Dr. Anne M. Spain

 

Anne Spain

Assistant Professor of Biology
Office: ASC 2118
Phone: (231) 591-3190
E-mail: AnneSpain@ferris.edu

Classes Taught at Ferris State University:
BIOL 108: Medical Microbiology
BIOL 122: General Biology 2

Education and Training:
Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Oklahoma, 2009 - 2011 
Ph.D. in Microbiology, University of Oklahoma, 2009 
B.S. in Biology, Central Michigan University, 2002 

Research Profile:
My graduate research focused two areas under the broader scope of anaerobic microbiology and microbial ecology. First, I identified and characterized denitrifying bacteria that are involved in bioremediation of an acidic high-nitrate and uranium-contaminated aquifer. Second, using public 16S rRNA gene-based surveys, I described the ecological distribution of novel and uncultured clades within the two bacterial phyla Proteobacteria and Fibrobacteres.

During my postdoctoral career, I analyzed large environmental RNA datasets (metatranscriptomes) obtained from a unique sulfur cycling spring, called Zodletone Microbial Observatory determining functions of novel microbial groups and idenitfying microbial lineages involved in various sulfur cycling pathways. This has led to my current research, where I hope to use the information gathered from these large datasets to isolate and characterize novel microorganisms involved in sulfur transformations.

Undergraduate Research:
I currently have an active undergraduate research laboratory in anaerobic microbiology and microbial ecology. Please contact me if you are interested in performing an independent research project in one of these areas.
Amber Carr

  • Amber Carr received a Summer Research Fellowship from Ferris State University in 2012. Her project was titled, "Prevalence of Tetrathionate in Reduction Among Bacteria Isolated from the Muskegon River."

 

Selected Presentations and Publications:
Spain, A. M., Elshahed, M. S., Najar, F. Z., and L. R. Krumholz. Comparative metatranscriptomic analysis of an anaerobic high-sulfide spring reveals insight into sulfur cycling pathways and unexpected aerobic metabolism. Presented at the American Society For Microbiology General Meeting. Poster presentation. New Orleans, LA. 2011.

Spain, A. M. and L. R. Krumholz. 2012. Cooperation of three denitrifying bacteria in nitrate removal of acidic nitrate- and uranium-contaminated groundwater. Geomicrobiol J 29: 830-842

Spain, A. M. and L. R. Krumholz. 2011. Nitrate reducing bacteria at the nitrate and uranium contaminated Oak Ridge Integrated Field Research Challenge Site: A Review. Geomicrobiol J 28: 418-429.

Spain, A. M., A. D. Peacock, and L. R. Krumholz. 2011. Effects of microbial community structure, terminal electron accepting conditions, and molybdate on the extent of U(VI) reduction in landfill aquifer sediments. Geomicrobiol J 28:430-443.

Spain, A. M., C. W. Forsberg, and L. R. Krumholz. 2011. Phylum XVII. Fibrobacteres., p. 737-746. In N. R. Krieg, J. T. Staley, D. R. Brown, B. Hedlund, B. J. Paster, N. Ward, W. Ludwig, and W. B. Whitman (ed.), Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, 2nd ed, vol. 4. Springer Verlag, New York.

Spain, A. M., L. R. Krumholz, and M. S. Elshahed. 2009. Abundance, composition, diversity and novelty of soil Proteobacteria. ISME J 3:992-1000.

Spain, A. M., A. D. Peacock, J. D. Istok, M. S. Elshahed, F. Z. Najar, B. A. Roe, D. C. White, and L. R. Krumholz. 2007. Identification and isolation of a Castellaniella species important during biostimulation of an acidic nitrate- and uranium-contaminated aquifer. Appl Environ Microbiol 73:4892-904.

Employed at Ferris since 2011