MIC.RO
Laboratory of Marine Multi-partner Symbioses
More coming soon! Lab opened in 2024
Laboratory of Marine
Multi-partner Symbioses
Rotterova Lab, Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez
MIC.RO | Microbial Interactions in Ciliates | Protists | Symbioses | Archaea | Bacteria | Metazoa
RESEARCH
Current Focus
Examples of ectosymbionts of anaerobic ciliates obtained in laboratories of Dr I. Cepicka, CU; Dr V. Edgcomb, WHOI; and Dr R. Beinart, GSO URI.
MULTI-PARTNER SYMBIOSES BETWEEN PROKARYOTES AND ANAEROBIC EUKARYOTES
Protists and prokaryotes commonly form symbiotic relationships, well illustrated by methanogenic archaeal and sulfate-reducing bacterial symbionts of anaerobic ciliates. However, multi-partner symbioses in marine oxygen-depleted sediments remain largely unexplored. Rotterova Lab aims to investigate the key players in these relationships, their role and adaptations.
Tidal sulfidic sediments in Point Judith Pond, Narragansett, Rhode Island during sampling by the team of Dr R. Beinart, GSO URI, Sep 2022.
MICROBIAL SYMBIOSES
IN MARINE METAZOA
Symbiosis is crucial for survival and success in many organisms. Symbiosis may also lead to new evolutionary adaptations and environmental resilience for host. We aim to explore the understudied multi-partner symbioses between marine metazoa, anaerobic protists and diverse prokaryotes.
Multi-core filled with sediment from deep sea at research cruise led by Dr Joan Bernhard and Dr Virginia Edgcomb, WHOI, July 2022.
SYMBIONT ADAPTATIONS
IN DEEP SEA VS SHALLOW COASTAL SEDIMENTS
Protists are omnipresent and we can find closely related organisms in shallow coastal sediments and deep ocean seafloor. The lab focuses on diversity and adaptations of symbionts in anaerobic protists in these two environments.
Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez, La Parguera Mayagues Station, Puerto Rico
