Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

Professor Mark van der Giezen

Professor Mark van der Giezen

Honorary Professor of Evolutionary Biochemistry & Professor of Biological Chemistry (University of Stavanger, Norway)

 mark.vandergiezen@uis.no

 

Overview

How microbes interact with their hosts plays an important role in human and animal health. Especially the microbes in the gut are of crucial importance. We are interested in how these microbes affect human and animal health. Our research includes important human and animal pathogens but also focusses on microbes and nutrition and their role in food security.

Adaptation of microbial eukaryotes to low oxygen, as found in the gut, for example, featured in several high impact publications (Nature (2003) 426, 172-176, Current Biology (2008) 18, 580-585, Current Biology (2014) 24, 1176-1186 and PLoS Biology (2017) 15(9) e2003769) and included major human pathogens such as Giardia intestinalis, Entamoeba histolytica and Blastocystis. We hope that understanding their unusual biochemistry might lead to new drug targets. Recently, after my move to Norway, we started working with the Academic Hospital here in Stavanger where we collaborate with the Gastroenterology department on studying the role of the gut microbiome in inflammatory bowel disease or IBD.

Food security research focuses on biochemistry and genomics of several important livestock and fisheries pathogens such as Aphanomyces and Fasciola hepatica. Aphanomyces causes two notifiable diseases: crayfish plague (click here for new diagnostics we developed) and epizootic ulcerative syndrome in fish while Fasciola causes liver fluke in cattle and sheep. We also worked with the National Lobster Hatchery in the UK to understand the interplay between microbes and hosts, especially the role of the gut microbiome on lobster health. We described two new pathogens of Europan lobsters. We discovered the first case of an Halioticidia infection in Europe, described the first clawed lobster virus and performed a comprehensive comparative gut microbiome study on European lobsters (ISME J (2020) 14, 531–543).

Fruit and vegetables improve health and cognition and it is becoming increasingly clear microbes in our alimentary tract play crucial roles in health. We work with former colleagues at Sports and Health Sciences and the Medical School at the University of Exeter (UK). We are unravelling how the microbiome of the tongue helps in healthy ageing (see for example Free Radic. Biol. Med. (2018) 124, 21-30.)

Our lab uses a variety of techniques to answer our research questions. Molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, bioinformatics and next-generation sequencing methods are routinely used. 

In 2019, I accepted a position as Professor of Biological Chemistry at the University of Stavanger, Norway. 

Qualifications

2018 Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

2007 Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, Queen Mary, University of London

1992-1997 PhD in Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Groningen

1988-1992 Drs Molecular Biology & Immunology, University of Groningen

Career

2022-2025 Honorary Professor of Evolutionary Biochemistry, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter

2019-present Professor of Biological Chemistry, Centre for Organelle Research, University of Stavanger, Norway

2019-2022 Honorary Associate Professor of Evolutionary Biochemistry, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter

2019 Associate Professor of Evolutionary Biochemistry, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter

2018 Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

2017-present Theme Lead Aquatic Diseases for the centre for Sustainable Aquaculture Futures

2014 Elected Fellow of the Linnean Society of London

2009 Visiting Scholar at the Institute for Protein Research, University of Osaka, Japan

2007-2018 Senior Lecturer in Evolutionary Biochemistry, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter

2004-2007 Lecturer in Microbiology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary, University of London

2002-2004 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London

1998 EMBO Fellow

1997-2002 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Zoology, The Natural History Museum, London

1996 Visiting Scientist, Centre for the Study of Metals in Biology and Medicine, King‘s College, London

1992 Erasmus Studentship, Laboratoire de Microbiologie et Génétique Moléculaires, University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse

Links

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Research

Research interests

How microbes interact with their hosts plays an important role in human and animal health. Especially the microbes in the gut are of crucial importance. We are interested in how these microbes affect human and animal health. Our research includes important human and animal pathogens but also focusses on microbes and nutrition and their role in food security.

Adaptation of microbial eukaryotes to low oxygen, as found in the gut, for example, featured in several high impact publications (Nature (2003) 426, 172-176, Current Biology (2008) 18, 580-585, Current Biology (2014) 24, 1176-1186 and PLoS Biology (2017) 15(9) e2003769) and included major human pathogens such as Giardia intestinalis, Entamoeba histolytica and Blastocystis. We hope that understanding their unusual biochemistry might lead to new drug targets. Recently, after my move to Norway, we started working with the Academic Hospital here in Stavanger where we collaborate with the Gastroenterology department on studying the role of the gut microbiome in inflammatory bowel disease or IBD.

Food security research focuses on biochemistry and genomics of several important livestock and fisheries pathogens such as Aphanomyces and Fasciola hepatica. Aphanomyces causes two notifiable diseases: crayfish plague (click here for new diagnostics we developed) and epizootic ulcerative syndrome in fish while Fasciola causes liver fluke in cattle and sheep. We also worked with the National Lobster Hatchery in the UK to understand the interplay between microbes and hosts, especially the role of the gut microbiome on lobster health. We described two new pathogens of Europan lobsters. We discovered the first case of an Halioticidia infection in Europe, described the first clawed lobster virus and performed a comprehensive comparative gut microbiome study on European lobsters (ISME J (2020) 14, 531–543).

Fruit and vegetables improve health and cognition and it is becoming increasingly clear microbes in our alimentary tract play crucial roles in health. We work with former colleagues at Sports and Health Sciences and the Medical School at the University of Exeter (UK). We are unravelling how the microbiome of the tongue helps in healthy ageing (see for example Free Radic. Biol. Med. (2018) 124, 21-30.)

Our lab uses a variety of techniques to answer our research questions. Molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, bioinformatics and next-generation sequencing methods are routinely used. 

Link to publications (Google Scholar).

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Publications

Books

van der Giezen, M. (2007). Protein targeting protocols., Humana Press Inc.

Journal articles

L’Heureux JE, van der Giezen M, Winyard PG, Jones AM, Vanhatalo A (2023). Localisation of nitrate-reducing and highly abundant microbial communities in the oral cavity. PLOS ONE, 18(12), e0295058-e0295058. Abstract.
Stensvold CR, Ascuña‐Durand K, Chihi A, Belkessa S, Kurt Ö, El‐Badry A, van der Giezen M, Clark CG (2022). Further insight into the genetic diversity of <i>Entamoeba coli</i> and <i>Entamoeba hartmanni</i>. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology, 70(2). Abstract.
Stensvold CR, Sørland BA, Berg RPKD, Andersen LO, van der Giezen M, Bowtell JL, El-Badry AA, Belkessa S, Kurt Ö, Nielsen HV, et al (2022). Stool Microbiota Diversity Analysis of Blastocystis-Positive and Blastocystis-Negative Individuals. Microorganisms, 10(2). Abstract.
Herman EK, Greninger A, van der Giezen M, Ginger ML, Ramirez-Macias I, Miller HC, Morgan MJ, Tsaousis AD, Velle K, Vargová R, et al (2021). Genomics and transcriptomics yields a system-level view of the biology of the pathogen Naegleria fowleri. BMC Biology, 19(1). Abstract.
Vanhatalo A, L'Heureux JE, Kelly J, Blackwell JR, Wylie LJ, Fulford J, Winyard PG, Williams DW, van der Giezen M, Jones AM, et al (2021). Network analysis of nitrate-sensitive oral microbiome reveals interactions with cognitive function and cardiovascular health across dietary interventions. Redox Biology, 41, 101933-101933.
Knopp M, Stockhorst S, van der Giezen M, Garg SG, Gould SB (2021). The Asgard Archaeal-Unique Contribution to Protein Families of the Eukaryotic Common Ancestor Was 0.3%. Genome Biology and Evolution, 13(6). Abstract.
Holt CC, Bass D, Stentiford GD, van der Giezen M (2021). Understanding the role of the shrimp gut microbiome in health and disease. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 186, 107387-107387.
Hess M, Paul SS, Puniya AK, van der Giezen M, Shaw C, Edwards JE, Fliegerová K (2020). Anaerobic Fungi: Past, Present, and Future. Frontiers in Microbiology, 11
Holt CC, van der Giezen M, Daniels CL, Stentiford GD, Bass D (2020). Spatial and temporal axes impact ecology of the gut microbiome in juvenile European lobster (Homarus gammarus). ISME Journal, 14(2), 531-543. Abstract.
Huang J, Nguyen VH, Hamblin KA, Maytum R, van der Giezen M, Fraser ME (2019). ATP-specificity of succinyl-CoA synthetase from Blastocystis hominis. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol, 75(Pt 7), 647-659. Abstract.  Author URL.
Thomas A, Cutlan R, Finnigan W, van der Giezen M, Harmer N (2019). Highly thermostable carboxylic acid reductases generated by ancestral sequence reconstruction. Communications Biology, 2(1). Abstract.
Minardi D, Studholme DJ, Oidtmann B, Pretto T, van der Giezen M (2019). Improved method for genotyping the causative agent of crayfish plague (Aphanomyces astaci) based on mitochondrial DNA. Parasitology, 146(8), 1022-1029. Abstract.  Author URL.
Lear R, O'Leary M, O'Brien Andersen L, Holt CC, Stensvold CR, van der Giezen M, Bowtell JL (2019). Tart Cherry Concentrate Does Not Alter the Gut Microbiome, Glycaemic Control or Systemic Inflammation in a Middle-Aged Population. Nutrients, 11(5). Abstract.  Author URL.
Holt CC, Stone M, Bass D, Bateman KS, van Aerle R, Daniels CL, van der Giezen M, Ross SH, Hooper C, Stentiford GD, et al (2019). The first clawed lobster virus Homarus gammarus nudivirus (HgNV n. sp.) expands the diversity of the Nudiviridae. Sci Rep, 9(1). Abstract.  Author URL.
Stensvold CR, van der Giezen M (2018). Associations between Gut Microbiota and Common Luminal Intestinal Parasites. Trends in Parasitology, 34(5), 369-377. Abstract.
Holt C, Foster R, Daniels CL, van der Giezen M, Feist SW, Stentiford GD, Bass D (2018). Halioticida noduliformans infection in eggs of lobster (Homarus gammarus) reveals its generalist parasitic strategy in marine invertebrates. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 154, 109-116. Abstract.
Río Bártulos C, Rogers MB, Williams TA, Gentekaki E, Brinkmann H, Cerff R, Liaud M-F, Hehl AB, Yarlett NR, Gruber A, et al (2018). Mitochondrial Glycolysis in a Major Lineage of Eukaryotes. Genome Biol Evol, 10(9), 2310-2325. Abstract.  Author URL.
Minardi D, Studholme DJ, van der Giezen M, Pretto T, Oidtmann B (2018). New genotyping method for the causative agent of crayfish plague (Aphanomyces astaci) based on whole genome data. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 156, 6-13. Abstract.
Vanhatalo A, Blackwell JR, L'Heureux JE, Williams DW, Smith A, van der Giezen M, Winyard PG, Kelly J, Jones AM (2018). Nitrate-responsive oral microbiome modulates nitric oxide homeostasis and blood pressure in humans. Free Radic Biol Med, 124, 21-30. Abstract.  Author URL.
Tsaousis AD, Hamblin KA, Elliott CR, Young L, Rosen-Hidalgo A, Gourlay CW, Moore AL, van der Giezen M (2018). The Human Gut Colonizer <i>Blastocystis</i> Respires Using Complex II and Alternative Oxidase to Buffer Transient Oxygen Fluctuations in the Gut. FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY, 8  Author URL.
Vashisht K, Verma S, Gupta S, Lynn AM, Dixit R, Mishra N, Valecha N, Hamblin KA, Maytum R, Pandey KC, et al (2017). Engineering Nucleotide Specificity of Succinyl-CoA Synthetase in <i>Blastocystis</i>: the Emerging Role of Gatekeeper Residues. Biochemistry, 56(3), 534-542.
Gentekaki E, Curtis BA, Stairs CW, Klimeš V, Eliáš M, Salas-Leiva DE, Herman EK, Eme L, Arias MC, Henrissat B, et al (2017). Extreme genome diversity in the hyper-prevalent parasitic eukaryote Blastocystis. PLoS Biol, 15(9). Abstract.  Author URL.
Herman E, Siegesmund MA, Bottery MJ, van Aerle R, Shather MM, Caler E, Dacks JB, van der Giezen M (2017). Membrane Trafficking Modulation during <i>Entamoeba</i> Encystation. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, 7  Author URL.
van der Giezen M (2016). Evolution: Organelles Caught in the Act. Current Biology, 26(20), R913-R915. Abstract.
van der Giezen M (2015). Nature's Magic Algebra; or, How One Plus One Still Equaled One. BioScience, 65(8), 832-833.
Stairs CW, Eme L, Brown MW, Mutsaers C, Susko E, Dellaire G, Soanes DM, Van Der Giezen M, Roger AJ (2014). A SUF Fe-S cluster biogenesis system in the mitochondrion-related organelles of the anaerobic protist Pygsuia. Current Biology, 24(11), 1176-1186. Abstract.
Bertolini C, van Aerle R, Lampis S, Moore KA, Paszkiewicz K, Butler CS, Vallini G, van der Giezen M (2014). Draft Genome Sequence of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia SeITE02, a Gammaproteobacterium Isolated from Selenite-Contaminated Mining Soil. Genome Announc, 2(3). Abstract.  Author URL.
van der Giezen M (2013). Evolution: one thread to unite them all. Curr Biol, 23(16), R679-R681. Abstract.  Author URL.
Koumandou VL, Wickstead B, Ginger ML, van der Giezen M, Dacks JB, Field MC (2013). Molecular paleontology and complexity in the last eukaryotic common ancestor. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol, 48(4), 373-396. Abstract.  Author URL.
Read BA, Kegel J, Klute MJ, Kuo A, Lefebvre SC, Maumus F, Mayer C, Miller J, Monier A, Salamov A, et al (2013). Pan genome of the phytoplankton Emiliania underpins its global distribution. Nature, 499(7457), 209-213. Abstract.  Author URL.
Clark CG, van der Giezen M, Alfellani MA, Stensvold CR (2013). Recent developments in Blastocystis research. Adv Parasitol, 82, 1-32. Abstract.  Author URL.
Terali K, Beavil RL, Pickersgill RW, van der Giezen M (2013). The effect of the adaptor protein Isd11 on the quaternary structure of the eukaryotic cysteine desulphurase Nfs1. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 440(2), 235-240. Abstract.  Author URL.
Müller M, Mentel M, van Hellemond JJ, Henze K, Woehle C, Gould SB, Yu R-Y, van der Giezen M, Tielens AGM, Martin WF, et al (2012). Biochemistry and evolution of anaerobic energy metabolism in eukaryotes. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev, 76(2), 444-495. Abstract.  Author URL.
Standley DM, van der Giezen M (2012). Modeling the alternative oxidase from the human pathogen Blastocystis using automated hybrid structural template assembly. Research and Reports in Biochemistry, 2, 1-8. Abstract.  Author URL.
van der Giezen M, Lenton TM (2012). The rise of oxygen and complex life. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology, 59(2), 111-113.
van der Giezen M (2011). Mitochondria and the Rise of Eukaryotes. BIOSCIENCE, 61(8), 594-601.  Author URL.
Siegesmund MA, Hehl AB, van der Giezen M (2011). Mitosomes in trophozoites and cysts of the reptilian parasite Entamoeba invadens. Eukaryot Cell, 10(11), 1582-1585. Abstract.  Author URL.
Herman EK, Walker G, van der Giezen M, Dacks JB (2011). Multivesicular bodies in the enigmatic amoeboflagellate Breviata anathema and the evolution of ESCRT 0. Journal of Cell Science, 124, 613-621. Abstract.
Griffith GW, Baker S, Fliegerova K, Liggenstoffer A, van der Giezen M, Voigt K, Beakes G (2010). Anaerobic fungi: Neocallimastigomycota. IAM Fungus, 1, 181-185.  Author URL.
Maralikova B, Ali V, Nakada-Tsukui K, Nozaki T, van der Giezen M, Henze K, Tovar J (2010). Bacterial-type oxygen detoxification and iron-sulfur cluster assembly in amoebal relict mitochondria. Cell Microbiol, 12(3), 331-342. Abstract.  Author URL.
van der Giezen, M (2009). Hydrogenosomes and Mitosomes: Conservation and Evolution of Functions. J EUKARYOT MICROBIOL, 56(3), 221-231. Abstract.
van Grinsven KWA, Rosnowsky S, van Weelden SWH, Puetz S, van der Giezen M, Martin W, van Hellemond JJ, Tielens AGM, Henze K (2008). Acetate:succinate CoA-transferase in the hydrogenosomes of <i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i> -: Identification and characterization. JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY, 283(3), 1411-1418.  Author URL.
Hamblin K, Standley DM, Rogers MB, Stechmann A, Roger AJ, Maytum R, van der Giezen M (2008). Localisation and nucleotide specificity of Blastocystis succinyl-CoA synthetase. Molecular Microbiology, 68, 1395-1405.
Stechmann A, Hamblin K, Pérez-Brocal V, Gaston D, Richmond GS, van der Giezen M, Clark CG, Roger AJ (2008). Organelles in Blastocystis that blur the distinction between mitochondria and hydrogenosomes. Curr Biol, 18(8), 580-585. Abstract.  Author URL.
Puthiyaveetil S, Kavanagh TA, Cain P, Sullivan JA, Newall CA, Gray JC, Robinson C, van der Giezen M, Rogers MB, Allen JF, et al (2008). The ancestral symbiont sensor kinase CSK links photosynthesis with gene expression in chloroplasts. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 105, 10061-10066.
Tovar J, Cox SSE, van der Giezen M (2007). A mitosome purification protocol based on percoll density gradients and its use in validating the mitosomal nature of Entamoeba histolytica mitochondrial Hsp70. Methods Mol Biol, 390, 167-177. Abstract.  Author URL.
Van Der Giezen M (2007). Methods in Molecular Biology: Preface. Methods in Molecular Biology, 390
Cox SSE, van der Giezen M, Tarr SJ, Crompton MR, Tovar J (2006). Evidence from bioinformatics, expression and inhibition studies of phosphoinositide-3 kinase signalling in Giardia intestinalis. BMC Microbiol, 6 Abstract.  Author URL.
Richards TA, van der Giezen M (2006). Evolution of the Isd11-IscS complex reveals a single α-proteobacterial endosymbiosis for all eukaryotes. MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION, 23(7), 1341-1344.  Author URL.
Dacks JB, Dyal PL, Embley TM, van der Giezen M (2006). Hydrogenosomal succinyl-CoA synthetase from the rumen-dwelling fungus <i>Neocallimastix patriciarum</i>;: an energy-producing enzyme of mitochondrial origin. GENE, 373, 75-82.  Author URL.
van der Giezen, M. (2006). Mitochondrial amazement. EMBO Reports, 7(478).
van der Giezen M (2006). Mitochondrial amazement. EMBO reports, 7(5), 478-478.
Chan KW, Slotboom DJ, Cox S, Embley TM, Fabre O, van der Giezen M, Harding M, Horner DS, Kunji ERS, León-Avila G, et al (2005). A novel ADP/ATP transporter in the mitosome of the microaerophilic human parasite <i>Entamoeba histolytica</i>. CURRENT BIOLOGY, 15(8), 737-742.  Author URL.
Brinkmann H, van der Giezen M, Zhou Y, Poncelin de Raucourt G, Philippe H (2005). An empirical assessment of long-branch attraction artefacts in deep eukaryotic phylogenomics. Syst Biol, 54(5), 743-757. Abstract.  Author URL.
van der Giezen M, León-Avila G, Tovar J (2005). Characterization of chaperonin 10 (Cpn10) from the intestinal human pathogen <i>Entamoeba histolytica</i>. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM, 151, 3107-3115.  Author URL.
van der Giezen M, Tovar J (2005). Degenerate mitochondria. EMBO REPORTS, 6(6), 525-530.  Author URL.
van der Giezen M (2005). Endosymbiosis: past and present. HEREDITY, 95(5), 335-336.  Author URL.
Van Der Giezen M (2005). Evolutionary biology. Endosymbiosis: Past and present. Heredity, 95(5), 335-336.
van der Giezen M, Tovar J, Clark CG (2005). Mitochondrion-derived organelles in protists and fungi. Int Rev Cytol, 244, 175-225. Abstract.  Author URL.
Regoes A, Zourmpanou D, León-Avila G, van der Giezen M, Tovar J, Hehl AB (2005). Protein import, replication, and inheritance of a vestigial mitochondrion. J Biol Chem, 280(34), 30557-30563. Abstract.  Author URL.
van der Giezen M, Cox S, Tovar J (2004). The iron-sulfur cluster assembly genes <i>iscS</i> and <i>iscU</i> of <i>Entamoeba histolytica</i> were acquired by horizontal gene transfer -: art. no. 7. BMC EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, 4  Author URL.
van der Giezen M, Birdsey GM, Horner DS, Lucocq J, Dyal PL, Benchimol M, Danpure CJ, Embley TM (2003). Fungal hydrogenosomes contain mitochondrial heat-shock proteins. MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION, 20(7), 1051-1061.  Author URL.
Embley TM, van der Giezen M, Horner DS, Dyal PL, Bell S, Foster PG (2003). Hydrogenosomes, mitochondria and early eukaryotic evolution. IUBMB LIFE, 55(7), 387-395.  Author URL.
Embley TM, van der Giezen M, Horner DS, Dyal PL, Foster P (2003). Mitochondria and hydrogenosomes are two forms of the same fundamental organelle. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 358(1429), 191-201. Abstract.  Author URL.
Tovar J, León-Avila G, Sánchez LB, Sutak R, Tachezy J, van der Giezen M, Hernández M, Müller M, Lucocq JM (2003). Mitochondrial remnant organelles of Giardia function in iron-sulphur protein maturation. Nature, 426(6963), 172-176. Abstract.  Author URL.
Davidson EA, van der Giezen M, Horner DS, Embley TM, Howe CJ (2002). An [Fe] hydrogenase from the anaerobic hydrogenosome-containing fungus Neocallimastix frontalis L2. Gene, 296(1-2), 45-52. Abstract.  Author URL.
van der Giezen M, Slotboom DJ, Horner DS, Dyal PL, Harding M, Xue GP, Embley TM, Kunji ERS (2002). Conserved properties of hydrogenosomal and mitochondrial ADP/ATP carriers: a common origin for both organelles. EMBO JOURNAL, 21(4), 572-579.  Author URL.
Van der Giezen M (2002). Strange fungi with even stranger insides. Mycologist, 16(3), 129-131.
van der Giezen M, Kiel JA, Sjollema KA, Prins RA (1998). The hydrogenosomal malic enzyme from the anaerobic fungus neocallimastix frontalis is targeted to mitochondria of the methylotrophic yeast hansenula polymorpha. Curr Genet, 33(2), 131-135. Abstract.  Author URL.
Van der Giezen M, Prins RA (1997). A common evolutionary origin for mitochondria and hydrogenosomes. Reproduction Nutrition Development, 37(SUPPL.).
van der Giezen M, Rechinger KB, Svendsen I, Durand R, Hirt RP, Fèvre M, Embley TM, Prins RA (1997). A mitochondrial-like targeting signal on the hydrogenosomal malic enzyme from the anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis: support for the hypothesis that hydrogenosomes are modified mitochondria. Mol Microbiol, 23(1), 11-21. Abstract.  Author URL.
Biagini G (1997). Ca2+ accumulation in the hydrogenosomes of Neocallimastix frontalis L2: a mitochondrial-like physiological role. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 149(2), 227-232.
Biagini GA, Van Der Giezen M, Hill B, Winters C, Lloyd D (1997). Ca<sup>2+</sup> accumulation in the hydrogenosomes of Neocallimastix frontalis L2: a mitochondrial-like physiological role. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 149(2), 227-232. Abstract.
van der Giezen M, Sjollema KA, Artz RR, Alkema W, Prins RA (1997). Hydrogenosomes in the anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis have a double membrane but lack an associated organelle genome. FEBS Lett, 408(2), 147-150. Abstract.  Author URL.
Gasc AM, Giammarinaro P, Ton-Hoang B, Geslin P, van der Giezen M, Sicard M (1997). Structural organization of the Streptococcus pneumoniae chromosome and relatedness of penicillin-sensitive and -resistant strains in type 9V. Microb Drug Resist, 3(1), 65-72. Abstract.  Author URL.
Brondijk THC, Durand R, van der Giezen M, Gottschal JC, Prins RA, Fèvre M (1996). scsB. MGG Molecular & General Genetics, 253(3), 315-315.
Brondijk TH, Durand R, van der Giezen M, Gottschal JC, Prins RA, Fèvre M (1996). scsB, a cDNA encoding the hydrogenosomal beta subunit of succinyl-CoA synthetase from the anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis. Mol Gen Genet, 253(3), 315-323. Abstract.  Author URL.

Chapters

van Aerle R, van der Giezen M (2017). Next-Generation Sequencing, Bioinformatics, and Infectious Diseases. In  (Ed) Genetics and Evolution of Infectious Diseases: Second Edition, 405-420. Abstract.
Allen JF, de Paula WBM, van der Giezen M (2012). Mitochondria, Hydrogenosomes and Mitosomes in Relation to the CoRR Hypothesis for Genome Function and Evolution. In Bullerwell CE (Ed) Organelle Genetics, 105-122.
Paszkiewicz KH, van der Giezen M (2010). Omics, bioinformatics and infectious disease research. In Tibayrenc M (Ed) Genetics and Evolution of Infectious Disease, Elsevier, 523-539. Abstract.
Tsaousis AD, Stechmann A, Hamblin KA, van der Giezen M, Pérez-Brocal V, Clark CG (2009). The Blastocystis mitochondrion-like organelles. In Clark CG, Johnson PJ, Adam RD (Eds.) Anaerobic parasitic protozoa: Genomics and molecular biology, Norwich: Caister Academic Press Ltd, 207-221.
Tovar J, Cox SSE, Giezen MVD (2007). A Mitosome Purification Protocol Based on Percoll Density Gradients and its Use in Validating the Mitosomal Nature of Entamoeba histolytica Mitochondrial Hsp70. In  (Ed) Protein Targeting Protocols, Humana Press, 167-177.
Allen CA, van der Giezen M, Allen JF (2007). Origin, function, and transmission of mitochondria. In Martin W, Müller M (Eds.) Origin of mitochondria and hydrogenosomes, 39-56.
van der Giezen M, Tovar J (2004). Hydrogenosomes, mitosomes and mitochondria; variations on a theme?. In Horner DS, Hirt RP (Eds.) Organelles, genomes and eukaryote phylogeny: an evolutionary synthesis in the age of genomics, Organelles, genomes and eukaryote phylogeny: an evolutionary synthesis in the age of genomics. (Horner, D.S. and R.P. Hirt, Eds.): CRC Press Ltd, 283-302.
Cammack R, Horner DS, van der Giezen M, Kulda J, Lloyd D (2003). Iron-sulfur proteins in anaerobic eukaryotes. In: Biochemistry and physiology of anaerobic bacteria. In Ljungdahl L, Adams MWW, Barton LL, Ferry JG, Johnson MK (Eds.) Biochemistry and physiology of anaerobic bacteria, Biochemistry and physiology of anaerobic bacteria.: Springer, 113-127.
Gasc A, Giammarinaro P, Ton-Hoang B, Geslin P, van der Giezen M, Sicard M (2000). Structural organization of the Streptococcus pneumoniae chromosome and relatedness of penicillin-sensitive and -resistant strains in type 9V. In Tomasz A (Ed) Streptococcus pneumoniae, molecular biology and mechanisms of disease, Mary Ann Liebert, 25-32.
Prins RA, Marvin-Sikkema FD, van der Giezen M, Gottschal JC (1994). Hydrogenosomes of the anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix sp L2. In Prins RA, Stewart CS (Eds.) Micro-organisms in ruminant nutrition, Nottingham, UK: NOTTINGHAM UNIVERSITY PRESS, 179-194.
van der Giezen M, Gottschal JC, Prins RA (1994). The evolutionary origin of hydrogenosomes from anaerobic fungi. In Prins RA, Stewart CS (Eds.) Micro-organisms in ruminant nutrition, Nottingham, UK: NOTTINGHAM UNIVERSITY PRESS, 195-208.

Conferences

van DGM (2009). Eukaryotic life without mitochondria?. Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Experimental-Biology. 28th Jun - 1st Jul 2009.
Standley DM, Kinjo AR, Lis M, van der Giezen M, Nakamura H (2008). Structure-based functional annotation of protein sequences guided by comparative models. the Second International Symposium on Optimization and Systems Biology (OSB’08). 1st Oct 1931 - 1st Nov 2003.

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External Engagement and Impact

Awards/Honorary fellowships

2018 Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

2014 Fellow of the Linnean Society.

1997 Fellow of the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO).


Committee/panel activities

2020-present Member of the Board of the Norwegian Society for Microbiology

2019-present Elected to the Board of the Scandinavian-Baltic Society for Parasitology

2017-present Theme Leader ‘Aquatic Diseases’ for the Centre of Sustainable Aquaculture Futures. 

2015-2019 Director Postgraduate Teaching, Biosciences, University of Exeter.

2013-present Advanced Degree Accreditation Assessor for the Royal Society of Biology.

2012 Nominated for President for the International Society of Protistologists (ISOP)

2012-2013 Director for the Primary Academies Trust.

2012-2013 Member of the Strategic Governors Committee for the First Federation, Devon.

2011-present Member of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Peer Review College

2010-present Member of the Board of Reviewers for the Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology

2007-2009 Member of the grant-awarding CoSyst panel of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBRSC)

2006-2007 Member of the Steering Group for the PGCAP (Post Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice) and CILT (Certificate in Learning and Teaching) at Queen Mary, University of London

2006 and 2007 Member of the grant-awarding Systematics Research Fund panel of the Systematics Association and the Linnean Society

2005-2007 and 2009-2010 Member of the Council of the Systematics Association

1994-1996 Elected Member of Council of the University of Groningen, The Netherlands

1994-1996 Member of the Council Committee for Student Affairs of the University of Groningen, The Netherlands

1994-1995 Member of the University Committee for Student Affairs of the University of Groningen, The Netherlands


Editorial responsibilities

Ad hoc referee for international peer-reviewed scientific journals (Advances in Parasitology, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, BioScience, BMC Evolutionary Biology; BMC Systems Biology, Current Biology, Eukaryotic Cell, Experimental Parasitology, FEBS Journal, Freshwater Biology, Folia Parasitologica, Genome Biology and Evolution, International Journal for Parasitology, Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology, Journal of Experimental Botany, Journal of Molecular Biology, Journal of Parasitology Research, Microbiology, Mitochondrion, Molecular Biology and Evolution, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society London, PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, PLoS Pathogens, Protist, Science, Tissue & Cell).


Invited lectures

January 23-26, 2020 Mitochondrial glycolysis in a major lineage of eukaryotes. Selected presentation at the Norwegian Biochemical Society Contact meeting, Voss, Norway.

December 13, 2019 The gut microbiome as a health marker for European lobster in offshore sea culture. Invited by Dr Fiona Provan, Norce, Stavanger, Norway.

November 25, 2019 Mitochondrial evolution - the intestinal parasite Blastocystis. Invited by Professor Dirk Linke, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Norway.

May 17, 2019 Mitochondrial biochemical innovations in the intestinal parasite Blastocystis. Invited by Professor Tony Moore at the School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, UK.

April 16, 2018 Unusual mitochondria and (anaerobic) microbial eukaryotes. Invited by Professor Gro Johnsen at the Centre for Organelle Research (CORE), University of Stavanger, Norway.

December 14-15, 2017 Shaping eukaryotic evolution via mitochondrial symbiosis. Invited speaker at the Templeton Foundation Workshop on Deep Evolutionary Biology, University of Manchester.

October 4, 2017 Biochemical and evolutionary peculiarities of the hyper-prevalent parasitic eukaryote Blastocystis. Invited by Prof. John Allen, The Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London.

May 16, 2017 Two genome projects: one because we’re curious, the other because we need better diagnostics. Invited speaker at the USF Genomics Symposium, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA.

May 15, 2017 Biochemical peculiarities of the hyper-prevalent parasitic eukaryote Blastocystis. Invited speaker at the CGHIDR-CDDI Annual Symposium on Frontiers of Drug Discovery and Infectious Diseases, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA.

March 29 - April 2, 2017 Mitochondrial glycolysis in stramenopiles. Invited speaker at the 115th International Titisee Conference on “Evolutionary mitochondrial biology: molecular, biochemical, and metabolic diversity”, Titisee, Black Forest, Germany.

March 30 – April 2, 2015 Mitochondria and related organelles in microbial eukaryotes. Invited symposium presentation at the Society for General Microbiology (SGM) Annual Meeting, Birmingham, UK.

June 16, 2014 Mitochondria but not as you know them. Invited by Dr. Anastasios Tsaousis, School of Biosciences, University of Kent.

April 18, 2013 Unusual biochemistry and cell biology of the intestinal parasite Blastocystis. Invited by Dr. Graham Clark, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

November 23, 2011 Can unusual mitochondria of the anaerobic human parasite Blastocystis change our textbooks? Invited by Professor John Moody, School of Biomedical and Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth.

October 27, 2011 Weird mitochondria as proxies for understanding eukaryotic evolution. Invited by Professor David Lloyd, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University.

September 21-23, 2011 Hydrogenosomes and mitosomes as proxies for understanding eukaryotic evolution. Invited symposium speaker at the 2nd Student-organized International Symposium of the DFG Research Training Group 1216 ‘Intra - and Intercellular Transport and Communication’, Marburg, Germany.

July 25-29, 2011 Molecular oxygen and intelligent life. Invited speaker at the workshop: Using the diversity of Protists to educate students and the public about evolution. VI European Congress of Protistology, Berlin, Germany.

April 13-14, 2011 The anaerobic human parasite Blastocystis, a non-conforming eukaryote. Invited by Professor William Martin, Institut für Botanik III, Heinrich-Heine Universität Düsseldorf, Germany.

September 9, 2010 The anaerobic intestinal parasite Blastocystis, another non-conforming eukaryote. Invited by Professor Jan Tachezy at the Department of Parasitology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.

August 1-6, 2010 Adaptations to an anaerobic niche: hydrogenosomes in the Neocallimastigomycota. Invited presentation at the 9th International Mycological Congress, Edinburgh, UK.

July 18-23, 2010 Anaerobic mitochondria; from irrelevant oddities to relevant entities. Invited presentation at the joint International Society of Protistologists/British Society for Protist Biology Meeting, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK.

May 6, 2010 An unusual nitric oxide synthase from the human parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. Iron-Sulfur Proteins Discussion Group Meeting; MRC National Institute for Medical Research (Mill Hill).

21-22 September 2009 Piecing together the Emiliania huxleyi mitochondrial proteome and its evolutionary ancestry. Invited presentation for the Leverhulme Emiliania huxleyi international collaboration grant, University of Essex, Colchester, UK.

7-10 September 2009 Grafting mitochondria onto the tree of life. Invited symposium presentation at the Society for General Microbiology (SGM) Autumn Meeting, Edinburgh, UK.

16 September 2009 An unusual nitric oxide synthase from the human parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. Invited seminar for the Peninsula Oxidative Stress Research Forum (POSReF), Lavender House Hotel, Ashburton, UK.

28 June -1 July 2009 Eukaryotic life without mitochondria? Invited symposium presentation at the Society for Experimental Biology Annual Main Meeting, Glasgow, UK.

17-19 June 2009 Bioinformatics reconstruction of the Emiliania huxleyi mitochondrial proteome and its evolutionary ancestry. Presentation at the Emiliania huxleyi Genome Jamboree, Woods Hole, USA.

14 April 2009 Human parasites and their impact on understanding mitochondrial evolution. Invited by Prof. Jan Kok at the Department of Molecular Genetics of the University of Groningen, the Netherlands.

16 March 2009 Human parasites and their impact on understanding mitochondrial evolution. Invited by Prof. Colin Robinson at the Department of Biological Sciences of the University of Warwick, UK.

22 January 2009 At the interface between biochemistry and evolution. Invited by Prof. Haruki Nakamura at the Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University and the Protein Database Japan, Japan.

21-26 July 2008 Hydrogenosomes and mitosomes of anaerobic protists. Invited Symposium speaker at Protist 2008, Halifax, Canada

12 July 2007 Mitochondria, but not as you know them; unusual anaerobic mitochondria from human parasites. Invited by Prof. Thomas Langer at the Insititute of Genetics, University of Cologne, Germany

5 April 2007 Mitochondria, but not as you know them; unusual anaerobic mitochondria from human parasites. Invited by Dr Guy Hanke at the Institute for Protein Research, University of Osaka, Japan

1-5 August 2006 Hydrogenosomes and mitosomes; mitochondria on their way out? Invited presentation at the 16th International Society for Evolutionary Protistology (ISEP), Wroclaw, Poland

21 April 2006 Evolution of the Isd11/IscS complex reveals a single α-proteobacterial endosymbiosis for all eukaryotes. Iron-Sulfur Proteins Discussion Group Meeting; King's College, London, UK.

Feb 2006 Mitosomes are mitochondria. Presentation at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Micorobiology, Marburg, Germany

Nov 2005 Degenerate mitochondria; convergent adaptations to an anaerobic lifestyle. Presentation at 'Evolutionary inferences from phylogenetic trees', a workshop sponsored by the Centre for Ecology and Evolution, London, UK.

5-8 Oct 2005 Why mitochondria are never lost. Presentation at the 'International Symposium; 100 years of the endosymbiotic theory: from prokaryotes to eukaryotic organelles'. Hamburg, Germany

13 April 2005 Mitochondrial energy production in anaerobic microbial eukaryotes. Presentation at 'Energy conversion in the origins and evolution of cells'. Queen Mary, Univeristy of London, UK

June 2004 Early eukaryotes and mitochondrial remnants. Invited by Dr Salvador Carranza; seminar for the Genetics Department, University of Barcelona, Spain.

May 2004 Degenerate mitochondria and early branching eukaryotes. Invited by Dr Kirill Degtyarenko; seminar for the European Bioinformatics Institute, Hinxton, UK.

May 2004 Mitochondrial remnants and early eukaryotic evolution. Invited by Prof. David Fell; talk for the Cell Systems Modelling Group, Oxford Brookes University, UK.

23 April 2004 FeS protein assembly in early eukaryotes. Iron-Sulfur Proteins Discussion Group Meeting; King's College, London, UK.

Dec 2003 Hydrogenosomes, mitochondria and early eukaryotic evolution. Invited by Prof. Roland Lill; seminar for the Department of Cell Biology, Phillips University of Marburg and Department of Microbiology from the Max Planck institute, Germany.

Sept 2003 Hydrogenosomes, mitochondria and early eukaryotic evolution. Invited by Prof. John Samuelson; seminar for the Department of Molecular Cell Biology at the University of Boston, USA.

14-18 Sep 2003 Iron sulphur proteins IscU and IscS from the amitochondriate human parasite Entamoeba histolytica. Molecular Parasitology Meeting XIV. Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, USA.

Oct 2001 Hydrogenosomes; specialised mitochondria? Invited by Prof. Tony Trinci; seminar for the School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, UK.

June 2001 Hydrogenosomes are modified mitochondria. EMBO Fellows Meeting, EMBO, Heidelberg, Germany.

Feb 2001 Hydrogenosomes. Invited by Dr Colin Stewart; seminar for the Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.

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Teaching

Director Postgraduate Teaching, Biosciences, University of Exeter (2015 – 2019).

Member of the Education Strategy Group, Biosciences, University of Exeter (2015 – 2017).

Programme Director MSc Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture, University of Exeter (2014 – 2017).

Member of the Advanced Accreditation Assessment Panel of the Royal Society of Biology (2013 – present).

Programme Director MSc Biotechnology and Enterprise, University of Exeter (2013 – 2014).

Programme Director BSc Biochemistry, University of Exeter (2012 – 2017).

Programme Director BSc Biological Sciences, University of Exeter (2010 – 2012).

Coordinator Flexible and Combined Honours Degree Programme, University of Exeter (2008 – 2010).

Modules

2023/24

Information not currently available


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Supervision / Group

Postgraduate researchers

  • Joanna L Heureux. Influence of the oral microbiome on cardiovascular health in older age. Wellcome Trust funded PhD studentship (2016-present). Based at Sport and Health Sciences with Professor Andy Jones (main supervisor)

Alumni

  • Dr Sheera Abdulla. Former PhD-student (2011-2016), now laboratory manager at the University of Exeter.
  • Dr Michael Bottery. Former MRes-student Bioinformatics (2013), now postdoc at University of York.
  • Dr Kailash Chand. Former Post-doc (2009-2010), now Assistant Professer at the National Institute for Research in Environmental Health in India.
  • Dr Karleigh Hamblin. PhD-student (2005-2008), now at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down.
  • Dr Joseph Harvey. Former Wellcome Trust Vacation Scholar (Summer 2010). Now at Appleton Woods Ltd.
  • Dr Corey Holt. former PhD-student (2015-2018), now postdoc at the University of British Colombia, Canada.
  • Dr Georgios Kontellas
  • Dr Skye Marshall. Former PhD-student (2016-2021) Main supervisors Prof Peter Winlove and Dr. Peter Petrov (Physics).
  • Dr Jamie McFadzean Former PhD-student (2014-2019), now Senior Policy Advisor at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
  • Dr Diana Minardi. Former PhD-student (2013-2017), now research scientist at Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas).
  • Dr Nebibe Mutlu. Former Erasmus placement student (Summer 2009), now postdoc at University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicin.
  • Dr Ifeanyi Nwachukwu. Former MSc Biocatalysis student (2009), now Assistant Professor of Loma Linda University, CA, USA.
  • Dr Matthew Rogers. Former postdoc (2007-2008), now Assistant Professor at the Medical School at the University of Pittsburgh, USA.
  • Dr Maria Siegesmund. Former PhD-student (2007-2011) and post-doc (2011), now working at the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Department of Experimental Phycology and Culture Collection of Algae, Germany and retrained as secondary school science teacher.
  • Dr Kerem Terali. Former PhD-student (2006-2010), now Associate Professor at the Near East University in Cyprus.
  • Dr Maulood Turfah. Former PhD-student (2014-2019), now lecturer at the University of Baghdad, Iraq.

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