Research Overview
Marine Molecular Microbiology
Marine biology uses the scientific method to study organisms that live in the ocean or other bodies of water. Molecular biology focuses on the structure and interaction of proteins, nucleic acids, and other molecules that carry out the processes required for life at the cellular level. Microbiology studies microorganisms and their interactions. So, putting this all together, marine molecular microbiology is focused on molecular studies of microorganisms that live in the ocean or other bodies of water.
Microbial Symbiosis
Because of their proximity to other organisms, microorganisms often become involved in close associations with others. When those close associations...
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Summer Course Announcement
A summer undergraduate course is being offered at UMBI called the “Summer Microbiology and Research Training (SMaRT) Program” supported by the National Science Foundation. For more information please click the link below: http://combshare.umbi.umd.edu/hill-smart/coursehillr.htm
Research Description
Research Area: Marine molecular biology
Research Specialties: Marine actinomycete ecology and molecular biology, microbiology of marine natural products, bacterial and cyanobacterial symbionts of marine sponges, marine bacteriophages, metal resistance in actinomycetes and application in bioremediation.
Research Interests
Marine Microbiology and the Discovery of New Drugs
The major focus of research in my laboratory is the investigation of symbiotic bacteria associated with marine invertebrates, in particular, sponges. Many important compounds with pharmaceutical potential have been discovered in sponges and other invertebrates. In some cases, the compounds of interest are produced, not by the sponges themselves, but by bacteria associated with the sponges. We are identifying many of the bacteria present in sponges even if we cannot grow them…
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Representative Publications
Mohamed, N. M., A. S. Colman, Y. Tal, and R. T. Hill. 2008. Diversity and expression of nitrogen fixation genes in bacterial symbionts of marine sponges. Environ. Microbiol.10:2910-2921.
Enticknap, J. J., M. Kelly Shanks, O. Peraud, and R. T. Hill. 2006. Characterization of a culturable alphaproteobacterial symbiont common to many marine sponges and evidence for vertical transmission through the germline. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72:3724-3732.
Webster, N. S., K. J. Wilson, L. L. Blackall, and R. T. Hill. 2001. Phylogenetic diversity of bacteria associated with the marine sponge, Rhopaloeides odorabile. Appl. Environ. Microbiol.67:434-444.
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