Evan R. Rees, Pharmaceutical Sciences graduate student (Kwan Research Group), will be defending his PhD research thesis:

Development and Application of Metagenomic and Comparative Genomic Techniques for Environmental Analysis

Utilizing metagenomics, pharmacognosy taps into microbial genomes to uncover new medicinal compounds from nature, bypassing traditional growth-dependent methods. This untargeted sequencing approach not only broadens our catalog of microbial diversity but also reveals untapped biosynthetic capabilities for drug discovery.

The core of this dissertation is the development and application of genome-resolved metagenomic strategies, with a focus on the Autometa pipeline and Automappa software, to recover and refine metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from complex microbial consortia. These computational methods are essential for effectively dissecting the genetic content of environmental microbiomes.
This research encompasses the genomic study of microbial populations associated with marine sponges and bryozoans, aiming to illuminate their roles in biosynthesis of bioactive compounds. Specifically, this talk will highlight the genetic adaptation and variation of symbiotic bacteria residing within bryozoans. Through comparative genomics, these endosymbiont populations reveal unique biosynthetic gene clusters and metabolic pathways that reflect their ecological functions and evolutionary history.

Cumulatively, this dissertation substantiates how the application of metagenomic and comparative genomic techniques enhance our understanding of microbial consortia, with significant implications for drug discovery from natural sources. The methodologies developed and applied here provide a clearer view of microbial life’s therapeutic potential, traversing previously uncharted territories of pharmacognosy.

Register to attend this PhD defense on Zoom