Bacterial mineral interactions

微生物在催化一系列影响土壤、空气和水组成的生物地球化学过程中发挥着重要作用。理解这些现象需要多学科的方法，重点关注无处不在的微生物（细菌无处不在！）的贡献。我的研究项目的目标是在地球科学和微生物学之间架起一座桥梁，以提高我们对地球系统基本过程的理解，并将这些知识应用于造福人类。地质学家已经证明，金块在向下游移动的过程中会不断生长。然而，当含金矿物在地球表面分解时，这些矿物风化过程会产生硫代硫酸盐，这是一种能够溶解金的化学物质。同样生活在这些环境中的嗜石细菌可以消耗硫代硫酸盐，形成新的金晶体。我对这些养石细菌在制造金块中的作用很感兴趣。这些生物晶体通常也具有独特的化学性质。我的希望是，我们正在研究的生物过程可以产生化学上重要的矿物质，创造新的、环保的细菌纳米工厂。在25亿年前，地球的大气中并没有大量的氧气。我有兴趣开发一个实验室模型，试图确定蓝藻（植物的前身）创造氧气时发生的地球化学和矿物学过程，开始了地球历史上的一个新时代（我们现在在其中扮演着核心角色）。地球上生命的历史保存在各种各样的化石中。虽然单个细菌不会产生重要的化石，但它们对较大生物的黄铁矿化（石化）做出了贡献。我对提高我们对这些过程的理解很感兴趣，这样当我们看到这些化石时，它就会告诉我们更多关于地球的历史。这些细菌对金属污染的生物修复也至关重要。提高我们对它们在过去是如何运作的理解，可能有助于我们让它们在今天更好地为我们服务。

Microorganisms play an important role in catalyzing a wide array of biogeochemical processes that affect the composition of our soil, air and water.  Understanding these phenomena requires a multidisciplinary approach focussed on the contribution of the ubiquitous microorganism (bacteria are everywhere!). The goal of my research program is to bridge the boundary between earth science and microbiology to improve our understanding of fundamental earth system processes and to apply this knowledge to benefit humanity.   Geologists have shown that gold nuggets can grow as they move downstream.  However, as gold containing minerals break down at the earth's surface, these mineral weathering processes produce thiosulphate, a chemical that has the capacity to dissolve gold.  Lithotrophic (rock-eating) bacteria, which also live in these environments, can consume thiosulphate, forming new gold crystals.  I am interested in the role of these lithotrophic bacteria in making gold nuggets.  These biogenic crystals often possess unique chemical properties as well.  My hope is that the biological processes that we are working on can produce chemically important minerals, creating new, environmentally friendly bacteriological nanofactories.   Prior to 2.5 billion years ago, the Earth did not possess a significant amount of oxygen in its' atmosphere.  I am interested in developing a laboratory model to try and determine the geochemical and mineralogical processes that occurred as cyanobacteria (the precursors to plants) created this oxygen, beginning a new era in Earth's history (in which we are now playing a central role).     The history of life on Earth is preserved in a wide range of fossils.  While individual bacteria do not produce significant fossils, they have contributed to the pyritisation (fossilisation) of larger organisms.  I am interested in improving our understanding of these processes so that when we see these fossils, it will tell us more about the history of Earth.  These bacteria are also critical to the bioremediation of metal pollution.  Improving our understanding of how they've worked in the past may help us make them work better for us today.