Research group: Environmental and Applied Microbiology
Tackling some of the planet's biggest challenges by better understanding the diversity and functioning of life at the microbial level.
Summary
About our research
We study the broad range of microbial life - from archaea and bacteria to fungi, algae, protists and viruses (phage).
Our research investigates the diversity of microbes and the processes they make possible using uses a range of techniques, including in-depth sequencing and molecular analyses, field studies and lab-based experimental approaches.
The research we do has two main themes:
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applied microbiology and biotechnology
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the microbial ecology of aquatic, terrestrial and host environments
We work closely with industry to apply our research to some of the big challenges facing the planet, including sustainable energy, conservation and dealing with pollution.
And we supervise postgraduate research students and are happy to discuss the opportunities available.
Our research themes
Microbial ecology
We investigate the interaction and dynamics of microbial communities found in a range of environments and host species, including:
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acidic mine drainage and wetlands
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ponds and aquatic micro-habitats (such as beech tree holes)
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coral reefs and their inhabitants
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glacial and proglacial environments
We combine the in situ analysis of microbial community structure and functioning with environmental analysis to deepen our understanding of the ecology of these habitats.
Our experimental and microcosm approaches validate and further our knowledge of both communities and individual microorganisms - their roles, function and interactions - allowing us to comprehend and predict microbially-mediated processes and interactions in a range of habitats and host species.
Applied microbiology and biotechnology
We isolate, identify and characterise microbes to develop them for applied commercial applications.
Microorganisms can often be found at the centre of global challenges, such as energy, water and food security or human and animal health.
We explore ways of using microorganisms to help solve these problems.
Examples include:
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developing microbial fuel cells for sustainable power generation
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using microorganisms in the bioremediation of contaminated land and water
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engineering new ways to remove microorganisms from wastewater
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exploiting advances in microfluidics and mass-spectroscopy to create rapid diagnostic tools
We work closely with industry on applied microbiological research and testing.
Our researchers also sit on international and national committees and working groups to help share best practice and advance the field.
Selected projects
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Key publications
- Aguinaga, OE., McMahon, A, White, KN, Dean, AP and Pittman, JK (2018) Microbial community shifts in response to acid mine drainage pollution within a natural wetland ecosystem. Frontiers in microbiology, 9, p.1445
- Aguinaga, OE, Wakelin, JF, White, KN, Dean, AP and Pittman, JK (2019) The association of microbial activity with Fe, S and trace element distribution in sediment cores within a natural wetland polluted by acid mine drainage Chemosphere, 231, pp.432-441
- Dean, AP, Hartley, A, McIntosh, OA, Smith, A, Feord, HK, Holmberg, NH, King, T, Yardley, E, White, KN and Pittman, JK (2019) Metabolic adaptation of a Chlamydomonas acidophila strain isolated from acid mine drainage ponds with low eukaryotic diversity Science of the total environment, 647, pp.75-87
- Redfern, J, Ratova, M, Dean, AP, Pritchett, J, Grao, M, Verran, J and Kelly, P (2021) Visible light photocatalytic bismuth oxide coatings are effective at suppressing aquatic cyanobacteria and degrading free-floating genomic DNA Journal of Environmental Sciences, 104, pp.128-136
- Patinglag, L, Melling, LM, Whitehead, KA, Sawtell, D, Iles, A and Shaw, KJ (2021) Non-thermal plasma-based inactivation of bacteria in water using a microfluidic reactor Water Research, p.117321
- Rivett, DW, Mombrikotb, SB, Gweon, HS, Bell, T and van der Gast, C (2021) Bacterial communities in larger islands have reduced temporal turnover The ISME Journal, pp.1-9
- Scheuerl, T, Hopkins, M, Nowell, RW, Rivett, DW, Barraclough, TG and Bell, T (2020). Bacterial adaptation is constrained in complex communities Nature communications, 11(1), pp.1-8
- Griffiths, SM, Antwis, RE, Lenzi, L, Lucaci, A, Behringer, DC, Butler IV, MJ and Preziosi, RF (2019) Host genetics and geography influence microbiome composition in the sponge Ircinia campana Journal of Animal Ecology, 88(11), pp.1684-1695
- Griffiths, SM, Galambao, M, Rowntree, J, Goodhead, I, Hall, J, O’Brien, D, Atkinson, N and Antwis, RE (2020) Complex associations between cross‐kingdom microbial endophytes and host genotype in ash dieback disease dynamics Journal of Ecology, 108(1), pp.291-309
Contact
Contact us
You can contact individual members of the team through their staff profiles.
For general enquiries, please contact our research group lead Dr Andrew Dean.