Genomics and Systems Biology

A major research focus in our laboratory is the genome-enabled investigation of the physiology of microorganisms involved in the anaerobic bioremediation of metal and organic contaminants. Geobacter species are being studied intensively in order to optimize practical applications such as the bioremediation of radioactive metals and harvesting electricity from waste organic matter. For more details on our systems biology approach to studying Geobacter species please see the following references (Lovley DR, 2003, Nature Reviews|Microbiology 1, Lovley DR, 2002, OMICS).

Other organisms with application to bioremediation and energy harvesting are being examined in a similar manner. These include the organism NaphS2, which serves as a model for the anaerobic degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in marine sediments and Rhodoferax ferrireducens, which is capable of effectively converting sugars to electricity in novel microbial fuel cells.

References

Lovley DR, Cleaning Up With Genomics: Applying Molecular Biology to Bioremediation, 2003, Nature Reviews|Microbiology 1 (October 2003):36-44.

Methé BA et al, 2003, Genome of Geobacter sulfurreducens: Metal Reduction in Subsurface Environments, Science 302(5652):1967.

Lovley DR, Analysis of the Genetic Potential and Gene Expression of Microbial Communities Involved in the In Situ Bioremediation of Uranium and Harvesting Electrical Energy from Organic Matter, 2002, OMICS. 6(4):331-9.

Press

12 December: Bioremediation - Scientists have sequenced the genome of a bacterium that can mop up radioactive metals in ground water. (NPR Talk of the Nation)

12 December: Energy Department-funded Scientists Decode DNA of Bacterium that Cleans Up Uranium Contamination and Generates Electricity (U.S. Department of Energy)

11 December: Genome map shows how bacterium gobbles radiation (Reuters)