Kati Geszvain

Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences

Research Interests

Dr. Geszvain’s research focuses on bacteria that oxidize manganese (Mn), converting the soluble reduced metal to insoluble Mn oxide minerals. These minerals are powerful oxidants that are capable of breaking down environmental contaminants. Therefore, her research hopes to employ Mn oxidizing bacteria in bioremediation.

Current Projects

Dr. Geszvain’s lab focuses on two main areas of research. One continues her efforts to understand the physiology of Mn oxidation in the model Mn oxidizing bacterium (MnOB) Pseudomonas putida GB-1. This project involves unraveling the complex regulation of the three separate Mn oxidase enzymes present in this species. Oxygen, surface substrate and light among other things appear to regulate Mn oxidation in this species. The hope is to understand why P. putida GB-1 has three separate Mn oxidase enzymes when Mn oxidation activity is dispensable under laboratory conditions.

The second focus of Dr. Geszvain’s lab is the characterization of two novel MnOB, both members of the Pseudomonas psychrophila species. As the name implies, these strains grow well at low temperature and can oxidize robustly at this temperature. Complete genome sequences for the two strains suggest they use similar mechanisms for Mn oxidation as P. putida GB-1. The hope is to develop genetic tools to manipulate these organisms and ultimately fully characterize their oxidation abilities.

Publications

Wright, MH, Geszvain, K, Oldham, VE, Luther III, GW and Tebo, BM. Oxidative formation and removal of complexed Mn(III) species by Pseudomonas. Front. Microbiol. (2018) 9 (560).

Geszvain, K, Smesrud, L and Tebo, BM. Identification of a third manganese oxidase enzyme in Pseudomonas putida GB-1. Appl Environ Microbiol. (2016) 82: 3774-3782.

Research Areas

Microbiology