Microbial Ecophysiology Laboratory

The Microbial Ecophysiology Lab studies the microbial communities that drive iron and sulfur biogeochemical cycles in extremely acidic environments, from natural volcanic systems to industrial biomining operations. We combine cutting-edge computational and functional genomics with biochemistry and molecular microbiology to dissect the dynamics and interactions among bacteria, archaea and viruses in these ecosystems.

A central focus of our work is the evolution, taxonomy and genome biology of the Acidithiobacillia class, key model microorganisms in biomining and acidic environments. Using Acidithiobacillia-dominated communities as tractable systems, we investigate microbial community assembly as an ecological and eco-evolutionary problem, asking how dispersal, selection and mobile genetic elements shape community structure, function and mineral recovery.

The lab is led by Prof. Raquel Quatrini, author of over 80 scientific articles and co-editor of the first book on acidophile microbiology.