Novel Aspects of Microbiology

Dr M Wainwright

In my laboratory we are interested in novel aspects of microbial growth and metabolism. Three research areas are currently being actively pursued.

a) Does mitogenetic radiation exist? It is now recognised that all living cells emit low-intensity UV light. The aim of our research is to determine if this UV emission stimulates the growth of other micro-organisms. We have already produced partial evidence for the existence of mitogenetic radiation.

b) Does silicon play a role in bacterial and fungal metabolism? We are particularly interested in determining if microorganisms can use silicon as an energy source, i.e. does silicon-based autotrophy exist.

c) Microbial oligotrophy. That is the growth of bacteria and fungi under extremely low nutrient conditions.

We are currently developing an interest in the role of (b) and (c) in the origin of life on Earth and the possible existence of life elsewhere in the universe, particularly in relation to the theory of panspermia.

I am also interested in historical and more recent studies linking microorganisms (notably highly pleomorphic bacteria with cancer).

Figure Legend - Fungal hyphae growing without nutrients on silica gel medium, which it solubilizes.

Selected Publications

Wainwright et al. (2003). Microoganisms cultured from stratospheric air samples obtained at 41km. FEMS Micorbiology Letters. 218,161-165.

Partial evidence for the existence of mitogenetic radiation. Wainwright, M. et al., Microbiology (1997) 143, 103.

Effect of silicon compounds on fungal growth under oligotrophic and nutrient-rich conditions. Wainwright, M., Al-Wajeeh, K. and Grayston, S.J. Mycological Research (1997)

Oxidation of thiosulphate by Fusarium oxysporum grown under oligotrophic conditions. Jones, R., Parkinson, S.M., Wainwright, M. and Killham, K. Mycological Research (1991) 95, 1169-1174.