Jim Gilmour - Jim Gilmour - People - Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

Dr Jim Gilmour

Senior Lecturer

Tel: 0114 222 4412
Email: d.j.gilmour@sheffield.ac.uk

Research

Research Precis

Chlamy Production of Biofuels and other useful products from microalgae (including cyanobacteria)

My initial training at PhD and postdoctoral level was in algal physiology and biochemistry using the extremophilic microalga Dunaliella to examine the effect of salt stress on photosynthesis. On obtaining my lectureship at Sheffield, I continued to work with microalgae, but gradually I moved more into the field of bacterial growth in extreme environments. During the 1990s, I was Deputy Head of Department and Director of Undergraduate Studies, but I always maintained a research laboratory with at least one PhD student. In 2000, I moved back into research and retrained in molecular biology techniques and since 2005, I have supervised 8 PhD students studying microbial biodiversity in extreme environments. I have recently started to adapt the molecular biodiversity techniques used for bacteria (16S rDNA sequencing, specialised gel electrophoresis methods) for use with microalgae. My expertise in molecular biology techniques coupled with my long term experience of growing microalgae are the basis of my current research into biodiesel production by microalgae. I have collaborations with colleagues in the Engineering Faculty, in particular with Prof Will Zimmerman on using microbubbles to grow microalgae more efficiently. Two further review papers are in press and we have received funding from the Technology Strategy Board (£150k) and the Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment (£33300). Very recently, funding has been awarded by DECC to Carbon Sequestration Ltd as part of CCS Innovation programme and my laboratory will receive £35K of this award. The microalgal research group in my lab consists of six PhD students (four of whom are jointly supervised with colleagues in Engineering).

Research Keywords

Microbiology, microalgae, cyanobacteria, biofuels

I welcome applications from self-funded prospective home and international PhD students; see examples of possible projects below.

You can apply for a PhD position in MBB here.

Contact me at d.j.gilmour@sheffield.ac.uk for further information.

Investigating Photosynthesis in Nannochloropsis – An Important Algal Genus for Biofuel Production

One of the key insights from phylogenetic studies of eukaryotic microorganisms is the enormous diversity within the microalgal group with green algae being similar to plants and other groups such as diatoms being very different. The Eustigmatophytes (which include Nannochloropsis) are another group of microalgae which differ enormously from green algae/plants. It is highly likely that the detailed mechanisms of photosynthesis will operate very differently in Nannochloropsis when compared to a model green alga such as Chlorella or Chlamydomonas species. The proposed project will build on existing work in my lab on using Nannochloropsis to produce high levels of triacylglycerols for biodiesel. Ways of improving the photosynthetic efficiency of Nannochloropsis would help to make biodiesel production more cost effective and new insights into the mechanisms of photosynthesis in this unusual group of microalgae will add to our fundamental knowledge of photosynthesis.

Teaching

Level 3 Modules

MBB303 Cells as Factories (Module Coordinator)
MBB340 The Microbiology of Extreme Environments (Module Coordinator)
MBB362 Biochemistry Data Handling
MBB363 Genetics Data Handling
MBB364 Microbiology Data Handling

Level 2 Modules

MBB263 Microbiology 2
MBB265 Practical Molecular Bioscience 2

Level 1 Modules

MBB163 Microbiology (Module Coordinator)
MBB165 Practical Molecular Bioscience 1

Career History

            1998 - present:	Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, University of Sheffield
- 1998:	Lecturer in Microbiology, University of Sheffield
- 1985:	Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Liverpool
- 1984:	NATO Research Scholarship, Universitat Wurzburg, West Germany
- 1982:	PhD – University of Glasgow

            

Honours and Distinctions

Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology

Publications

Journal articles

Burak H, Dunbar A & Gilmour DJ (2019) Enhancement of Dunaliella salina growth by using wavelength shifting dyes. Journal of Applied Phycology, 1-6.
Smith RT & Gilmour DJ (2018) The influence of exogenous organic carbon assimilation and photoperiod on the carbon and lipid metabolism of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Algal Research, 31, 122-137. View this article in WRRO
Huete-Ortega M, Okurowska K, Kapoore RV, Johnson MP, Gilmour DJ & Vaidyanathan S (2018) Effect of ammonium and high light intensity on the accumulation of lipids in Nannochloropsis oceanica (CCAP 849/10) and Phaeodactylum tricornutum (CCAP 1055/1). Biotechnology for Biofuels, 11(1), 60-60. View this article in WRRO
Padmaperuma G, Kapoore RV, Gilmour DJ & Vaidyanathan S (2017) Microbial consortia: a critical look at microalgae co-cultures for enhanced biomanufacturing. Critical Reviews in Biotechnology. View this article in WRRO
Hounslow E, Noirel J, Gilmour DJ & Wright PC (2017) Lipid quantification techniques for screening oleaginous species of microalgae for biofuel production. European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology, 119(2).
Kamaroddin MF, Hanotu J, Gilmour DJ & Zimmerman WB (2016) In-situ disinfection and a new downstream processing scheme from algal harvesting to lipid extraction using ozone-rich microbubbles for biofuel production. Algal Research, 17, 217-226. View this article in WRRO
Romero-Gonzalez ME, Nwaobi BC, Hufton JM & Gilmour DJ (2016) Ex-situ Bioremediation of U(VI) from Contaminated Mine Water Using Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans Strains. Frontiers in Environmental Sciences, 4, 1-11. View this article in WRRO
Hounslow E, Kapoore RV, Vaidyanathan S, Gilmour DJ & Wright PC (2016) The Search for a Lipid Trigger: The Effect of Salt Stress on the Lipid Profile of the Model Microalgal Species Chlamydomonas reinhardtii for Biofuels Production. Current Biotechnology, 5(4), 305-313. View this article in WRRO
Smith RT, Bangert K, Wilkinson SJ & Gilmour DJ (2015) Synergistic carbon metabolism in a fast growing mixotrophic freshwater microalgal species Micractinium inermum. Biomass and Bioenergy, 82, 73-86. View this article in WRRO
Ying K, Gilmour D & Zimmerman W (2015) Periodic CO2 Dosing Strategy for Dunaliella salina Batch Culture. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 16(5), 11509-11521. View this article in WRRO
Ying K, Zimmerman WB & Gilmour DJ (2015) Periodic CO2 Dosing Strategy for Dunaliella salina Batch Culture. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. View this article in WRRO
Ying K, Gilmour DJ & Zimmerman WB (2014) Effects of CO2 and pH on growth of the microalga Dunaliella salina. Journal of Microbial and Biochemical Technology, 6(3), 167-173. View this article in WRRO
Ying K, Al-Mashhadani MKH, Hanotu JO, Gilmour DJ & Zimmerman WB (2013) Enhanced Mass Transfer in Microbubble Driven Airlift Bioreactor for Microalgal Culture. Engineering, 5(9), 735-743. View this article in WRRO
Ying K, Gilmour DJ, Shi Y & Zimmerman WB (2013) Growth Enhancement of Dunaliella salina by Microbubble Induced Airlift Loop Bioreactor (ALB)—The Relation between Mass Transfer and Growth Rate. Journal of Biomaterials and Nanobiotechnology, 4(2A), 1-9. View this article in WRRO
Budarin V, Ross AB, Biller P, Riley R, Clark JH, Jones JM, Gilmour DJ & Zimmerman W (2012) Microalgae biorefinery concept based on hydrothermal microwave pyrolysis. Green Chemistry, 14(12), 3251-3254.
Gilmour DJ & Zimmerman WB (2012) Can algal biofuels play a major role in meeting future energy needs?. Biofuels, 3(5), 511-513.
Zimmerman WB, Zandi M, Hemaka Bandulasena HC, Tesař V, James Gilmour D & Ying K (2011) Design of an airlift loop bioreactor and pilot scales studies with fluidic oscillator induced microbubbles for growth of a microalgae Dunaliella salina. Applied Energy.
Giordano M, Norici A, Gilmour DJ & Raven JA (2007) Physiological responses of the green alga Dunaliella parva (Volvocales, Chlorophyta) to controlled incremental changes in the N source. FUNCT PLANT BIOL, 34(10), 925-934.
Britton KL, Baker PJ, Fisher M, Ruzheinikov S, Gilmour DJ, Bonete M-J, Ferrer J, Pire C, Esclapez J & Rice DW (2006) Analysis of protein solvent interactions in glucose dehydrogenase from the extreme halophile Haloferax mediterranei.. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 103(13), 4846-4851.
Hunt L, Otterhag L, Lee JC, Lasheen T, Hunt J, Seki M, Shinozaki K, Sornmarin M, Gilmour DJ, Pical C & Gray JE (2004) Gene-specific expression and calcium activation of Arabidopsis thaliana phospholipase C isoforms. NEW PHYTOL, 162(3), 643-654.
Giordano M, Norici A & Gilmour DJ (2003) Influence of the nitrogen source and metabolites on the V-max of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase from the unicellular green alga Dunaliella parva CCAP 19/9 (Volvocales, Chlorophyceae). PHYCOLOGIA, 42(2), 133-137.
Wainwright M, Al Talhi A, Gilmour DJ, Anderson RW & Killham K (2002) Big bacteria pass through very small holes.. Med Hypotheses, 58(6), 558-560.
Ferrer J, Fisher M, Burke J, Sedelnikova SE, Baker PJ, Gilmour DJ, Bonete MJ, Pire C, Esclapez J & Rice DW (2001) Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of glucose dehydrogenase from Haloferax mediterranei.. Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr, 57(Pt 12), 1887-1889.
Hard BC & Gilmour DJ (1996) The uptake of organic compounds by Dunaliella parva CCAP 19/9. EUR J PHYCOL, 31(3), 217-224.
CUMMINGS SP & GILMOUR DJ (1995) THE EFFECT OF NACL ON THE GROWTH OF A HALOMONAS SPECIES - ACCUMULATION AND UTILIZATION OF COMPATIBLE SOLUTES. MICROBIOL-UK, 141, 1413-1418.
GIORDANO M & GILMOUR DJ (1995) INTERACTIONS BETWEEN CARBON AND NITROGEN-METABOLISM IN THE UNICELLULAR ALGA DUNALIELLA. PLANT PHYSIOL, 108(2), 127-127.
MIGUELEZ E & GILMOUR DJ (1994) REGULATION OF CELL-VOLUME IN THE SALT-TOLERANT BACTERIUM HALOMONAS-ELONGATA. LETT APPL MICROBIOL, 19(5), 363-365.
CUMMINGS SP, WILLIAMSON MP & GILMOUR DJ (1993) TURGOR REGULATION IN A NOVEL HALOMONAS SPECIES. ARCH MICROBIOL, 160(4), 319-323.
REES D, LEE CB, GILMOUR DJ & HORTON P (1992) MECHANISMS FOR CONTROLLING BALANCE BETWEEN LIGHT INPUT AND UTILIZATION IN THE SALT TOLERANT ALGA DUNALIELLA C9AA. PHOTOSYNTH RES, 32(3), 181-191.
Hard BC & Gilmour DJ (1991) A mutant ofDunaliella parva CCAP 19/9 leaking large amounts of glycerol into the medium. Journal of Applied Phycology, 3(4), 367-372.
HARD BC & GILMOUR DJ (1991) A MUTANT OF DUNALIELLA-PARVA CCAP 19/9 LEAKING LARGE AMOUNTS OF GLYCEROL INTO THE MEDIUM. J APPL PHYCOL, 3(4), 367-372.
BLACKWELL JR & GILMOUR DJ (1991) PHYSIOLOGICAL-RESPONSE OF THE UNICELLULAR GREEN-ALGA CHLOROCOCCUM-SUBMARINUM TO RAPID CHANGES IN SALINITY. ARCH MICROBIOL, 157(1), 86-91.
BLACKWELL JR & GILMOUR DJ (1991) DETERMINATION OF INTRACELLULAR VOLUME AND INTERNAL SOLUTE CONCENTRATIONS OF THE GREEN-ALGA CHLOROCOCCUM-SUBMARINUM. ARCH MICROBIOL, 157(1), 80-85.
BLACKWELL JR & GILMOUR DJ (1991) STRESS TOLERANCE OF THE TIDAL POOL CHLOROPHYTE, CHLOROCOCCUM-SUBMARINUM. BRIT PHYCOL J, 26(2), 141-147.
BLACKWELL JR, COX EJ & GILMOUR DJ (1991) THE MORPHOLOGY AND TAXONOMY OF CHLOROCOCCUM-SUBMARINUM (CHLOROCOCCALES) ISOLATED FROM A TIDAL ROCKPOOL. BRIT PHYCOL J, 26(2), 133-139.
GILMOUR DJ (1990) COMMERCIAL USE OF MICROBE EXTREMOPHILES. CHEM IND-LONDON(9), 285-288.
BLACKWELL JR & GILMOUR DJ (1989) DETERMINATION OF VOLUME OF DUNALIELLA CELLS BY LITHIUM DILUTION MEASUREMENTS AND DERIVATION OF INTERNAL SOLUTE CONCENTRATIONS. J EXP BOT, 40(216), 795-802.

Chapters

Ross AB, Budarin V, Biller P, Riley R, Clark J, Jones JM, Gilmour DJ & Zimmerman W (2011) Hydrothermal microwave pyrolysis of microalgae In Bridgwater AV (Ed.), Proceedings of the bioten conference on biomass, bioenergy and biofuels 2010 (pp. 647-653). Berkshire, UK: CPL Press.

Conference proceedings papers

Romero-Gonzalez ME, Nwaobi B & Gilmour J (2009) Extremophile bacteria: Ultimate sink for U(VI) from contaminated mine water?. GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA, Vol. 73(13) (pp A1115-A1115)