Lynd Research Lab: Ecology of Microbial Cellulose Utilization

The Lynd lab has recently initiated study of microbial communities able to degrade cellulose. Whereas most microbial ecology work focuses on how nature works, our focus is understanding how well nature could potentially work for us to achieve rapid and efficient processing of lignocellulose in industrial settings. In collaboration with the fermentation and metabolic engineering groups, we use a combination of fermentation and molecular tools to evaluate rates of microbial cellulose utilization in consortia and pure cultures, characterize the diversity of cellulolytic microbial communities, and understand the structure and interspecies interactions operative in such communities.

Several in-preparation manuscripts address these themes building on activities and strengths in other Lynd group research areas as well as prior activities of senior group members (Izquierdo et al, 2010; Sizova et al, in preparation).

Area Leader: Dr. Javier Izquierdo