Current Projects
The A-Z of Peyton Lab Projects
Microbes on the ISS
Maddie and Andrew's research is focused on investigating the use of material coatings to reduce biofilm growth of microorganisms isolated from the International Space Station.
Naegleria fowleri
In collaboration with Dr. Elliot Barhardt (USGS), Dr. Sandra Halonen (MSU), Dr. Geoff Puzon (CSIRO, AUS), and Dr. Rebecca Mueller (USDA), John is working to understand the global prevalence and microbial community interactions of N. fowleri, a notorious protozoan commonly known as the "brain-eating amoeba."
Selenium Remediation
In selenium-contaminated subsurface environments such as mining and power production sites, nitrate dependent iron oxidation (NDFO) likely plays a role in the biogeochemistry of selenium removal. Hannah K is the first to evaluate NDFO-catalyzed removal of selenium anions from water using a pure culture of Pseudomonas stutzeri to quantify the kinetics of NDFO removal under environmentally-relevant substrate concentrations.
Yellowstone Plastic Degraders
Plastics are one of the most prevent pollutants on the planet, with most landfilled or incinerated after use. Finding a plausible plastic recycling system is a pertinent issue in our modern world. Dana, Calla, and Alex are working to cultivate thermophilic bacteria isolated from Yellowstone National Park that can use plastic as an energy source and break down plastic polymers into smaller molecules that can be repurposed into value-added products.
Recent Projects
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Algal biofertilizers
Nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterial biofertilizers (CBF)Â are able to benefit plant growth and promote soil health. Hannah G's research is investigating the use of CBF in a perennial bioenergy system and its effects on the soil microbial community.
Carbon costs in the blue grama root microbiome
Plant survival during environmental stress is necessary to feed our growing human population, and plant-microbe interactions are central to plant stress survival. This work in collaboration with Dr. Danielle Ulrich seeks to understand the carbon 'cost' of plant root exudates while under drought stress and the influence on the root microbiome of blue grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis), a native perennial in semiarid grasslands.
Interkingdom mutualisms in extreme envirionments
Panic grass (Dicanthelium lanuginosum) outcompetes other plants growing near hot springs in YNP due to a unique relationship with a fungus and mycovirus that together result in drought and heat tolerance. A collaborative project with Dr. Danielle Ulrich in the MSU Ecology Dept. seeks to understand this relationship and the influence of the surrounding microbial community.
Biofilms & Biocorrosion by Sulfate Reducing Bacteria
Biofilm forms of sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) causing metal biocorrosion cost multimillion dollar challenges in water, port infrastructure, subsea, oil and gas pipelines, marina manufacturing, medical devices. Due to the lack of understanding of interactions between biofilms and the metal materials, Yagmur is growing SRB biofilm on a 2D copper material for -omics characterization of phenotypic responses to materials and analysis of single cell transcriptomes.