Research Associate Adjunct Instructor
Resume:
Elena V. Pikuta, PhD in Microbiology
Madison, AL 35758
+1-256-***-**** cell; ********@*****.***
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY:
• Three decades of practical and theoretical research experience in: Microbial Taxonomy and Systematics; Techniques in microbial physiology and biochemistry, anaerobic Hungate technique, microorganism isolation techniques, gas- and liquid- chromatograph analytical methods, phylogenetic analysis, DNA-analysis and radioisotope analysis, PCR techniques, bioinformatics and work with astromaterials (samples of meteorites).
• Current Interests include: Search for markers of genes/proteins associated with gliding motion in different groups of bacteria, viruses and cancer cells
• Publications and Presentations: 57 articles, ~30 presentations
• Achievements and Contribution to Science:
Ø Description of novel taxa: - 7 new genera,
- 2 families, and
- 17 novel species of anaerobic bacteria & archaea. Ø Description of novel group of alkaliphilic sulfate-reducing bacteria in natural alkaline ecosystems.
Ø First report of the ability of microorganisms to grow at -5 oC In vitro in pure culture.
Ø First paleo-geological record of cultivation of bacteria from Pleistocene 32,000 years old permafrost (C. pleistocenium ) Ø Development of the bio-hydrogen production process with Alkalispirochaeta americana ASpG1.
Ø Expanding knowledge about anaerobes metabolizing alternate chirality enantiomers (sugars & amino acids). Ø Mathematical modeling of the origin and evolution of life. Ø Description of the extracellular organelle antiae responsible for the gliding motility in Prokaryotes.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE:
• Microbial Diversity
• In-situ Microorganisms of Extreme
Environments (interaction, adaptation,
and survival) Bio-systems Modeling
• Anaerobic Microbial Extremophiles
• Anaerobic Communities and consortia
• Fermenting Anaerobes
• Alkaliphilic Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria
• Thermophilic Microorganisms
• Psychrophilic Microorganisms
• Extremely Acidophilic Bacteria
• Biotechnology (microbial hydrogen
production)
• Anaerobic Degradation of Cellulose
• Chirality of Organic Molecules,
Isomerases
• Bacterial Taxonomy and Systematics
• Astrobiology, study of chondrite
meteorites
• Lithotrophic bacteria
• Gliding bacteria
• SARS-2 COVID19 diagnostics
CAREER EXPERIENCE
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY TECHNOLOGIST EUROFINS-DIATHERIX INFECTION DIAGNOSTIC LAB – Nov 11, 2021
• Participation in operations of sample sorting, preparation for DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, DNA-DNA hybridization, buffer washing and ray- scanning (along with paper work according to protocols)
• Cleaning and maintaining lab equipment, and working environment, big team work RESEARCH SCIENTIST/ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR 2012- AUGUST 2019 ATHENS STATE UNIVERSITY Oversee daily research operations. Maintain current and develop new research activities by generating funds from government and commercial sources in Microbiology Lab. Work with students. SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Participation as a co-PI in NASA/Educational grant on a laser type microscope-development.
• Teaching two courses of Microbiology: environmental course “Microbe and You” and clinical microbiology
“Microbial Toxins and Human Health.”
• A novel cytological structure antiae was described; this external filamentous organelle causing gliding motility was recorded in MOV.files and shown with epifluorescent UV-techniques microphotography; the same structures were determined in TEM and SEM images of diverse viruses and HeLa cells (also recorded and demonstrated in UV-light). CONSULTANT-RESEARCHER 2007- 2011; ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR AT UAH, BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT ASTROBIOLOGY LABORATORY AT NSSTC/VON BRAUN CENTER FOR SCIENCE & INNOVATION, INC. Oversee daily research operations. Maintain current and develop new group research activities by generating funds from government and commercial sources.
SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• CoPI: hydrogen bio-production system NASA/MSFC grant (model with H2-producing A. americana ASpG1) CoPI: Antarctica’s biodiversity grant NASA/NSSTC (3 novel anaerobic species were discovered and described). RESEARCH ASSOCIATE 2004- 2006
ASTROBIOLOGY LABORATORY, NSSTC/NASA/UAH
Cultivation and isolation of novel anaerobes. Current and develop new research activities by generating funds from government and commercial sources. SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Hyper-thermophilic archaeon was isolated and described; Polymerase of this organism was used as a product development for commercial sale (ExtremoZyme Inc.) and used in molecular research, was a subject of three PhD dissertations at UAH.
• Record of bacterial growth at -5 oC in pure culture. POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCHER 1999- 2004
NASA, MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER/UAH
Oversee daily research operations. Maintain current and develop new group research activities by generating funds from government and commercial sources. The study of extremophilic bacteria at the Astrobiology Laboratory. SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Geographical distribution of alkaliphilic sulfate-reducing bacteria with satellites in soda lakes of American continent
• Study of psychrotolerant bacteria from polar ecosystems. RESEARCHER 1998-1999
INSTITUTE OF MICROBIOLOGY, RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (RAS) Study of extremely acidophilic lithotrophs. Methodology for physiological processes at the Laboratory of Lithotrophic Microorganisms. SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Study of the metal-bioleaching acidophilic microorganisms, adaptation of novel cultures to increased concentrations of heavy metals and extreme acidity.
• Finalizing publications of previous research.
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE 1997-1998
INSTITUTE OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF MICROORGANISMS, RAS, RUSSIA Studies at the Laboratory of Anaerobic Processes, isolation of new cultures of extremophiles; Work with continuing cultivation in bio-fermenters.
SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Anaerobic consortia of technogenic ecosystem was studied, two novel symbiotic anaerobic extremophilic bacteria were isolated and described (Anoxybacillus pushchinoensis gen. nov., sp. nov. and Desulfotomaculum alkaliphilum sp. nov.)
• Influence of beryllium metal on bacterial cultures (continuous growth in fermenter). PUBLICATIONS
• Pikuta EV, Lyu Z, Hoover RB, Liu Y, Patel NB, Busse,H-J and Lawson PA. (2017). Williamwhitmania taraxaci gen. nov., sp. nov., a proteolytic anaerobe with a novel type of cytology from Lake Untersee in Antarctica, description of Williamwhitmaniaceae fam. nov., and emendation of the order Bacteroidales Krieg 2012. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 67: 4132-4145. doi: 10.1099/ijsem.0.002266
• Pikuta EV, Menes RJ, Bruce AM, Lyu Z, Patel NB, Liu Y, Busse, H-J, Hoover RB, Lawson PA. and Whitman WB. Raineyella antarctica gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel psychrotolerant, D-amino acid utilizing anaerobe isolated from two geographic locations of the Southern Hemisphere. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2016, 66:1-8. doi: 10.1099/ijsem.0.001552
• Pikuta EV, Lyu Z, Williams MD, Patel NB, Liu Y Busse, H.-J., Hoover RB, Lawson PA and Whitman WB.(2017). Sanguibacter gelidistatuariae sp. nov., a novel psychrotolerant anaerobe from an ice sculpture in Antarctica, and emendation of descriptions for the family Sanguibacteraceae, the genus Sanguibacter and species S. antarcticus, S. inulinus, S. kedieii, S. marinus, S. soli and S. suarezii. Int J Syst Evol Microb 67:1442-1450. 10.1099/ijsem.0.001838 EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Doctor of Philosophy at THE INSTITUTE OF MICROBIOLOGY (1997) Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia Master of Science in Biophysics (1990), PERM STATE UNIVERSITY, Russia Bachelor of Science in Biology (1988), PERM STATE UNIVERSITY, Perm, Russia SYMPOSIA/SEMINARS ATTENDED:
• 103rd General Meeting of American Society for Microbiologists (ASM), 18-22May, 2003 Washington DC
• SPIE –The International Society for Optical Engineering - Astrobiology Conferences, 2002- 2013
• Bergey's Society for Microbial Systematics (BiSMIS) April, 2014, Edinburg UK
• ISE International Society for Extremophiles - September 2014, Saint Petersburg Russia
• Southern Eastern Branch of ASM, Tampa FL, 10-12 November, 2017
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