Research
Cyanobacteria play a key role in aquatic ecosystems, being an important primary producer found in extreme, freshwater, and marine environments from the poles to the equator. Cyanobacteria can rapidly adapt to new environments, and environmental changes. Intraspecific diversity can be high, leading to localised adaptions and unique features across different environments. At the ANCRC, our research expertise focuses on understanding the diversity of Australian cyanobacteria, with a particular focus on local adaptations.
Pangenome analysis of 22 Raphidiopsis strains
Example genomic analysis using the ANI (average nucleotide identity)
Comparative genomics
Comparative genomics gives insight into unique adaptations of species and strains, with metabolic enrichment suggesting environmental niches. Phylogenomics is often needed to differentiate species and strains for taxonomic identification.
Ecophysiology
Understanding the ecophysiology of strains – how they respond to environmental variables – is key to their management in the environment. Characterisation of strain growth response to nutrients, light and temperature, for example, are required to model and predict them in the environment.
Toxin analysis
Cyanobacteria produce a range of toxins, which have harmful impacts on drinking water quality, livestock, and the environment. We can identify toxin genes via PCR or from genome sequences.
Strain characterisation
Cyanobacteria have diverse morphology, physiology and genetics. At the ANCRC, we characterise strains on a number of levels: growth response to nutrients and temperature; toxin type and cell quota; 16S rRNA phylogenetics; genome annotation and phylogenomics.