The Genomic Encyclopedia of Bacteria and Archaea (GEBA) project was launched approximately 10 years ago to systematically fill sequence space in the bacterial and archaeal phylogenetic tree of life. The results from this study had tremendous impact in terms of the reconstruction of phylogenetic histories, the discovery of new protein families, and the prediction of… [Read More]

The aim is to determine the pangenomes of 100-200 species of soil or plant-associated prokaryotes. While the genome sequence of the type strain captures much of the genotype of a species, the sequence of any single strain also neglects a large part of the genetic diversity. A more complete description of the species is given by… [Read More]

The team plans de novo sequencing of the (nuclear and organellar) genomes of two species of Zygnematales: Mesotaenium kramstae and Zygnema circumcarinatum. They also aim to conduct transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq), to facilitate genome annotation, and small RNA sequencing, to study the potential regulatory roles of miRNAs in green algae and to assess whether miRNAs have conserved… [Read More]

To better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying environmental response of K. laxiflora, the team will study temporal and tissue specific changes in global gene expression in response to different treatments, including temperature, light intensity, water-deficit stress and nitrogen sources. They also propose to examine the role of circadian and metabolite control over the CAM leaf transcriptome. The… [Read More]

Extremophilic fungi possess adaptations that enable successful colonization of environments characterized by extremes of temperature, water activity, salinity, radiation, and/or pH. As part of a broad emphasis on understanding these adaptations, the long-term objective of the team’s research is to determine how fungi interact with photoautotrophs (algae and cyanobacteria). Their work focuses on fungal interactions… [Read More]

The team will investigate the role of root-associated Actinobacteria in promoting host fitness under drought stress in two plants important to the DOE mission of sustainable biofuels. Preliminary data suggest that Actinobacteria are reproducibly more abundant in the roots of drought-treated sorghum and rice than in those of well-watered controls. They hypothesize: 1) that the enriched… [Read More]

Current understanding of how bacteria metabolize plant-derived compounds is surprisingly limited given the importance of these processes to the global carbon cycle. The researchers hypothesize that nominally “recalcitrant” t-DOM in salt marshes is made more reactive by pulses of labile DOM derived from coastal wetland marshes and phytoplankton. Outcomes of their studies have the potential to… [Read More]

Anaerobic fungi are found in the rumen or hindgut of large herbivores, where they partner naturally with methanogenic archaea in a type of symbiotic relationship known as syntrophy. In this mutualistic relationship, methanogens siphon off and utilize fungal waste products (hydrogen and carbon dioxide), thereby speeding fungal metabolism and enabling faster and more complete deconstruction… [Read More]

Extensive uranium groundwater contamination at DOE’s legacy ore processing sites has resisted extensive remediation attempts. One of these sites lies within the upper Colorado River Basin. The sediments here are referred to as naturally reduced zones (NRZs) because they are generally nutrient-poor and have abundant iron sulfide minerals. There is concern that NRZs are acting… [Read More]

Poplars and pines have been plant flagship agro-forestry crops for bioenergy production, resulting in large amount of resources being devoted to its production and improvement. One of the most important threats to the sustainable growth of trees in plantation is attack by pathogens. Two important aspects in preventing outbreaks are early detection, monitoring and surveillance…. [Read More]