Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology
Häggblom Laboratory Website
76 Lipman Drive - Room 326
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8525
(732) 932-9763 x326
Fax: (732) 932-8965
haggblom@aesop.rutgers.edu
Professor
M.S. (General microbiology), University of Helsinki, Finland, 1986
Ph.D. (General microbiology), University of Helsinki, 1989
Environmental and applied microbiology, biodegradation and bioremediation
Research in our laboratory focuses on the biodegradation of environmental pollutants, especially halogenated aromatic compounds. Our specific interests are in understanding (a) how microbes degrade toxic chemicals, such as halogenated aromatic compounds, and (b) how microbial communities can be stimulated to degrade soil, groundwater and sediment contaminants. Our laboratory is examining the diversity of aerobic and anaerobic processes in the degradation and transformation of environmental pollutants, including chlorinated and brominated aromatic compounds, chlorinated pesticides, PCBs and PAHs. Our research is seeking novel bioremediation strategies for degradation of these compounds in soils and sediments. Our long term research objectives involve examining the diverse catabolic activities of microbes and how biotransformation and biodegradation affect the fate of anthropogenic contaminants. A central objective in these studies is the physiological characterization of the microorganisms involved in contaminant degradation and transformation and the identification of degradation mechanisms and pathways. The work in our laboratory is currently focusing on identification of degradation mechanisms of halogenated aromatic compounds under different redox conditions, including a biochemical and molecular characterization of the degradation pathways. In addition, we are also examining the population structure and dynamics of anaerobic dehalogenating communities. Another area of interest is the characterization of rhizospheric bacteria involved in biodegradation of organic contaminants and developing their use in bioremediation. We are also exploring aspects of microbe-oligochaete interactions in biodegradation of organic contaminants. The aims of these research projects are to provide a basic understanding of the environmental fate of anthropogenic pollutants as well as to serve as a base for developing novel bioremediation or biocatalytic processes.
Selected PUBLICATIONS
Ahn Y-B, Kerkhof LJ, Häggblom MM (2009) Desulfoluna spongiiphila sp. nov., a dehalogenating bacterium in the Desulfobacteraceae from the marine sponge Aplysina aerophoba. Int. J. System. Evol. Microbiol., in press.
George KW, Häggblom MM (2008) Microbial O-methylation of the flame retardant tetrabromobisphenol-A. Environ. Sci. Technol. 42:5555–5561.
Youngster LKG, Somsamak P, Häggblom MM (2008) Effects of co-substrates and inhibitors on the anaerobic O-demethylation of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 80:1113-1120.
Ahn Y-B, Liu F, Fennell DE, Häggblom MM (2008) Biostimulation and bioaugmentation to enhance dechlorination of polychlorinated-p-dioxins in contaminated sediments. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 66:271-281.
Männistö MK, Tiirola M, Häggblom MM (2007) Microbial communities in Arctic fjelds of Finnish Lapland are stable but highly pH dependent. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 59:452-465.
Narasingarao P, Häggblom MM (2007) Identification of anaerobic selenate-respiring bacteria from aquatic sediments. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 73:3519-3527.
Ahn Y-B, Häggblom MM. Kerkhof LJ (2007) Comparison of anaerobic microbial communities amended with halogenated compounds to enhance dechlorination of 1,2,3,4-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in estuarine sediments. FEMS Microbiol Ecol. 61:362-371.
Somsamak P, Richnow HH, Häggblom MM (2006) Carbon isotope fractionation during anaerobic degradation of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) under sulfate-reducing and methanogenic conditions. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72:1157-1163.
Ahn Y-B, Rhee S-K, Fennell DE, Kerkhof LJ, Hentschel U, Häggblom MM (2003) Reductive dehalogenation of brominated phenolic compounds by microorganisms associated with the marine sponge Aplysina aerophoba. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69:4159-4166.
Häggblom MM, Bossert ID (2003) Organohalides - a global perspective. In: Häggblom MM, Bossert ID (eds) Dehalogenation: Microbial Processes and Environmental Applications, pp., 3-29, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston.
