Environmental Microbial Genomics Group

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Laboratoire Ampere
Ecole Centrale de Lyon . France
(33) 472 18 65 14
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The Environmental Microbial Genomics Group in the Laboratoire Ampère at the Ecole Centrale de Lyon examines a range of research topics from fundamental mechanisms of bacterial adaptation such as horizontal gene transfer and de novo gene synthesis to environmental perturbations due to anthropogenic activities such as nickel mining and environmental pollution. Important society based questions are also addressed such as the fate of transgenes from transgenic plants, drug discovery, impact of anthropogenic extreme environments, fate of REACH chemicals, and the bioremediation of contaminated soils and water.

A central technological approach employed to answer different questions relies on the use of metagenomic methods. Metagenomic techniques access total microbial genomes in environments in order to avoid biases associated with culture-dependent approaches. Production and screening of clone libraries, use of phylogenetic microarrays and functional gene quantification with Real-time PCR are commonly used methods. Metagenomic approaches are used to resolve scientific questions in the above research areas as well as the microbial ecology of diverse environments such as the human digestive tract and mercury-impacted Arctic snow.

This group also benefits from close ties with electrical engineers for the exploration of the effect of lightning on gene transfer, possible lightning related soil bioremediation techniques, and the production of electricity from microbial fuel cells.

This range of research can be alternatively referred to as microbial ecology, environmental microbiology and ecological engineering.

 

 

Latest News and Events

  • Terragenome Launching: Our group has been instrumental initiating an international consortium (Terragenome) for the sequencing of a reference soil metagenome based in part on our national research grant for the sequencing (about 4 GB) and creation of a clone library (2 million clones with 40 kb inserts). (Read the Nature Reviews Microbiology editorial)

  • Abstracts: About 18 abstracts are being presented at the Bageco 2009 conference in Sweden (here)

  • MFCs on screen: Our microbial fuel cell work combining both laboratory and on-site pilot systems is drawing considerable local attention.
    (video available soon)

  • Check recent publications (here)
Nature Reviews Microbiologyy Cover 200904
 

ANR projets: EVASOL HYBIOX SOLAO ULTRABIO APTITUDE ALIMINTEST SEPTANTE METASOIL PLOBEN
European proects OSIRIS METAEXPLORE TRANSBAC
CNRS projets BIOPILOTE BIOPILE MFC GENEFISH Rhône-Alpes région METAGENE

 


20 MAR 2009