Phylogenomics and the metabolism of sulfur compounds in the roseobacter group Joe S. Wirth Whitman Lab UGA Department of Microbiology Wednesday, March 27 2019, 9am Room 404D, Biological Sciences Type of Event: Student Seminars The roseobacter group comprise up to 25 % of the total bacterial community in the surface waters of the ocean, and its members possess a great deal of physiological and genetic diversity. Taxonomic assignments within the roseobacter group have been primarily based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. However, recent studies have demonstrated that this gene lacks the resolution for accurately assigning organisms within the roseobacter group. To address this problem, whole-genome sequence data was used to construct a taxonomy that accurately depicts evolutionary relationships. The result of these analyses was the taxonomic reassignment of 34 species and the proposal of six novel genera. Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) is abundant in marine surface waters and can reach micromolar concentrations, and Ruegeria pomeroyi, a member of the roseobacter group, is capable of metabolizing it. Previous studies have shown that the methyl carbon and sulfur of DMSP are incorporated into methionine, and this led to the hypothesis that the direct capture of methanethiol was the major pathway for methionine biosynthesis from DMSP. To test this hypothesis, a highly efficient method for synthesizing di(methyl-13C)sulfonio-34S-propionate ([13C][34S]DMSP) was developed. The [13C][34S]DMSP was subsequently fed to R. pomeroyi in chemostat and the resulting isotopic labeling of methionine was examined. These experiments indicated that only one-third of methionine was synthesized via the direct capture of methanethiol while the remainder was synthesized by the random reassembly of the sulfur and methyl atoms. The findings also indicated that DMSP was the major source of sulfur even when present at concentrations <1 μM. Abstract or other information: Abstract.Wirth, Joe.Spring2019.pdf (75.51 KB) Read more about Phylogenomics and the metabolism of sulfur compounds in the roseobacter group
The Post Antibiotic Era: No ESKAPE? Les Shaw Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology University of South Florida Les Shaw Thursday, February 21 2019, 11am 404D Biological Sciences Bldg Type of Event: Department Seminars Read more about The Post Antibiotic Era: No ESKAPE?
Pushing the Envelope: Remodeling the Gram-negative Outer Membrane Stephen Trent Infectious Diseases University of Georgia Stephen Trent Tuesday, February 5 2019, 11am 404D Biological Sciences Bldg Special Information: Seminar is on a Tuesday Type of Event: Department Seminars Read more about Pushing the Envelope: Remodeling the Gram-negative Outer Membrane
Sensing more than a quorum: The role of pheromones in the light-organ symbiont Vibrio fischeri Eric Stabb Microbiology University of Georgia Eric Stabb Tuesday, January 29 2019, 11am 404D Biological Sciences Bldg Special Information: Seminar is on a Tuesday Read more about Sensing more than a quorum: The role of pheromones in the light-organ symbiont Vibrio fischeri
Functional Analysis of Natural Variation in the Pathogen Candida albicans Functional Analysis of Natural Variation in the Pathogen Candida albicans Aaron Mitchell Biological Sciences Carnegie Mellon Thursday, January 17 2019, 11am 404D Biological Sciences Bldg. Type of Event: Department Seminars Read more about Functional Analysis of Natural Variation in the Pathogen Candida albicans
Amber Matha Graduate Student Amber joined the Lin lab as a graduate student in 2018. She is interested in investigating and deciphering the utilization of Ni as a micronutrient as well as the process of sexual reproduction in Cryptococcus neoformans. Ni has almost exclusively been studied as a toxin in the environment and the mechanisms that fungi use to regulate Ni homeostasis are unknown. Education: B.S. in Biochemistry, Mercyhurst University (2018) Research Labs (via personnel): Xiaorong Lin Labs: Lin Lab Selected Publications Selected Publications: Matha, Amber R., Xiaofeng Xie, and Xiaorong Lin. "Ergosterol Is Critical for Sporogenesis in Cryptococcus neoformans." Journal of Fungi 10.2 (2024): 106. Matha, Amber R., and Xiaorong Lin. "Current perspectives on uniparental mitochondrial inheritance in Cryptococcus neoformans." Pathogens 9.9 (2020): 743. Tremper, C., Matha, A. R., & Taylor, C. E. (2017). Assessing the Effects of ErbB2 Kinase Inhibition in Conjunction with Broad Spectrum Anti-Cancer Treatments. In FASEB JOURNAL Vol. 31 (pp. 1 page). Chicago, IL: FEDERATION AMER SOC EXP BIOL. Retrieved from http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/ Of note: Molecular Mycology Course TA- July-Aug 2021 Mycology Graduate Student Organization- President May 2019-May 2020 Microbiology Graduate Student Organization- Recruitment Co-Chair May 2020-present Microbiology Graduate Student Organization- President Dec 2021-present Read more about Amber Matha
CRISPR-Cas10 immunity in staphylococci: Mechanisms and applications Asma Hatoum-Aslan Biological Sciences University of Alabama Asma Hatoum-Aslan Thursday, April 25 2019, 11am 404D Biological Sciences Bldg. Type of Event: Department Seminars Abstract or other information: Dr. Asma Hatoum-Aslan (93.82 KB) Read more about CRISPR-Cas10 immunity in staphylococci: Mechanisms and applications
Mi casa es su casa: How an intracellular symbiont manipulates host biology Irene Garcia Newton Department of Biology Indiana University Irene Garcia Newton Thursday, August 29 2019, 11am 404D Biological Sciences Bldg. Type of Event: Department Seminars Read more about Mi casa es su casa: How an intracellular symbiont manipulates host biology
Probing Protein Homeostasis Using Microbial Natural Products Jason Sello Department of Chemistry Brown University Jason Sello Thursday, April 11 2019, 11am 404D Biological Sciences Bldg. Type of Event: Department Seminars Read more about Probing Protein Homeostasis Using Microbial Natural Products
EASy does it: generating new metabolic capabilities in bacteria Ellen Neidle Department of Microbiology University of Georgia Ellen Neidle Thursday, April 4 2019, 11am 404D Biological Sciences Bldg. Type of Event: Department Seminars Read more about EASy does it: generating new metabolic capabilities in bacteria