Bacterial physiology and genetic
Annick Wilmotte
Activity description
Phylogeny, taxonomy and genomic diversity of cyanobacteria
Our research topics concern the diversity and evolution of cyanobacteria, based on the study of taxonomic molecular markers such as the gene coding for 16S rRNA and the ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer). We use approaches based on the isolation of strains and on the high-throughput amplicon sequencing (Illumina type). The microorganisms studied come from a variety of environments, such as (sub) polar regions (Antarctica, Arctic, Siberia, mountains), the travertines of the river Hoyoux, or proliferations of planktonic cyanobacteria forming toxic blooms in lakes. The diversity of the genus Arthrospira (known under the commercial name of ‘spirulina’) was studied by molecular characterizations and remains a subject of interest. The molecular biodiversity data are used to study the biogeography of cyanobacteria and the influence of environmental factors on their spatial distribution, and to improve their taxonomy. Research projects also seek to elucidate genomic adaptations of polar strains to hostile Antarctic conditions, such as desiccation and low temperatures.
The BRAIN-BE MICROBIAN project (https://microbianantarctica.blogspot.com/) also aims to better understand the impacts of global changes on the cyanobacteria that build the ‘Biological Soil Crusts’in the continental region of the Sør Rondane Mountains in Antarctica. Our mission is also to maintain and enrich the public collection of cyanobacterial strains that is part of the Belgian Coordinated Collections of Microorganisms (bccm.belspo.be/about/ulc.php). Moreover, we offer services linked to the collection, like the molecular identification and trainings to learn handling, purification and preservation of cyanobacterial strains. To valorize this collection, we have built collaborations (Prof. D. Baurain, Prof. P. Jacques, Prof. E. Javaux…) for the analysis of genome sequences, the exploration of the production potential of bioactive compounds and the use of their pigments as ‘signature of life’ in fossil or extraterrestrial rocks. We are also involved in the activities of the Committee for Environmental Protection of the Antarctic Treaty and participate to reflections on the protection of microbial diversity and the translation of research data into policy making.
Members
Benoit Durieu
Valentina Savaglia
Kim Beets
Wannes Van Hassel
5 most representatives publications
1) Pessi, I. S., Lara, Y., Durieu, B., Maalouf, P., Verleyen, E., & Wilmotte, A. (2018). Community structure and distribution of benthic cyanobacteria in Antarctic lacustrine microbial mats. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 94(5), 042.
http://hdl.handle.net/2268/221234
2) Cornet, L., Bertrand, A., Hanikenne, M., Javaux, E., Wilmotte, A., & Baurain, D. (2018). Metagenomic assembly of new (sub)polar Cyanobacteria and their associated microbiome from non-axenic cultures. Microbial Genomics.
http://hdl.handle.net/2268/227528
3) Pessi, I. S., Puschkareva, E., Lara, Y., Borderie, F., Wilmotte, A., & Elster, J. (2019). Marked Succession of Cyanobacterial Communities Following Glacier Retreat in the High Arctic. Microbial Ecology, 77, 136-147.
http://hdl.handle.net/2268/231372
4) Kurmayer, R., Sivonen, K., Wilmotte, A., & Salmaso, N. (Eds.). (2017). Molecular Tools for the Detection and Quantification of Toxigenic Cyanobacteria (This edition first published 2017). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and sons LTD.
http://hdl.handle.net/2268/206143
5) Hughes, K., Cowan, D., & Wilmotte, A. (2015). Protection of Antarctic microbial communities–‘out of sight, out of mind’. Frontiers in Microbiology, 6(151), 1-6.
http://hdl.handle.net/2268/178845
