RESEARCH INTERESTS
Marine microbiology and marine biotechnology
Marine Invertebrate symbioses: Well known for in-depth studies of marine invertebrate symbioses, particularly the association between the bryozoan Bugula neritina and its symbiont Endobugula sertula, which produces the anticancer bryostatins to protect the bryozoan’s offspring from predation. Due in large part to our work, this is now the best-understood example of a marine chemical defense symbiosis. More recently, demonstrated that shipworm symbionts, in addition to their known nutritional role, also contribute bioactive secondary metabolites to the association, for example:
Elshahawi, S., A. Trinidade-Silva, A. Hanora, A. Han, M. Flores, V. Vizzoni, C. Schrago, C.A. Soares, G.P. Concepcion, D. Distel, E. Schmidt, and M.G. Haygood. 2013. A boronated tartrolon antibiotic produced by symbiotic cellulose-degrading bacteria in shipworm gills. PNAS, January 22, 2013 vol. 110 no. 4 E295-E304. 10.1073/pnas.1213892110 article online
Iron acquisition by marine bacteria: Long term collaboration with Alison Butler of UC Santa Barbara on siderophores, molecules used in iron binding and transport, in marine bacteria. Established the prevalence of a new class of amphiphilic siderophores typical in marine bacteria, for example:
Martinez, J.S., J.N Carter, E.L. Mann, J.D. Martin, M.G. Haygood and A. Butler. 2003 Structure and dynamics of a new suite of amphiphilic siderophores produced by a marine bacterium. PNAS 100:3754-3759. article online
HIGHLIGHTS
- Project Director, Philippine Mollusk Symbiont ICBG PMS-ICBG, a federally funded, international, multidisciplinary 5 year, 4 million dollar project (http://www.pmsicbg.org/), selected for renewal for another five years 2014-2019
- Project Management training, OHSU Division of Management, to enhance effectiveness of PMS-ICBG
- Board of Directors, Coral Reef Research Foundation, Palau, Micronesia
- Chair, Environmental and Biomolecular Systems graduate degree program development committee, OHSU, developed new Ph.D and M.S. programs
- Co-director, Training Program in Marine Biotechnology at SIO (NIH, NIGMS)
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography Committee on Academic Personnel: Review of academic files for tenure and promotion
- Chair of Graduate Admissions, Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
- Director, SIO DNA sequencing and DNA synthesis core facility, financial and personnel responsibilities, user relations
- Program manager for the Office of Naval Research; managed extramural molecular biology and microbiology programs worth over 30 million dollars annually in current value, Performance Management and Recognition System Award
- Office of Naval Research, Commendation, Chief of Naval Research
RELATED LINKS
Education History
Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole |
Molecular Evolution Workshop | |
Doctoral Training |
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, Marine Biology, advisor, Kenneth Nealson, NSF Graduate Fellowship |
PhD, Marine Biology |
Tokyo University’s Misaki Marine Biological Station |
Monbusho scholar | |
Undergraduate |
Harvard University |
BA magna cum laude, History and Science |
Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole |
Microbial Ecology Course |