Kathleen E. Duncan, Ph.D.

Bacillus acidiceler

Postdoctoral studies. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Ph.D. University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
M.S. University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
B.A. University of Rochester, Rochester, NY

My research is centered on gaining a greater understanding of how microbial diversity is structured at several different levels; that is, how genetic and ecological factors affect communities, species, and populations, and how they respond as environments change. I have studied the effects of changing environments in the context of the microbiology of energy issues (see #1-4 below). Another branch of my research focuses on the genus Bacillus (#5). My research draws on several areas of microbiology as I use the tools of molecular biology to characterize microbial communities and species. I enjoy the challenge of multidisciplinary collaborations with scientists and engineers striving to solve complex real-world problems.

MEOR crew in action

My four major areas of energy-related research include . 1) Microbially influenced corrosion and biodeterioration of petroleum products and biofuels (Biocorrosion/Biodeterioration). Our research in biocorrosion/biodeterioration investigates of the role of microorganisms in contributing to these problems .We seek to predict and test the biocorrosion/biodegradability of fuels, including new generation biofuels, by applying our knowledge of anaerobic biodegradation of hydrocarbons and chemical properties of the fuels 2) Molecular characterization of microbial isolates and enrichments capable of anaerobic biodegradation of hydrocarbons (Anaerobic Biodegradation). In collaborations with OU researchers, I use molecular techniques to identify and specifically detect the members of anaerobic communities and strains that degrade hydrocarbons. 3) Bioremediation of soil ecosystems contaminated by oil and oil-field brine (Bioremediation). Our team of collaborators from universities in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kansas evaluate pollution prevention measures to minimize exposure of the environment to produced fluids (crude oil and produced water brine) and implement low-cost, effective strategies to bioremediate spills of produced fluids. 4) Microbially enhanced oil recovery (MEOR). Our team, headed by Dr. Michael McInerney (OU), has been successful in enhancing oil recovery from wells inoculated with biosurfactant-producing Bacillus strains. 5) Bacillus systematics and population biology (Bacillus). The genus Bacillus, with many culturable members, offers an outstanding opportunity for research in microbial systematics and evolution. My research has included studies of gene transfer within and between species, determining levels of genetic variation within population, and systematics.

Contact information:
Office phone: 405-325-6927
Lab phone: 405-325-4892
Fax: 405-325-3180
Email: kathleen.e.duncan-1 at ou.edu

Selected Publications:

• Suflita, JM, and KE Duncan. Chapter title 'Anaerobic Hydrocarbon Biodegradation and Biocorrosion'. In: 'Applied Microbiology and Molecular Biology in Oil Field Systems' C. Whitby, T.L. Skovhus (eds.) Springer, Berlin. In press.

  Canoeing on Mt. Fork River, OK

• Gieg, L.M., Davidova, I.A., Duncan, K. E. and J. M. Suflita. Methanogenesis, sulfate reduction, and crude oil biodegradation in hot Alaskan oil fields. Environmental Microbiology. DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2010.02282.x Epub ahead of print.
• Duncan, K. E., L. M. Gieg, V. A. Parisi, R. S. Tanner, S. G. Tringe, J. Bristow, and J. M. Suflita. 2009. Biocorrosive thermophilic microbial communities in Alaskan North Slope oil facilities. Environ. Science Tech. 43:7977-7984.
• Gieg, L. M., K. E. Duncan, and J. M. Suflita. 2008. Bioenergy production via microbial conversion of residual oil to natural gas. Appl. Environ. Microbiol.74:3022-3029.
• Zambrano, L., G. Thoma, K. Duncan, K. Sublette. Probabilistic reliability modeling for oil exploration & production (E & P) facilities in the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. 2007. Risk Analysis: An International Journal. 27: 1323-1333. DOI: 10.1111/j.1539-6924.2007.00961.
• Davidova, I. A., L. M. Gieg, K. E. Duncan, and J. M. Suflita. 2007. Anaerobic phenanthrene mineralization by a carboxylating sulfate-reducing bacterial enrichment. ISME Journal. 1: 436 - 442.

  Bison on remediation site, Tallgrass Prairie Preserve

• Peak, K. Kealy, Kathleen E. Duncan, William Veguilla, Vicki A. Luna, Debra S. King, Loreé Heller, Lea Heberlein-Larson, Frank Reeves, Andrew C. Cannons, Philip Amuso, Jacqueline Cattani. 2007. Bacillus acidiceler sp. nov., isolated from a forensic specimen, containing Bacillus anthracis pX02 genes. Int. J. System. Evol. Microbiol. 57: 2031-2036
• Sublette, K., J. Tapp, J. Fisher, E. Jennings, K. Duncan. G. Thoma, J. Brokaw, and T. Todd. 2007. Lessons learned in remediation and restoration in the Oklahoma prairie. Applied Geochemistry. 22: 2225-2239.
• Youssef, N., D. R. Simpson, K. E. Duncan, M. J. McInerney, M. Folmsbee, T. Fincher, and R. M. Knapp. 2007. In-situ biosurfactant production by injected Bacillus strains in a limestone petroleum reservoir. Appl. Environ.Microbiol. 73: 1239-1247.
• Sublette, K. L., Jennings, E., Mehta, C., Duncan, K., Brokaw, J., Todd, T., and Thoma, G. 2007. Monitoring soil ecosystem recovery following bioremediation of a terrestrial crude oil spill with and without a fertilizer amendment. Soil & Sediment Contamination: an International Journal. 16: 181-208.
• Davidova, I. A., K. E. Duncan, O. K. Choi, and J. M. Suflita. 2006. Desulfoglaeba alkanexedens gen. nov., sp.nov., an n-alkane degrading sulfate reducing bacterium. Int. J. System. Evol. Microbiol. 56: 2737-2742.
• Folmsbee, M., K. Duncan, S.O. Han, D. Nagle, E. Jennings, and M. McInerney. 2006. Re-identification of the halotolerant, biosurfactant-producing Bacillus licheniformis strain JF-2 as Bacillus mojavensis strain JF-2. Syst. Appl. Microbiol. 29: 645-649.
• Luna, V. A., D. S. King, K. K. Peak, F. Reeves, L. Heberlein-Larson, W. Veguilla, L. Heller, K. E. Duncan, A. C. Cannons, P. Amuso, and J. Cattani. 2006. Bacillus anthracis virulent plasmid pX02 genes found in large plasmids of two other Bacillus species. J. Clin. Microbiol. 44: 2367-2377.
• Youssef, N. H., Duncan, K. E., and McInerney. M. E. 2005. Importance of 3-hydroxy fatty acid composition of lipopeptides for biosurfactant activity. Appl. Envir. Microbiol.71: 7690-7695. 
• Struchtemeyer, C. S., Elshahed, M. S., Duncan, K. E., and M. J. McInerney. 2005. Evidence for aceticlastic methanogenesis in the presence of sulfate in a gas condensate-contaminated aquifer. Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 71: 5348-5353.

  Production wells in Alaska

• Sublette, K. Moralwar, A., Ford, L. P., Duncan, K., Thoma, G., Brokaw, J. 2005. Remediation of a spill of crude oil and brine without gypsum. Environmental Geosciences. 12 (2) p. 115-125.
• Youssef, N. H., K. E. Duncan, D. P. Nagle, K. N. Savage, R. M. Knapp, and M. J. McInerney. 2004. Comparison of methods to detect biosurfactant production by diverse microorganisms. J. Microbiol. Methods. 56: 339-347.
• Duncan, K., E. Jennings, P. Buck, H. Wells, R. Kolhatkar, K. Sublette, W. Potter, and T. Todd. 2003. Multi-species ecotoxicity assessment of petroleum-contaminated soil. Soil and Sediment Contamination: an International Journal. 12(2): 181-206.
• Palmisano, M. M., L. K. Nakamura, K. E. Duncan, C. A. Istock, and F. M. Cohan. 2001. Bacillus sonorensis sp. nov., a close relative of Bacillus licheniformis, isolated from soil in the Sonoran Desert, Arizona. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 51: 1671-1679.
• Istock, C. A., N. Ferguson, N. L. Istock, and K. E. Duncan. 2001. Geographical diversity of genomic lineages in Bacillus subtilis (Ehrenberg) Cohn sensu lato. Organisms, Diversity, and Evolution. 1(3) 179-191.

  Alaska caribou

• Duncan, K. E., R. Kolhatkar, G. Subramanim, R. Narasimhan, E. Jennings, S. Hettenbach, A. Brown, C. McComas, W. Potter, K. Sublette. 1999. Microbial dynamics in oil-impacted prairie soil. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology. 77-79: 421-434.
• Duncan, K, E. Jennings, S. Hettenbach, W. Potter, K. Sublette, G. Subramaniam, and R. Narasimhan. 1998. Nitrogen cycling and nitric oxide emissions in oil-impacted prairie soils. Bioremediation Journal. 1(3):195-208.
• Duncan, K. E., N. Ferguson, and C. A. Istock. 1995. Fitnesses of a conjugative plasmid and its host bacteria in soil microcosms. Molecular Biology and Evolution 12:1012-1021.
• Duncan, K. E., N. Ferguson, K. Kimura, X. Zhou, and C. A. Istock. 1994. Fine-scale genetic and phenotypic structure in natural populations of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis: implications for bacterial evolution and speciation. Evolution 48(6): 2002-2025.
• Istock, C. A., K. E. Duncan, N. Ferguson, and X. Zhou. 1992. Sexuality in a natural population of bacteria-Bacillus subtilis challenges the clonal paradigm. Molecular Ecology 1:95-103.
• Pantastico, M., K. E. Duncan, C. A. Istock, and J. B. Graham. 1992. Population dynamics of bacteriophage and Bacillus subtilis in soil. Ecology 73:1888-1902.
• Duncan, K. E., C. A. Istock, J. B. Graham, and N. Ferguson. 1989. Genetic exchange between Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis: Variable hybrid stability and the nature of bacterial species. Evolution 43: 1585-1609.

For more information about this program, contact the Department or Dr. Kathleen Duncan.

 

Kathleen Duncan, Lisa Gieg, Joe Suflita

At the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve Field Station

Other related web pages:

• Department of Botany & Microbiology