People

Professor Terence McGenity

Head of School - Professor (R)
School of Life Sciences
Professor Terence McGenity

Profile

Biography

Terry McGenity is a Professor at the University of Essex, UK. His PhD, investigating the microbial ecology of ancient salt deposits (University of Leicester), was followed by postdoctoral positions at the Japan Marine Science and Technology Centre (JAMSTEC, Yokosuka) and the Postgraduate Research Institute for Sedimentology (University of Reading). His overarching research interest is to understand how microbial communities function and interact to influence major biogeochemical processes. He has broad interests in microbial ecology and diversity, particularly with respect to carbon cycling (especially the second most abundantly produced hydrocarbon in the atmosphere, isoprene), and is driven to better understand how microbes cope with, or flourish, in hypersaline and poly-extreme environments. 2019 Professor in Environmental Microbiology, University of Essex, UK 2013 Reader in Environmental Microbiology, University of Essex, UK 2006 Senior Lecturer in Environmental Microbiology, University of Essex, UK 2003 Lecturer in Environmental Microbiology, University of Essex, UK 1999 Senior Research Fellow, Biological Sciences, University of Essex, UK 1995 Research Fellow, PRIS, University of Reading, UK 1994 Researcher, Japan Marine Science and Technology Centre, Japan Enquiries from students or postdoctoral researchers who are interested in carrying out research in my group are very welcome.

Qualifications

  • PhD - Microbial Ecology University of Leicester, (1994)

  • B.Sc. Hons. - Biological Sciences University of Leicester, (1988)

Appointments

University of Essex

  • Head of School, School of Life Sciences, University of Essex (10/2023 - present)

  • Head of the Ecology and Environmental Microbiology Research Group, University of Essex (9/2020 - 8/2023)

  • Graduate Director (Research), University of Essex (9/2021 - 8/2022)

  • Deputy Director of ARIES DTP (joint), University of Essex (10/2018 - 9/2021)

  • Executive Board Member for EnvEast & ARIES DTPs, University of Essex (1/3/2014 - 9/2021)

  • Graduate Director (Research), University of Essex, University of Essex (15/8/2017 - 15/8/2019)

  • MSc Biotechnology Course Director, University of Essex, University of Essex (15/8/2013 - 15/8/2015)

Other academic

  • Invited Professor, University of Pau (10/2008 - 10/2008)

  • Visiting Professor, University of the Balearic Isles (5/2012 - 5/2012)

  • External Examiner for Microbiology degrees, University of Leicester (2014 - 2018)

Research and professional activities

Research interests

Activities of, and interactions between, microbes and their effects on past and present environments

Key words: geomicrobiology
Open to supervise

Carbon cycling in marine, estuarine and soil environments, e.g. isoprene degradation and production, hydrocarbon cycling, and cycling of extracellular polymeric substances

Key words: BVOC
Open to supervise

Bioremediation and pollution microbiology, e.g. microbial ecology of petroleum hydrocarbon-polluted marine, groundwater and soil environments

Key words: oil spill
Open to supervise

Extremophiles & Astrobiology, e.g. the influence of high salt concentrations, different types of solute, and multiple stressors on microbial physiology and ecology

Key words: halophiles
Open to supervise

Biotechnological applications of extremophiles

Open to supervise

Long-term survival of microorganisms and preservation of cellular macromolecules

Key words: halophiles
Open to supervise

Environmental Microbiology

Key words: microbiology
Open to supervise

Isoprene Cycling

Cycling of isoprene

Key words: isoprene
Open to supervise

Teaching and supervision

Current teaching responsibilities

  • Industrial Biotechnology (BS937)

Previous supervision

Maria Magliulo
Maria Magliulo
Thesis title: Long-Term Survival of Halophilic Microorganisms Entombed in Fluid Inclusions of Halite
Degree subject: Microbiology
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 17/5/2023
Emese Bartha
Emese Bartha
Thesis title: Investigating Extremotolerant Microbes in Non-Extreme Environments and Altering the Salinity Growth Limits of Halophiles
Degree subject: Biological Sciences
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 15/8/2022
Charlie David Roy Leonard
Charlie David Roy Leonard
Thesis title: Impact of Temperature and Soil Type on Biopolymer and Bioplastic Degradation
Degree subject: Biological Sciences
Degree type: Master of Science (by Dissertation)
Awarded date: 26/5/2022
Phillip Robert Kenneth Pichon
Phillip Robert Kenneth Pichon
Thesis title: Microbial Degradation of Acetaldehyde in Freshwater, Estuarine and Marine Environments
Degree subject: Microbiology
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 26/4/2021
Leslie Galstaun
Leslie Galstaun
Thesis title: Light Hydrocarbon Ratios as Biosignatures of Microbial Activity
Degree subject: Marine Biology
Degree type: Master of Science (by Dissertation)
Awarded date: 24/2/2021
Gareth Edward Thomas
Gareth Edward Thomas
Thesis title: An Evaluation of the Effects of Marine Oil-Spills, Remediation Strategies, and Shipwrecks on Microbial Community Structure and Succession
Degree subject: Environmental Biology
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 20/1/2021
Tivkaa Joseph Amande
Tivkaa Joseph Amande
Thesis title: Biodegradation of Volatile Hydrocarbons in Estuarine Environments
Degree subject: Environmental Biology
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 21/10/2019
Shivani Nilesh Patel
Shivani Nilesh Patel
Thesis title: The Effect of Chaotropic Magnesium Chloride on the Growth of Microbes
Degree subject: Microbiology
Degree type: Master of Science (by Dissertation)
Awarded date: 22/8/2019
Tom Jonathan Colin Huby
Tom Jonathan Colin Huby
Thesis title: Changes in Archaeal and Bacterial Community Composition Following Entombment in Halite Crystals
Degree subject: Microbiology
Degree type: Master of Science (by Dissertation)
Awarded date: 16/8/2019
Claudia Isabel Saenz Marta
Claudia Isabel Saenz Marta
Thesis title: Effect of Crude Oil on Light Attenuation and the Resulting Impacts on Marine Microbial Phototrophs and Heterotrophs
Degree subject: Microbiology
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 16/7/2019
David Robert Clark
David Robert Clark
Thesis title: The Macroecology of Microorganisms: From Pattern to Process
Degree subject: Microbiology
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 2/1/2018
Anusree Saha
Anusree Saha
Degree subject: Occasional Study: Biological Sciences (Research)
Degree type: Occasional Postgraduate Study
Awarded date: 12/10/2017
Gordon Peter Murphy
Gordon Peter Murphy
Thesis title: Isoprene Degradation in the Terrestrial Environment
Degree subject: Microbiology
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 19/5/2017
Roshena Arevalo Ellis
Roshena Arevalo Ellis
Thesis title: Ecology of Haloarchaea Living in Mudflats and Salt Marshes
Degree subject: Biological Sciences
Degree type: Master of Philosophy
Awarded date: 26/8/2015
Benjamin David Folwell
Benjamin David Folwell
Thesis title: Ecology, Activity and Interactions of Microorganisms Biodegrading Naphthenic Acids and High Molecular Weight Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Degree subject: Microbiology
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 15/8/2014

Publications

Publications (1)

Nightingale, J., McMahon, L., Steinke, M., McGenity, TJ., Gehrels, W., Dumbrell, A., Schäfer, H. and Redeker, K., (2022). Carbon neutrality does not equal climate neutrality in saltmarsh restoration

Journal articles (101)

Srivastava, A., Macey, MC., McGenity, TJ. and Olsson-Francis, K., (2024). Draft genome sequence of Halobacillus campisalis strain ASL-17. Microbiology Resource Announcements. 13 (2), e0069223-

Uttarotai, T., McGenity, TJ., Sutheeworapong, S. and Chitov, T., (2024). Draft genome sequence of Methylobacterium sp. 37f isolated from forest soil. Microbiology Resource Announcements. 13 (6), e0032424-

Smallbone, JA., McGenity, T., Holland, RD., Thomas, GE., Coulon, F., Cowley, T. and McKew, BA., (2024). The effect of crude oil concentration on hydrocarbon degradation and associated bacterial communities under experimental condition. International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings. 2024 (1)

Timmis, K., Hallsworth, JE., McGenity, TJ., Armstrong, R., Colom, MF., Karahan, ZC., Chavarría, M., Bernal, P., Boyd, ES., Ramos, JL., Kaltenpoth, M., Pruzzo, C., Clarke, G., López-Garcia, P., Yakimov, MM., Perlmutter, J., Greening, C., Eloe-Fadrosh, E., Verstraete, W., Nunes, OC., Kotsyurbenko, O., Nikel, PI., Scavone, P., Häggblom, MM., Lavigne, R., Le Roux, F., Timmis, JK., Parro, V., Michán, C., García, JL., Casadevall, A., Payne, SM., Frey, J., Koren, O., Prosser, JI., Lahti, L., Lal, R., Anand, S., Sood, U., Offre, P., Bryce, CC., Mswaka, AY., Jores, J., Kaçar, B., Blank, LM., Maaßen, N., Pope, PB., Banciu, HL., Armitage, J., Lee, SY., Wang, F., Makhalanyane, TP., Gilbert, JA., Wood, TK., Vasiljevic, B., Soberón, M., Udaondo, Z., Rojo, F., Tamang, JP., Giraud, T., Ropars, J., Ezeji, T., Müller, V., Danbara, H., Averhoff, B., Sessitsch, A., Partida-Martínez, LP., Huang, W., Molin, S., Junier, P., Amils, R., Wu, X-L., Ron, E., Erten, H., de Martinis, ECP., Rapoport, A., Öpik, M., Pokatong, WDR., Stairs, C., Amoozegar, MA. and Serna, JG., (2024). A concept for international societally relevant microbiology education and microbiology knowledge promulgation in society.. Microbial Biotechnology. 17 (5), e14456-

McGenity, TJ. and Laissue, PP., (2023). Bacteria stretch and bend oil to feed their appetite. Science. 381 (6659), 728-729

Uttarotai, T., Sutheeworapong, S., Crombie, AT., Murrell, JC., Mhuantong, W., Noirungsee, N., Wangkarn, S., Bovonsombut, S., McGenity, TJ. and Chitov, T., (2022). Genome Characterisation of an Isoprene-Degrading Alcaligenes sp. Isolated from a Tropical Restored Forest.. Biology. 11 (4), 519-519

Wu, J-H., McGenity, TJ., Rettberg, P., Simões, MF., Li, W-J. and Antunes, A., (2022). The archaeal class Halobacteria and astrobiology: Knowledge gaps and research opportunities. Frontiers in Microbiology. 13, 1023625-

Huby, TJC., Clark, DR., McKew, BA. and McGenity, TJ., (2021). Extremely Halophilic Archaeal Communities are Resilient to Short‐Term Entombment in Halite. Environmental Microbiology. 23 (7), 3370-3383

Gregson, BH., McKew, BA., Holland, RD., Nedwed, TJ., Prince, RC. and McGenity, TJ., (2021). Marine Oil Snow, a Microbial Perspective. Frontiers in Marine Science. 8

Clark, DR., Underwood, GJC., McGenity, TJ. and Dumbrell, AJ., (2021). What drives study-dependent differences in distance–decay relationships of microbial communities?. Global Ecology and Biogeography. 30 (4), 811-825

Uttarotai, T., McKew, BA., Benyahia, F., Murrell, JC., Mhuantong, W., Wangkarn, S., Chitov, T., Bovonsombut, S. and McGenity, TJ., (2021). Isoprene-Degrading Bacteria from Soils Associated with Tropical Economic Crops and Framework Forest Trees. Microorganisms. 9 (5), 1024-1024

Thomas, GE., Bolam, SG., Brant, JL., Brash, R., Goodsir, F., Hynes, C., McGenity, TJ., McIlwaine, PSO. and McKew, BA., (2021). Evaluation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Pollution From the HMS Royal Oak Shipwreck and Effects on Sediment Microbial Community Structure. Frontiers in Marine Science. 8

Thomas, GE., Brant, JL., Campo, P., Clark, DR., Coulon, F., Gregson, BH., McGenity, TJ. and McKew, BA., (2021). Effects of Dispersants and Biosurfactants on Crude-Oil Biodegradation and Bacterial Community Succession. Microorganisms. 9 (6), 1200-1200

Dawson, RA., Crombie, AT., Pichon, P., Steinke, M., McGenity, TJ. and Murrell, JC., (2021). The microbiology of isoprene cycling in aquatic ecosystems. Aquatic Microbial Ecology. 87, 79-98

McGenity, TJ., McKew, BA. and Lea-Smith, DJ., (2021). Cryptic microbial hydrocarbon cycling.. Nature Microbiology. 6 (4), 419-420

Thomas, GE., McGenity, TJ., Zeinstra-Helfrich, M. and McKew, BA., (2021). A Comparison between Chemical and Natural Dispersion of a North Sea Oil-spill. International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings. 2021 (1)

Folwell, BD., McGenity, TJ. and Whitby, C., (2020). Diamondoids are not forever: microbial biotransformation of diamondoid carboxylic acids. Microbial Biotechnology. 13 (2), 495-508

Antunes, A., Olsson-Francis, K. and McGenity, TJ., (2020). Exploring Deep-Sea Brines as Potential Terrestrial Analogues of Oceans in the Icy Moons of the Outer Solar System. Current Issues in Molecular Biology. 38, 123-162

Ellegaard, M., Clokie, MRJ., Czypionka, T., Frisch, D., Godhe, A., Kremp, A., Letarov, A., McGenity, TJ., Ribeiro, S. and John Anderson, N., (2020). Dead or alive: sediment DNA archives as tools for tracking aquatic evolution and adaptation. Communications Biology. 3 (1), 169-

McGenity, TJ., Gessesse, A., Hallsworth, JE., Garcia Cela, E., Verheecke‐Vaessen, C., Wang, F., Chavarría, M., Haggblom, MM., Molin, S., Danchin, A., Smid, EJ., Lood, C., Cockell, CS., Whitby, C., Liu, S., Keller, NP., Stein, LY., Bordenstein, SR., Lal, R., Nunes, OC., Gram, L., Singh, BK., Webster, NS., Morris, C., Sivinski, S., Bindschedler, S., Junier, P., Antunes, A., Baxter, BK., Scavone, P. and Timmis, K., (2020). Visualizing the invisible: class excursions to ignite children’s enthusiasm for microbes. Microbial Biotechnology. 13 (4), 844-887

Carrión, O., Gibson, L., Elias, DMO., McNamara, NP., van Alen, TA., Op den Camp, HJM., Supramaniam, CV., McGenity, TJ. and Murrell, JC., (2020). Diversity of isoprene-degrading bacteria in phyllosphere and soil communities from a high isoprene-emitting environment: a Malaysian oil palm plantation.. Microbiome. 8 (1), 81-

Murrell, JC., McGenity, TJ. and Crombie, AT., (2020). Microbial metabolism of isoprene: a much-neglected climate-active gas. Microbiology. 166 (7), 600-613

Carrión, O., McGenity, TJ. and Murrell, JC., (2020). Molecular Ecology of Isoprene-Degrading Bacteria. Microorganisms. 8 (7), 967-967

Thomas, GE., Cameron, TC., Campo, P., Clark, DR., Coulon, F., Gregson, BH., Hepburn, LJ., McGenity, TJ., Miliou, A., Whitby, C. and McKew, BA., (2020). Bacterial Community Legacy Effects Following the Agia Zoni II Oil-Spill, Greece. Frontiers in Microbiology. 11, 1706-

Larke-Mejía, NL., Carrión, O., Crombie, AT., McGenity, TJ. and Murrell, JC., (2020). Sphingopyxis sp. Strain OPL5, an Isoprene-Degrading Bacterium from the Sphingomonadaceae Family Isolated from Oil Palm Leaves.. Microorganisms. 8 (10), 1557-1557

Timmis, K., Cavicchioli, R., Garcia, JL., Nogales, B., Chavarría, M., Stein, L., McGenity, TJ., Webster, N., Singh, BK., Handelsman, J., de Lorenzo, V., Pruzzo, C., Timmis, J., Martín, JLR., Verstraete, W., Jetten, M., Danchin, A., Huang, W., Gilbert, J., Lal, R., Santos, H., Lee, SY., Sessitsch, A., Bonfante, P., Gram, L., Lin, RTP., Ron, E., Karahan, ZC., van der Meer, JR., Artunkal, S., Jahn, D. and Harper, L., (2019). The urgent need for microbiology literacy in society. Environmental Microbiology. 21 (5), 1513-1528

Larke-Mejía, NL., Crombie, AT., Pratscher, J., McGenity, TJ. and Murrell, JC., (2019). Novel Isoprene-Degrading Proteobacteria From Soil and Leaves Identified by Cultivation and Metagenomics Analysis of Stable Isotope Probing Experiments. Frontiers in Microbiology. 10, 2700-

Mcgenity, TJ., Crombie, AT. and Murrell, JC., (2018). Microbial cycling of isoprene, the most abundantly produced biological volatile organic compound on Earth. The ISME Journal. 12 (4), 931-941

McGenity, TJ., (2018). 2038 - When Microbes Rule the Earth.. Environmental Microbiology. 20 (12), 4213-4220

Carrión, O., Larke-Mejía, NL., Gibson, L., Farhan Ul Haque, M., Ramiro-García, J., McGenity, TJ. and Murrell, JC., (2018). Gene probing reveals the widespread distribution, diversity and abundance of isoprene-degrading bacteria in the environment. Microbiome. 6 (1), 219-

Crombie, AT., Larke-Mejia, NL., Emery, H., Dawson, R., Pratscher, J., Murphy, GP., McGenity, TJ. and Murrell, JC., (2018). Poplar phyllosphere harbors disparate isoprene-degrading bacteria. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 115 (51), 13081-13086

Bohórquez, J., McGenity, TJ., Papaspyrou, S., García-Robledo, E., Corzo, A. and Underwood, GJC., (2017). Different Types of Diatom-Derived Extracellular Polymeric Substances Drive Changes in Heterotrophic Bacterial Communities from Intertidal Sediments. Frontiers in Microbiology. 8 (245), 245-

Johnston, A., Crombie, AT., El Khawand, M., Sims, L., Whited, GM., McGenity, TJ. and Colin Murrell, J., (2017). Identification and characterisation of isoprene‐degrading bacteria in an estuarine environment. Environmental Microbiology. 19 (9), 3526-3537

Terrisse, F., Cravo-Laureau, C., Noël, C., Cagnon, C., Dumbrell, AJ., McGenity, TJ. and Duran, R., (2017). Variation of oxygenation conditions on a hydrocarbonoclastic microbial community reveals Alcanivorax and Cycloclasticus ecotypes. Frontiers in Microbiology. 8 (AUG), 1549-

Crombie, AT., Emery, H., McGenity, TJ. and Murrell, JC., (2017). Draft Genome Sequences of Three Terrestrial Isoprene-Degrading Rhodococcus Strains. Genome Announcements. 5 (45), e01256-e01217

Clark, DR., Mathieu, M., Mourot, L., Underwood, GJC., Dufossé, L., Dumbrell, AJ. and McGenity, TJ., (2017). Biogeography at the limits of life: Do extremophilic microbial communities show biogeographical regionalization?. Global Ecology and Biogeography. 26 (12), 1435-1446

Osburn, CL., Anderson, NJ., Stedmon, CA., Giles, ME., Whiteford, EJ., McGenity, TJ., Dumbrell, AJ. and Underwood, GJC., (2017). Shifts in the Source and Composition of Dissolved Organic Matter in Southwest Greenland Lakes Along a Regional Hydro-climatic Gradient. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences. 122 (12), 3431-3445

Aslam, SN., Dumbrell, AJ., Sabir, JS., Mutwakil, MHZ., Baeshen, MMN., Abo‐Aba, SEM., Clark, DR., Yates, SA., Baeshen, NA., Underwood, GJC. and McGenity, TJ., (2016). Soil compartment is a major determinant of the impact of simulated rainfall on desert microbiota. Environmental Microbiology. 18 (12), 5048-5062

Folwell, BD., McGenity, TJ., Price, A., Johnson, RJ. and Whitby, C., (2016). Exploring the capacity for anaerobic biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and naphthenic acids by microbes from oil-sands-process-affected waters. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation. 108, 214-221

Folwell, BD., McGenity, TJ. and Whitby, C., (2016). Biofilm and planktonic bacterial and fungal communities transforming high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 82 (8), 2288-2299

El Khawand, M., Crombie, AT., Johnston, A., Vavlline, DV., McAuliffe, JC., Latone, JA., Primak, YA., Lee, S-K., Whited, GM., McGenity, TJ. and Murrell, JC., (2016). Isolation of isoprene degrading bacteria from soils, development of isoA gene probes and identification of the active isoprene-degrading soil community using DNA-stable isotope probing. Environmental Microbiology. 18 (8), 2743-2753

Exton, DA., McGenity, TJ., Steinke, M., Smith, DJ. and Suggett, DJ., (2015). Uncovering the volatile nature of tropical coastal marine ecosystems in a changing world.. Global Change Biology. 21 (4), 1383-1394

de Lima Alves, F., Stevenson, A., Baxter, E., Gillion, JLM., Hejazi, F., Hayes, S., Morrison, IEG., Prior, BA., McGenity, TJ., Rangel, DEN., Magan, N., Timmis, KN. and Hallsworth, JE., (2015). Concomitant osmotic and chaotropicity-induced stresses in Aspergillus wentii: compatible solutes determine the biotic window. Current Genetics. 61 (3), 457-477

Stevenson, A., Cray, JA., Williams, JP., Santos, R., Sahay, R., Neuenkirchen, N., McClure, CD., Grant, IR., Houghton, JDR., Quinn, JP., Timson, DJ., Patil, SV., Singhal, RS., Antón, J., Dijksterhuis, J., Hocking, AD., Lievens, B., Rangel, DEN., Voytek, MA., Gunde-Cimerman, N., Oren, A., Timmis, KN., McGenity, TJ. and Hallsworth, JE., (2015). Is there a common water-activity limit for the three domains of life?. The ISME Journal. 9 (6), 1333-1351

Crombie, AT., Khawand, ME., Rhodius, VA., Fengler, KA., Miller, MC., Whited, GM., McGenity, TJ. and Murrell, JC., (2015). Regulation of plasmid‐encoded isoprene metabolism in Rhodococcus, a representative of an important link in the global isoprene cycle. Environmental Microbiology. 17 (9), 3314-3329

Sanni, GO., Coulon, F. and McGenity, TJ., (2015). Dynamics and distribution of bacterial and archaeal communities in oil-contaminated temperate coastal mudflat mesocosms. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 22 (20), 15230-15247

Stevenson, A., Burkhardt, J., Cockell, CS., Cray, JA., Dijksterhuis, J., Fox‐Powell, M., Kee, TP., Kminek, G., McGenity, TJ., Timmis, KN., Timson, DJ., Voytek, MA., Westall, F., Yakimov, MM. and Hallsworth, JE., (2015). Multiplication of microbes below 0.690 water activity: implications for terrestrial and extraterrestrial life. Environmental Microbiology. 17 (2), 257-277

Chronopoulou, P., Sanni, GO., Silas‐Olu, DI., van der Meer, JR., Timmis, KN., Brussaard, CPD. and McGenity, TJ., (2015). Generalist hydrocarbon‐degrading bacterial communities in the oil‐polluted water column of the North Sea. Microbial Biotechnology. 8 (3), 434-447

McGenity, TJ., (2014). Hydrocarbon biodegradation in intertidal wetland sediments. Current Opinion in Biotechnology. 27, 46-54

Rinnan, R., Steinke, M., McGenity, T. and Loreto, F., (2014). Plant volatiles in extreme terrestrial and marine environments.. Plant, Cell and Environment. 37 (8), 1776-1789

McGenity, TJ., (2014). The immortal, halophilic superhero: Halobacterium salinarum a long-lived poly-extremophile. Microbiology Today. 41 (1), 24-27

Exton, DA., Suggett, DJ., McGenity, TJ. and Steinke, M., (2013). Chlorophyll-normalized isoprene production in laboratory cultures of marine microalgae and implications for global models. Limnology and Oceanography. 58 (4), 1301-1311

McKew, BA., Dumbrell, AJ., Taylor, JD., McGenity, TJ. and Underwood, GJC., (2013). Differences between aerobic and anaerobic degradation of microphytobenthic biofilm-derived organic matter within intertidal sediments. FEMS Microbiology Ecology. 84 (3), 495-509

Chronopoulou, P., Fahy, A., Coulon, F., Païssé, S., Goñi‐Urriza, M., Peperzak, L., Acuña Alvarez, L., McKew, BA., Lawson, T., Timmis, KN., Duran, R., Underwood, GJC. and McGenity, TJ., (2013). Impact of a simulated oil spill on benthic phototrophs and nitrogen‐fixing bacteria in mudflat mesocosms. Environmental Microbiology. 15 (1), 242-252

Taylor, JD., McKew, BA., Kuhl, A., McGenity, TJ. and Underwood, GJC., (2013). Microphytobenthic extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in intertidal sediments fuel both generalist and specialist EPS-degrading bacteria. Limnology and Oceanography. 58 (4), 1463-1480

Exton, DA., Suggett, DJ., Steinke, M. and McGenity, TJ., (2012). Spatial and temporal variability of biogenic isoprene emissions from a temperate estuary. Global Biogeochemical Cycles. 26 (2), n/a-n/a

McGenity, TJ., Folwell, BD., McKew, BA. and Sanni, GO., (2012). Marine crude-oil biodegradation: a central role for interspecies interactions. Aquatic Biosystems. 8 (1), 10-10

Coulon, F., Chronopoulou, P-M., Fahy, A., Païssé, S., Goñi-Urriza, M., Peperzak, L., Acuña Alvarez, L., McKew, BA., Brussaard, CPD., Underwood, GJC., Timmis, KN., Duran, R. and McGenity, TJ., (2012). Central Role of Dynamic Tidal Biofilms Dominated by Aerobic Hydrocarbonoclastic Bacteria and Diatoms in the Biodegradation of Hydrocarbons in Coastal Mudflats. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 78 (10), 3638-3648

McGenity, TJ., Folwell, BD., McKew, BA. and Sanni, GO., (2012). Marine crude-oil biodegradation: a central role for interspecies interactions. Aquatic Biosystems. 8 (1), creators-McGenity=3ATerry_J=3A=3A

Johnson, RJ., Smith, BE., Sutton, PA., McGenity, TJ., Rowland, SJ. and Whitby, C., (2011). Microbial biodegradation of aromatic alkanoic naphthenic acids is affected by the degree of alkyl side chain branching. The ISME Journal. 5 (3), 486-496

Gramain, A., Díaz, GC., Demergasso, C., Lowenstein, TK. and McGenity, TJ., (2011). Archaeal diversity along a subterranean salt core from the Salar Grande (Chile). Environmental Microbiology. 13 (8), 2105-2121

McKew, BA., Taylor, JD., McGenity, TJ. and Underwood, GJC., (2011). Resistance and resilience of benthic biofilm communities from a temperate saltmarsh to desiccation and rewetting. The ISME Journal. 5 (1), 30-41

Cavicchioli, R., Amils, R., Wagner, D. and McGenity, T., (2011). Life and applications of extremophiles. Environmental Microbiology. 13 (8), 1903-1907

Exton, DA., Smith, DJ., McGenity, TJ., Steinke, M., Hills, AJ. and Suggett, DJ., (2010). Application of a Fast Isoprene Sensor (FIS) for measuring isoprene production from marine samples. Limnology and Oceanography: Methods. 8 (5), 185-195

Tecon, R., Beggah, S., Czechowska, K., Sentchilo, V., Chronopoulou, P-M., McGenity, TJ. and van der Meer, JR., (2010). Development of a Multistrain Bacterial Bioreporter Platform for the Monitoring of Hydrocarbon Contaminants in Marine Environments. Environmental Science & Technology. 44 (3), 1049-1055

Oxley, APA., Lanfranconi, MP., Würdemann, D., Ott, S., Schreiber, S., McGenity, TJ., Timmis, KN. and Nogales, B., (2010). Halophilic archaea in the human intestinal mucosa. Environmental Microbiology. 12 (9), 2398-2410

Farage, P., Ball, AS., McGenity, TJ., Whitby, C. and Pretty, JN., (2010). Reply to Comment on: `Burning management and carbon sequestration of upland heather moorland in the UK'. Australian Journal Of Soil Research. 48 (1), 104-104

Borin, S., Brusetti, L., Mapelli, F., D'Auria, G., Brusa, T., Marzorati, M., Rizzi, A., Yakimov, M., Marty, D., De Lange, GJ., Van der Wielen, P., Bolhuis, H., McGenity, TJ., Polymenakou, PN., Malinverno, E., Giuliano, L., Corselli, C. and Daffonchio, D., (2009). Sulfur cycling and methanogenesis primarily drive microbial colonization of the highly sulfidic Urania deep hypersaline basin. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 106 (23), 9151-9156

Acuña Alvarez, L., Exton, DA., Timmis, KN., Suggett, DJ. and McGenity, TJ., (2009). Characterization of marine isoprene-degrading communities. Environmental Microbiology. 11 (12), 3280-3291

Aburto, A., Fahy, A., Coulon, F., Lethbridge, G., Timmis, KN., Ball, AS. and McGenity, TJ., (2009). Mixed aerobic and anaerobic microbial communities in benzene-contaminated groundwater. Journal of Applied Microbiology. 106 (1), 317-328

Farage, P., Ball, A., McGenity, TJ., Whitby, C. and Pretty, J., (2009). Burning management and carbon sequestration of upland heather moorland in the UK. Soil Research. 47 (4), 351-351

Fahy, A., Ball, AS., Lethbridge, G., Timmis, KN. and McGenity, TJ., (2008). Isolation of alkali-tolerant benzene-degrading bacteria from a contaminated aquifer. Letters in Applied Microbiology. 47 (1), 60-66

Paissé, S., Coulon, F., Goñi-Urriza, M., Peperzak, L., McGenity, TJ. and Duran, R., (2008). Structure of bacterial communities along a hydrocarbon contamination gradient in a coastal sediment. FEMS Microbiology Ecology. 66 (2), 295-305

Fahy, A., Ball, AS., Lethbridge, G., McGenity, TJ. and Timmis, KN., (2008). High benzene concentrations can favour Gram-positive bacteria in groundwaters from a contaminated aquifer. FEMS Microbiology Ecology. 65 (3), 526-533

Sass, AM., McKew, BA., Sass, H., Fichtel, J., Timmis, KN. and McGenity, TJ., (2008). Diversity of Bacillus-like organisms isolated from deep-sea hypersaline anoxic sediments. Saline Systems. 4 (1), 8-

Brunner, B., Yu, J-Y., Mielke, RE., MacAskill, JA., Madzunkov, S., McGenity, TJ. and Coleman, M., (2008). Different isotope and chemical patterns of pyrite oxidation related to lag and exponential growth phases of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans reveal a microbial growth strategy. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 270 (1-2), 63-72

Sass, AM., McKew, BA., Sass, H., Fichtel, J., Timmis, KN. and McGenity, TJ., (2008). Diversity of Bacillus-like organisms isolated from deep-sea hypersaline anoxic sediments. Saline Systems. 4 (1), creators-McGenity=3ATerry_J=3A=3A

McKew, BA., Coulon, F., Yakimov, MM., Denaro, R., Genovese, M., Smith, CJ., Osborn, AM., Timmis, KN. and McGenity, TJ., (2007). Efficacy of intervention strategies for bioremediation of crude oil in marine systems and effects on indigenous hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria. Environmental Microbiology. 9 (6), 1562-1571

McKew, BA., Coulon, F., Osborn, AM., Timmis, KN. and McGenity, TJ., (2007). Determining the identity and roles of oil‐metabolizing marine bacteria from the Thames estuary, UK. Environmental Microbiology. 9 (1), 165-176

Coulon, F., McKew, BA., Osborn, AM., McGenity, TJ. and Timmis, KN., (2007). Effects of temperature and biostimulation on oil‐degrading microbial communities in temperate estuarine waters. Environmental Microbiology. 9 (1), 177-186

Hallsworth, JE., Yakimov, MM., Golyshin, PN., Gillion, JLM., D'Auria, G., De Lima Alves, F., La Cono, V., Genovese, M., McKew, BA., Hayes, SL., Harris, G., Giuliano, L., Timmis, KN. and McGenity, TJ., (2007). Limits of life in MgCl2‐containing environments: chaotropicity defines the window. Environmental Microbiology. 9 (3), 801-813

Daffonchio, D., Borin, S., Brusa, T., Brusetti, L., van der Wielen, PWJJ., Bolhuis, H., Yakimov, MM., D'Auria, G., Giuliano, L., Marty, D., Tamburini, C., McGenity, TJ., Hallsworth, JE., Sass, AM., Timmis, KN., Tselepides, A., de Lange, GJ., Hübner, A., Thomson, J., Varnavas, SP., Gasparoni, F., Gerber, HW., Malinverno, E. and Corselli, C., (2006). Stratified prokaryote network in the oxic–anoxic transition of a deep-sea halocline. Nature. 440 (7081), 203-207

Fahy, A., McGenity, TJ., Timmis, KN. and Ball, AS., (2006). Heterogeneous aerobic benzene-degrading communities in oxygen-depleted groundwaters. FEMS Microbiology Ecology. 58 (2), 260-270

van der Wielen, PWJJ., Bolhuis, H., Borin, S., Daffonchio, D., Corselli, C., Giuliano, L., D'Auria, G., de Lange, GJ., Huebner, A., Varnavas, SP., Thomson, J., Tamburini, C., Marty, D., McGenity, TJ. and Timmis, KN., (2005). The Enigma of Prokaryotic Life in Deep Hypersaline Anoxic Basins. Science. 307 (5706), 121-123

Fahy, A., Lethbridge, G., Earle, R., Ball, AS., Timmis, KN. and McGenity, TJ., (2005). Effects of long‐term benzene pollution on bacterial diversity and community structure in groundwater. Environmental Microbiology. 7 (8), 1192-1199

Purdy, KJ., Cresswell‐Maynard, TD., Nedwell, DB., McGenity, TJ., Grant, WD., Timmis, KN. and Embley, TM., (2004). Isolation of haloarchaea that grow at low salinities. Environmental Microbiology. 6 (6), 591-595

Fish, SA., Shepherd, TJ., McGenity, TJ. and Grant, WD., (2002). Recovery of 16S ribosomal RNA gene fragments from ancient halite. Nature. 417 (6887), 432-436

Fish, SA., Shepherd, TJ., McGenity, TJ. and Grant, WD., (2002). Erratum: Recovery of 16S ribosomal RNA gene fragments from ancient halite (Nature (2002) 417 (432-436)). Nature. 420 (6912), 202-

Fish, SA., Shepherd, TJ., McGenity, TJ. and Grant, WD., (2002). Correction: Corrigendum: Recovery of 16S ribosomal RNA gene fragments from ancient halite. Nature. 420 (6912), 202-202

Yu, J-Y., McGenity, TJ. and Coleman, ML., (2001). Solution chemistry during the lag phase and exponential phase of pyrite oxidation by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. Chemical Geology. 175 (3-4), 307-317

McGenity, TJ., Gemmell, RT., Grant, WD. and Stan‐Lotter, H., (2000). Origins of halophilic microorganisms in ancient salt deposits. Environmental Microbiology. 2 (3), 243-250

Stan-Lotter, H., McGenity, TJ., Legat, A., Denner, EBM., Glaser, K., Stetter, KO. and Wanner, G., (1999). Very similar strains of Halococcus salifodinae are found in geographically separated Permo-Triassic salt deposits The GenBank accession numbers for the nucleotide sequence data reported in this paper are Z28387 (Hc. salifodinae BIp DSM 8989T), AJ238897 (strain Br3), AJ131458 (strain BG2/2), AJ245422 and AJ245423 (strain N1), AJ245424 and AJ245425 (strain H2). Accession numbers for other 16S rRNA sequences used for comparisons in this study have been reported previously (McGenity et al., 1998 R26 ).. Microbiology. 145 (12), 3565-3574

(1999). Editorial. Sedimentary Geology. 126 (1-4), 5-8

Grant, WD., Gemmell, RT. and McGenity, TJ., (1998). Halobacteria: the evidence for longevity. Extremophiles. 2 (3), 279-287

McGENITY, TJ., GEMMELL, RT. and GRANT, WD., (1998). Proposal of a new halobacterial genus Natrinema gen. nov., with two species Natrinema pellirubrum nom. nov. and Natrinema pallidum nom. nov.. International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology. 48 (4), 1187-1196

McGenity, TJ. and Grant, WD., (1995). Transfer of Halobacterium saccharovorum, Halobacterium sodomense, Halobacterium trapanicum NRC 34021 and Halobacterium lacusprofundi to the Genus Halorubrum gen. nov., as Halorubrum saccharovorum comb. nov., Halorubrum sodomense comb. nov., Halorubrum trapanicum comb. nov., and Halorubrum lacusprofundi comb. nov.. Systematic and Applied Microbiology. 18 (2), 237-243

DENNER, EBM., McGENITY, TJ., BUSSE, H-J., GRANT, WD., WANNER, G. and STAN-LOTTER, H., (1994). Halococcus salifodinae sp. nov., an Archaeal Isolate from an Austrian Salt Mine. International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology. 44 (4), 774-780

Lodwick, D., McGenity, TJ. and Grant, WD., (1994). The Phylogenetic Position of the Haloalkaliphilic Archaeon Natronobacterium magadii, determined from its 23S Ribosomal RNA Sequence. Systematic and Applied Microbiology. 17 (3), 402-404

McGenity, TJ. and Grant, WD., (1993). The Haloalkaliphilic Archaeon (Archaebacterium) Natronococcus occultus Represents a Distinct Lineage Within the Halobacteriales, Most Closely Related to the Other Haloalkaliphilic Lineage (Natronobacterium). Systematic and Applied Microbiology. 16 (2), 239-243

Norton, CF., McGenity, TJ. and Grant, WD., (1993). Archaeal halophiles (halobacteria) from two British salt mines. Journal of General Microbiology. 139 (5), 1077-1081

Thongthai, C., McGenity, TJ., Suntinanalert, P. and Grant, WD., (1992). Isolation and characterization of an extremely halophilic archaeobacterium from traditionally fermented Thai fish sauce (nam pla). Letters in Applied Microbiology. 14 (3), 111-114

Books (4)

McGenity, TJ., (2019). Microbial Communities Utilizing Hydrocarbons and Lipids: Members, Metagenomics and Ecophysiology. Springer International Publishing. 978-3-030-14784-6

McGenity, TJ., (2019). Taxonomy, Genomics and Ecophysiology of Hydrocarbon-Degrading Microbes. Springer. 3030147959. 978-3030147952

(2017). Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology Protocols. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. 9783662531105

McGenity, TJ., Timmis, KN. and Nogales, B., (2016). Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology Protocols: Isolation and Cultivation. Springer. 3-662-45178-6. 978-3-662-45178-6

Book chapters (16)

Underwood, GJC., Dumbrell, AJ., McGenity, TJ., McKew, BA. and Whitby, C., (2022). The Microbiome of Coastal Sediments. In: The Marine Microbiome. Editors: Stal, LJ. and Cretoiu, MS., . Springer International Publishing. 479- 534. 9783030903824

McGenity, TJ. and Sorokin, DY., (2018). Methanogens and Methanogenesis in Hypersaline Environments. In: Biogenesis of Hydrocarbons. Editors: Stams, A. and Sousa, D., . Springer. 1- 27. 978-3-319-53114-4

Crombie, AT., Mejia-Florez, NL., McGenity, TJ. and Murrell, JC., (2018). Genetics and Ecology of Isoprene Degradation. In: Aerobic Utilization of Hydrocarbons, Oils and Lipids. Editors: Rojo, F., . Springer International Publishing. 1- 15. 978-3-319-39782-5

Prince, RC., Amande, TJ. and McGenity, TJ., (2018). Prokaryotic Hydrocarbon Degraders. In: Taxonomy, Genomics and Ecophysiology of Hydrocarbon-Degrading Microbes. Editors: McGenity, TJ., . Springer International Publishing. 1- 41. 978-3-319-60053-6

Nedwell, DB., Underwood, GJC., McGenity, TJ., Whitby, C. and Dumbrell, AJ., (2016). The Colne Estuary. In: Advances in Ecological Research. Elsevier. 227- 281. 978-0-08-100935-2

McGenity, TJ., (2016). Introduction to the Isolation and Cultivation of Microbes Involved in the Hydrocarbon Cycle. In: Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology Protocols: Isolation and Cultivation. Editors: McGenity, TJ., Timmis, KN. and Nogales, B., . Springer. 1- 25. 978-3-662-45179-3

McGenity, TJ. and Oren, A., (2012). Hypersaline environments. In: Life at Extremes: Environments, Organisms and Strategies for Survival. 402- 437. 9781845938147

Prince, R., Gramain, A. and McGenity, TJ., (2010). Prokaryotic hydrocarbon degraders. In: Handbook of Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology. Editors: Timmis, KN., McGenity, TJ., van der Meer, JR. and de Lorenzo, V., . Springer. 1669- 1692. 9783540775843

McGenity, TJ., Whitby, C. and Fahy, A., (2010). Alkaliphilic hydrocarbon degraders. In: Handbook of Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology. Editors: Timmis, KN., McGenity, TJ., van der Meer, JR. and de Lorenzo, V., . Springer. 1931- 1937. 9783540775881

McGenity, TJ. and Gramain, A., (2010). Cultivation of Halophilic Hydrocarbon Degraders. In: Handbook of Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology. Editors: Timmis, KN., McGenity, TJ., van der Meer, JR. and de Lorenzo, V., . Springer. 3847- 3854. 9783540775843

McGenity, TJ., (2010). Halophilic hydrocarbon degraders. In: Handbook of Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology. Editors: Timmis, KN., McGenity, TJ., van der Meer, JR. and de Lorenzo, V., . Springer. 1939- 1951. 9783540775843

McGenity, TJ., (2010). Methane production in a more saline world. In: Handbook of Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology. Editors: Timmis, KN., McGenity, TJ., van der Meer, JR. and de Lorenzo, V., . Springer. 3337- 3338. 9783540775843

McGenity, TJ., (2010). Methanogens and methanogenesis in hypersaline environments. In: Handbook of Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology. Editors: Timmis, KN., McGenity, TJ., van der Meer, JR. and de Lorenzo, V., . Springer. 666- 680. 9783540775843

Fahy, A. and McGenity, TJ., (2010). Remediation of BTEX in groundwater underlying petrochemical plants. In: Handbook of Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology. Editors: Timmis, KN., McGenity, TJ., van der Meer, JR. and de Lorenzo, V., . Springer. 2609- 2615. 9783540775843

McCammick, EM., Gomase, VS., McGenity, TJ., Timson, DJ. and Hallsworth, JE., (2010). Water-hydrophobic compound interactions with the microbial cell. In: Handbook of Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology. Editors: Timmis, KN., McGenity, TJ., van der Meer, JR. and de Lorenzo, V., . Springer. 1451- 1466. 9783540775843

McGenity, TJ., Hallsworth, JE. and Timmis, KN., (2008). Connectivity between 'ancient' and 'modern' hypersaline environments, and the salinity limits of life. In: CIESM 2008, The Messinian Salinity Crisis from mega-deposits to microbiology ? A consensus report.. Editors: Briand, F., . CIESM. 115- 120

Conferences (2)

Aganbi, E., Medina, AA., Fahy, A., McGenity, TJ. and Ball, AS., (2014). The effect of an induced benzene plume on microbial communities in a groundwater aquifer

Stan-Lotter, H., Radax, C., Gruber, C., McGenity, TJ., Legat, A., Wanner, G. and Denner, EBM., (2000). The distribution of viable microorganisms in Permo-Triassic rock salt

Grants and funding

2023

Multi-trophic response and effects of an extensive oil spill in a coastal fish nursery

Natural Environment Research Council

2022

School and community engagement with tiny forests to enhance environmental and human health

North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group

2020

EPStromNet - Extant Peritidal Stromatolite Network

Natural Environment Research Council

Engineered Biofilms with Modular Functionality for Persistent and Survivable Naval Platforms

Office of Naval Research

2018

Experimental Oil Spill Data-sharing (ExpOS'D)

ITOPF / NHL University of Applied Sciences

The Impacts of Marine Oil Snow on the Environment

University of Essex

FUSED - Functionality of Urban Soils supporting Ecosystem service Delivery

Natural Environment Research Council

Trace gas bio-signatures: implications for NOMAD

UK Space Agency

2017

SALTGIANT: Understanding the Mediterranean Salt Giant (ETN)

European Commission (H2020)

Quantifying a marine ecosystem's response to a catastrophic oil spill

Natural Environment Research Council

2014

Data Synthesis and Management of Marine and Coastal Carbon

Natural Environment Research Council

Investigating the environmental factors that influence microbial isoprene production

Society For General Microbiology

2012

Microbial degradation of isoprene in the terrestial environment

Natural Environment Research Council

A hierarchical approach to the examination of the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem

Natural Environment Research Council

SGM Vacation Studentships 2012

Society For General Microbiology

The key role of DOM in regulating microbial diversity, community structure and

Natural Environment Research Council

2011

Environmental meta-genomics and biotechnology of Rhazya

King Abdulaziz University

2008

Regulation Of Isoprene Production By Coa

Natural Environment Research Council

Contact

tjmcgen@essex.ac.uk
+44 (0) 1206 872535

Location:

3SW.5.17, Colchester Campus

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