People | Thomas E. Hanson

• B.S., Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, 1992.
• Ph.D., Microbiology, University of California, 1998.

Now recruiting a Ph. D. student for a project on N-metabolism in Epsilonproteobacteria.  For details, see the announcement here.

My research program is focused on identifying and understanding the physiological strategies and adaptations that allow microorganisms to survive and compete in the environment. Our understanding of real world microbial physiology is currently limited. While microorganisms constitute a significant amount of the biomass and biodiversity on earth, only a small fraction of all the microorganisms in nature have been cultured. Furthermore, genome sequences of cultured microorganisms reveal that 32-75% of predicted genes encode proteins of unknown function. Presumably these genes are present in particular organisms because they confer the ability to effectively compete for specific ecological niches in the environments where the organisms live. These observations suggest that microorganisms contain a wealth of undiscovered physiological and genetic potential and that we do not fully understand what genetic complement is required for success in situ.

Phototrophic Bacterial Metabolism (supported by NSF-0447649 and NSF-0919682, in collaboration with George Luther, CEOE)

This project is focused on dissecting the roles of specific genes in shaping the metabolism of the phototrophic bacterium Chlorobium tepidum. The oxidation of reduced sulfur compounds as energy sources is the current focus including thiosulfate, elemental sulfur, sulfite and sulfide. A strong emphasis in this project is the development and application of improved techniques for the  molecular genetic analysis and manipulation of  C. tepidum.  The latest project will apply tools of electrochemical analysis to C. tepidum wild type and mutant strains in conjunction with proteomic and transcriptomic analyses to develop a better understanding of the response of this organism to a wide range of sulfide concentrations.

Metabolism and Ecology of Epsilonproteobacteria (in collaboration with Barb Campbell, CEOE and Martin Klotz, University of Louisville)

This project seeks to understand the distribution of Epsilonproteobacteria in terrestrial and marine environments coupled with detailed analysis of the model organism Nautilia profundicola strain AmH.  The genome sequence of strain AmH suggested that it must utilize a novel pathway for nitrate reduction and assimilation.  The physiology and regulation of this process is currently an active project between the Campbell, Hanson, and Klotz laboratories.

Arctic Sediment Metagenome Sequencing (supported by the DOE-JGI Community Sequencing Program, in collaboration with Dave Kirchman and Matt Cottrell, CEOE)

Methane is a major greenhouse gas and Arctic Ocean sediments contain large concentrations of methane clathrates, methane trapped in water ice "cages".  The DOE-JGI is collecting metagenomic sequences from sediment samples.  These sequences will be analyzed to determine how the microbial community structure of these sediments may differ relative to other marine sediment communities with a specific emphasis on both aerobic and anaerobic methane oxidation pathways.

Microbial Metalloid Metabolism (in collaboration with Tom Church, CEOE)

This project studies the formation of volatile polonium (Po) and tellurium (Te) species in marine environments. My group has contributed microbial expertise to the project to supply biologically produced alkyl-metalloid compounds and to identify marine microbes that may synthesize these compounds in situ.  This project has been supported by the NSF (OCE-0425199).  We are currently working on a number of publications and seeking additional funding.

Tundra Soil Microbes and Ecosystem Ecology (in collaboration with Barb Campbell, CEOE, Michelle Mack and Ted Schuur, University of Florida)

This project seeks to understand how microbial communities in Arctic tundra soils are changed by long (> 20 years) and short (< 1 year) term manipulation of nutrients and temperature at the Toolik Lake, AK, long term ecological research station. High throughput sequencing coupled with functional assays of the moist acidic tundra microbial community revealed both structural and functional changes as a result of long term fertilization.  This project is currently unfunded.

Now recruiting a Ph. D. student for a project on N-metabolism in Epsilonproteobacteria.  For details, see the announcement here.

Phototrophic Bacterial Metabolism

Jennifer Hiras, Ph.D. Student, Marine Biosciences  Email

Ernest Bonsu, Ph. D. student, Biological Sciences  Email

Brian Eddie, Ph. D. student, Marine Biosciences  Email

Kevin Shuman, Ph. D. student, Biological Sciences  Email

Dan Hess, Ph. D. student, Biochemistry/Chemistry Biology Interface Program  Email

Epsilonproteobacterial Ecology

Karen Rossmassler, Ph. D. student, Marine Biosciences    Email                                           (Advisor: Barb Campbell)

Current Undergraduates

Jesse Rodriguez - BISC468

Shannon Owings - Laboratory Assistant

Looking for undergraduate researchers: e-mail tehanson@udel.edu if interested!

MAST 482 - Introduction to Ocean Sciences - Fall Semester, every year
MAST 827 - Microbial Physiology and Diversity - Spring Semester, odd numbered years
CHEM 667 - Evironmental Chemistry - Spring Semester, odd numbered years

For my publications in PubMed, click here.  For UDaily articles, click here.

Latest:

Campbell BJ, Polson SW, Hanson TE, Mack MC, & Schuur EAG. The effect of nutrient deposition on bacterial communities in Arctic tundra soil. Environmental Microbiology. In press.

2009:

Bains G, Sampath Kumar A, Rudrappa T, Alff E, Hanson TE, & Bais HP. (2009) Native plant and microbial contributions to a negative plant-plant interaction.  Plant Physiology. 151, 2145-2151.  The paper is here and the UDaily article is here.

Campbell BJ, Smith JL, Hanson TE, Klotz MG, Stein LY, et al. (2009) Adaptations to Submarine Hydrothermal Environments Exemplified by the Genome of Nautilia profundicola. PLoS Genet 5, e1000362  The paper is here, the UDaily article on the paper is here, the NSF press release is here.

Chan, L. K., Morgan-Kiss, R. M., & Hanson, T. E. (2009). Functional analysis of three sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase homologs in Chlorobaculum tepidum. J Bacteriol 191, 1026-1034

Morgan-Kiss, R. M., Chan, L. K., Weber, T. S. & Hanson, T. E. (2009). Chlorobaculum tepidum regulates chlorosome structure and function in response to temperature and electron donor availability. Photosynth Res 99, 11-21.

2008:

Ollivier, P. R. L., Bahrou, A. S., Marcus, S., Cox, T., Church, T. M. & Hanson, T. E. (2008). Volatilization and precipitation of tellurium by aerobic, tellurite resistant marine microbes. Appl Environ Microbiol 74, 7163-7173. 

Our paper supplied the cover art for this issue.  Thanks to Shannon Modla of the BioImaging Center for making such a cool image!

Chan, L. K., Weber, T. S., Morgan-Kiss, R. M. & Hanson, T. E. (2008). A genomic region required for phototrophic thiosulfate oxidation in the green sulfur bacterium Chlorobium tepidum (syn. Chlorobaculum tepidum). Microbiology 154, 818-829.

Morgan-Kiss, R. M., Ivanov, A. G., Modla, S., Czymmek, K., Huner, N. P., Priscu, J. C., Lisle, J. T. & Hanson, T. E. (2008). Identity and physiology of a new psychrophilic eukaryotic green alga, Chlorella sp., strain BI, isolated from a transitory pond near Bratina Island, Antarctica. Extremophiles 12, 701-711.

Tabita, F. R., Satagopan, S., Hanson, T. E., Kreel, N. E. & Scott, S. S. (2008). Distinct form I, II, III, and IV Rubisco proteins from the three kingdoms of life provide clues about Rubisco evolution and structure/function relationships. J Exp Bot 59, 1515-1524.

Tabita, F. R., Hanson, T. E., Satagopan, S., Witte, B. H. & Kreel, N. E. (2008). Phylogenetic and evolutionary relationships of RubisCO and the RubisCO-like proteins and the functional lessons provided by diverse molecular forms. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 363, 2629-2640.

Smith, J. L., Campbell, B. J., Hanson, T. E., Zhang, C. L. & Cary, S. C. (2008). Nautilia profundicola sp. nov., a thermophilic, sulfur-reducing epsilonproteobacterium from deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 58, 1598-1602.

Chan, L. K., Morgan-Kiss, R. & Hanson, T. E. (2008). Genetic and proteomic studies of sulfur oxidation in Chlorobium tepidum (syn. Chlorobaculum tepidum). In Sulfur in Phototrophic Organisms, pp. 363-379. Edited by R. Hell, C. Dahl, T. Leustek & D. Knaff. New York, N.Y.: Springer.

Wommack, K. E., Bench, S. R., Bhavsar, J., Mead, D., and T. Hanson. (2008) Isolation independent methods of characterizing phage communities 2: characterizing a metagenome. pp. 279-289 In: Bacteriophages: Methods and Protocols, Volume 2 Molecular and Applied Aspects (Clokie, M. R. J. & A. M. Kropinski eds.)

Postdoctoral:

Dr. Patrick Ollivier, Postdoctoral in France.

Dr. Rachael M. Morgan-Kiss, Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Miami University

Dr. Lisa Waidner, Postdoctoral Researcher, Animal and Food Sciences and DBI, University of Delaware

Graduate:

Leong-Keat Chan, Ph.D., Marine Biosciences.  LK is currently a Postdoc with Mary Ann Moran at the University of Georgia. 

Andrew Bahrou, M.S., Oceanography.  Andrew has started a position with the State of Michigan. 

Undergraduate:

Joy Lawani, Validation Specialist, Bio-Pharm Division, BE&K Inc, www.bek.com

Steve Fatula, B.A. in Environmental Studies, Wesley College, graduate of Rutgers University-Camden in Environmental Law and Business.  Now working on passing the Bar Exam.

Nolberto Figueroa Matias, B.S. in Industrial Biotechnology, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, M. S. in Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez.

Talisha Cox, B.A. in Biology, Lincoln University, Master's student in Environmental Science & Management at Duquesne University

Jessica Martin, B.S. in Animal Science, Vet Student, University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine

Glenn Christman, B.S. in Biochemistry, M.S. student in Dave Kirchman's group

Egle Burbaite,  B.S. in Biological Sciences, Clinical Research Associate, ICON Clinical Research Inc.

Tim Weber, B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Design Engineer at Streamlight

Michelle Madorma, B.S. in Animal Science, M.A. student in Ag & Tech Education at UD

Yun-Fei Lou, B. A. in Biological Sciences, Technician for Dave Hutchins at USC

Emily Alff, B.S. in Environmental Science, Ph.D. student with Harsh Bais at UD.

Delaware Environmental Institute

Center for Environmental Genomics

Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology

Chemistry-Biology Interface Program

September 2009:

It's official! Tom is promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure and gets to start using the new title this month.

August 2009:

Brian, Ernest, and Tom attended the International Symposium on Phototrophic Prokaryotes in Montreal, Canada.  Brian & Ernest gave posters, Tom gave a talk and captained the U.S. team to victory in the street hockey competition.  Brian says he took blackmail photos.

Ernest was selected to attend the FASEB-MARC Leadership Development/Grant Writing Seminar in Virginia Beach.