Microbial Mercury Cycling in the World's Oceans: Implications for Human Health

Microbial Mercury Cycling in the World's Oceans: Implications for Human Health

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Dr John Moreau. Reader in Geomicrobiology & Environmental Geoscience (Earth Sciences). University of Glasgow

Dr. Moreau is interested in how environmental microorganisms influence and transform the physical and chemical nature of rocks, sediments, soil and water, over both human and geological timescales. His group has studied the role of sulphur-cycling microbes in controlling the movement of heavy metals through acid mine drainage-impacted sediments and coastal acid sulphate soils. They have also investigated and discovered new mercury methylating bacteria in seawater and sea ice, as well as studied global mercury biogechemical cycling and the evolution of microbial arsenic resistance. Other projects have involved establishing robust criteria for distinguishing microbially-formed mineral biosignatures from inorganic artifacts, developing new autotrophic thiocyanate-degrading bioreactors for remediating mining-contaminated groundwater, and characterising the response of microbes living deep underground to the injection of large volumes of CO2. To conduct their research, the Moreau Lab employs a wide range of methods, including molecular biology, metagenomics, bioinformatics, aqueous geochemistry, electron microscopy, and advanced spectroscopy.

@moreaujw

Speaker
Dr John Moreau
Hosted by
Professor James Prosser
Venue
Zoology Lecture Theatre
Contact

All are welcome to attend and no booking is required.