W3: Genomic surveillance to track microbial fate and activity in natural and engineered environments скачать в хорошем качестве

W3: Genomic surveillance to track microbial fate and activity in natural and engineered environments

Microorganisms are key drivers of biogeochemical processes and serve as indicators of environmental quality. However, understanding where they reside, what they do, and how they interact with their surroundings remains a critical challenge. In this seminar, I will introduce the concept of environmental genomic surveillance—a framework that integrates environmental sampling with molecular biology tools to monitor the fate, transport, and functional activity of microbes across diverse systems. The talk will highlight several of our current research projects, including: 1) Developing an autonomous in-situ genomic surveillance system, 2) Tracking pathogen and antimicrobial resistance gene (ARG) transfer from freshwater to marine environments following hurricane-driven flooding, 3) Investigating N2O production in karst groundwater systems by linking gene expression with geochemical conditions, and 4) Monitoring biofilm dispersion in drinking water distribution systems using quorum sensing-related mRNA.