Integrative Microbiomics

cyanobacteria plate with latex gloves
Researchers in the Integrative Microbiomics Group study microbes to link genes to ecosystem-level processes. Credit: Carlos Jones /ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

 

Uncovering How Microbial Communities Shape Biological and Environmental Systems 

Scientists in the Integrative Microbiomics Group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory investigate how microorganisms interact with their environment and influence biological processes across varied ecosystems. The research focuses on:

  1. Exploring the roles of bacteria and fungi in plant growth and development, and in regional and global elemental cycles related to bioremediation and Earth system predictability
  2. Investigating the human microbiome and its role in health and disease
  3. Integrating genomic and microbiological approaches to study new types of archaea, bacteria, and fungi

Studies range from understanding how microbial communities and individual species adapt to and interact – both with each other and with the environment – to understanding molecular mechanisms at genomic and biochemical levels. Scientists also investigate the genomic to phenotypic connection in cancer cells, with a focus on developing new approaches for early detection and treatment. 

Researchers study organisms – including archaea, bacteria, fungi – from a wide range of environments, including soils, plant root environments, subsurface aquifers, forests, bogs, terrestrial geothermal and marine hydrothermal systems, and the mammalian gastrointestinal tract. Scientists employ a variety of approaches, from traditional cultivation and physiology studies to advanced molecular and computational methods. 

researcher in white lab coat examines plate with microbe culture
A better understanding of the mutually beneficial relationships between plants and microbes helps scientists address key energy and environmental challenges. Credit: Carlos Jones /ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

These include:

  • Community diversity characterization – Understanding microbial ecosystem composition and function
  • Metagenomics and single-cell genomics – Exploring microbial genetics at the community and individual cell levels
  • Integrated 'omics' approaches – Utilizing transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics to analyze biological pathways
  • Advanced cellular isolation and imaging – Capturing high-resolution insights into microbial structure and activity

Research is supported by the Department of Energy Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program through the Center for Bioenergy Innovation and the Plant-Microbe Interfaces Science Focus Area as well as the Spruce and Peatland Responses Under Changing Environments (SPRUCE) project, Watershed Dynamics and Evolution (WaDE) and ENIGMA science focus areas. Support also comes through individual investigator-driven projects from DOE and other federal agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health, NASA, and the National Science Foundation.