Subsurface Microbiology: Metabolism by HPLC

Cultivation-independent sequencing techniques have revealed a tremendous diversity of microorganisms on our planet. Although, the majority of microorganisms are not isolated and do not have sequenced genomes. While this applies to all fields of environmental microbiology, it does not prevent research from progressing. Conversely, in the field of subsurface microbiology the dearth of cultured representatives heavily restricts the simplest hypothesis driven experimentation.

In this work, we discovered a novel strict anaerobic thermophilic bacterium from a monitoring borehole at a depth of 691 meters below land surface. This borehole is of particular interests as it resides within the US Great Basin, in particular the Nevada National Security Site, underlain by the Death Valley Regional Flow System. The characterized isolate was given the name Thermoanaerosceptrum fracticalcis strain DRI-13T, and the sequenced genome coupled with methylome analysis reveal interesting insights into metabolism/energy conservation, gene regulation, DNA defences, and archival of previous viral aggressions. This microorganism and others have been analysed using HPLC to track substrate utilization and waste product production in order to better understand the syntrophic interactions of subsurface life. The deep biosphere may reveal itself as an untapped resource of microbial biodiversity holding novel solutions to industrial, medical, and potential providing answer to the origins of life.

Our panel will host a Q&A session after the presentation to address any questions or comments.

Presenter: Scott D. Hamilton-Brehm, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor Department of Microbiology, Southern Illinois University)

Scott Hamilton-Brehm received his B.S. (1997) from San Louis Obispo in San Louise Obispo, CA. where he studied bacteria inside the abdomens of prehistoric bees trapped in amber. He worked for the biotech company Promega Biosciences for 4 years before returning to academia. He received his Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology (2008) from University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens, GA. At UGA he studied the model hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus and how it reacted to iron-sulfur-nitrogen based antibiotic molecules. He discovered his talent and skill of culturing thermophilic microorganisms. This skill set led him to work as a Postdoctoral Research Associate (2008-2012) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). At ORNL he work for the BioEnergy Science Center (BESC) whose mandate was to research the application microbial mediated consolidated bio-processing (CBP) to generate biofuels. Afterwards, Scott was part of the Division of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences (DEES) at the Desert Research Institute in Las Vegas, NV (2012-2016), where he studied and cultivated strict anaerobic thermophilic microbial communities from the deep subsurface of the Southern Nevada Desert. Now he is part of the Microbiology Department at Southern Illinois University of Carbondale (SIUC), where he is continuing his research into culturing deep subsurface microbes and bacterial driven biofuel production. During the beginning of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Chicago was fighting against becoming a new hot spot for the virus, testing in Illinois slowed when the availability of viral transport medium (VTM) became strained. The governor of Illinois made an emergency call to university researchers to make VTM in an effort protect the state’s citizens. Hamilton-Brehm’s laboratory rallied, pulling support from the departments of microbiology and zoology at SIUC to answer the governor’s call. Professors and student volunteers together produced 115K vials of VTM for the state of Illinois over two months.

Presenter: Mathew Chaidez B.S. (Field Sales Engineer, Shimadzu)

• 4 years in the 82nd Airborne Division from 2000-04

• B.S. in Chemistry from Saint Louis University
• 5 years analytical experience in a radiopharmaceutical lab
• 5 years sales with Shimadzu