which consists of an allophycocyanin core six radiating rods, each with three phycocyanin (PC) discs. Via targeted gene disruption alterations to promoter region, mutants two (pcpcT→C) one (ƊCpcC1C2:pcpcT→C) PC discs per rod or lacking (olive)...
Various oxygen-utilizing electron sinks, including the soluble flavodiiron proteins (Flv1/3), and membrane-localized respiratory terminal oxidases (RTOs), cytochrome c oxidase (Cox) bd quinol (Cyd), are present in photosynthetic transfer chain of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. However, role individual RTOs their relative importance compared with other sinks poorly understood, particularly under light. Via membrane inlet mass spectrometry gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence, P700 analysis,...
Cyanobacteria are intricately organized, incorporating an array of internal thylakoid membranes, the site photosynthesis, into cells no larger than other bacteria. They also synthesize C15-C19 alkanes and alkenes, which results in substantial production hydrocarbons environment. All sequenced cyanobacteria encode hydrocarbon biosynthesis pathways, suggesting important, undefined physiological role for these compounds. Here, we demonstrate that hydrocarbon-deficient mutants Synechococcus sp....
Cyanobacteria are complex prokaryotes, incorporating a Gram-negative cell wall and internal thylakoid membranes (TMs). However, localization of proteins within cyanobacterial cells is poorly understood. Using subcellular fractionation quantitative proteomics, we produced an extensive proteome map entire cell, identifying ∼67% in
CyanoCyc is a web portal that integrates an exceptionally rich database collection of information about cyanobacterial genomes with extensive suite bioinformatics tools. It was developed to address the needs research and biotechnology communities. The 277 annotated currently in are supplemented computational inferences including predicted metabolic pathways, operons, protein complexes, orthologs; data imported from external databases, such as features Gene Ontology (GO) terms UniProt. Five...
Abstract Synechococcus sp. PCC 11901 (PCC 11901) is a fast-growing marine cyanobacterial strain that has capacity for sustained biomass accumulation to very high cell densities, comparable achieved by commercially relevant heterotrophic organisms. However, genetic tools engineer biotechnology applications are limited. Here we describe suite of based on the CyanoGate MoClo system unlock engineering potential 11901. First, characterized neutral sites suitable stable genomic integration do not...
Mycolic acids are essential components of the cell walls bacteria belonging to suborder Corynebacterineae, including important human pathogens Mycobacterium tuberculosis and leprae. acid biosynthesis is complex target several frontline antimycobacterial drugs. The condensation two fatty form a 2-alkyl-3-keto mycolate precursor subsequent reduction this represent key highly conserved steps in pathway. Although enzyme catalyzing step has recently been identified, little known about putative...
Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) represent an emerging technology that uses heterotrophic microbes to convert organic substrates into fuel products, such as hydrogen gas (H2). The recent development of biophotovoltaic (BPVs), which use autotrophic produce electricity with only light a substrate, raises the possibility exploiting similar systems harness photosynthesis drive production H2. In current study we explore capacity cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 generate electrons by...
Pathogenic species of Mycobacteria and Corynebacteria, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis Corynebacterium diphtheriae, synthesize complex cell walls that are rich in very long-chain mycolic acids. These fatty acids synthesized on the inner leaflet membrane subsequently transported to periplasmic space as trehalose monomycolates (TMM), where they conjugated other wall components TMM form dimycolates (TDM). Mycobacterial TMM, equivalent glutamicum corynomycolates (TMCM), across by MmpL3, or...
In this work graphene-based aerogel anodes and graphene/stainless steel cathodes have been optimised as platinum-free electrodes in <italic>Rhodopseudomonas palustris</italic> microbial fuel cells, achieving a maximum power output of ∼3.5 W m<sup>−3</sup>.
Abstract Hadal trenches are characterized by enhanced and infrequent high-rate episodic sedimentation events that likely introduce not only labile organic carbon key nutrients but also new microbes significantly alter the subseafloor microbiosphere. Currently, role of in controlling composition hadal microbiosphere is unknown. Here, analyses isotope a ~ 750 cm long sediment core from Challenger Deep revealed noncontinuous deposition, with anomalous 14 C ages caused seismically driven mass...
Synechococcus sp. PCC 11901 reportedly demonstrates the highest, most sustained growth of any known cyanobacterium under optimized conditions. Due to its recent discovery, our knowledge biology, including factors underlying sustained, fast growth, is limited. Furthermore, tools specific for genetic manipulation are not established. Here, we demonstrate that shows faster than other model cyanobacteria, fast-growing species Synechococcuselongatus UTEX 2973, optimal conditions 2973. Comparative...
Cyanobacteria are ecologically important organisms and potential platforms for production of biofuels useful industrial products. Genetic manipulation cyanobacteria, especially model such as Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 Synechococcus PCC7002, is a key tool both basic applied research. Generation unmarked mutants, whereby chromosomal alterations introduced into strain via insertion an antibiotic resistance cassette (a manipulatable fragment DNA containing one or more genes), followed by...