Manning Lab

Algal 'Omics

Research in the Manning laboratory is focused on understanding why microalgae, including cyanobacteria, form blooms and proliferations often accompanied by potent toxins. Dr. Schonna Manning's research group utilizes comprehensive 'omics techniques, including the analysis of environmental DNA coupled with transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, for the top-down and bottom-up evaluation of complex microalgal communities and their microbiomes. It is anticipated interdisciplinary approaches combining genetic, biochemical, and environmental data will reveal factors that elicit the formation of algal blooms/proliferations and the production of toxins toward modeling and mitigation strategies.

Planktonic bloom of Chaetoceros, a type of diatom, resulting in a fish kill (Biscayne Bay, Miami, Florida, 2020)

Harmful algal proliferation with significant metaphyton surface scum on Lady Bird Lake, Austin, Texas, 2019 (Photo credit: Brent Bellinger)

The Manning Lab has three central research themes: the Biology of Blooms (BoB), Algae Instant Messaging (AIM), and AlgaePharm. The first theme explores the mechanisms of bloom development, from genome to metabolome, while the second theme explores chemically-mediated signals between individuals and between populations. The latter theme examines the roles of bioactive algal natural products, i.e., alkaloids, polyketides, and non-ribosomal peptides, which are broadly characterized as toxins. Thousands of molecules are predicted from microalgae with roles in signaling and allelopathy. However, very few metabolites have been elucidated, leaving immense opportunities for the discovery and characterization of novel compounds.

Dr. Manning is the lead principal investigator of several multi-year harmful algal monitoring projects, including PhycoNet: Biscayne Bay (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration; 2022-2025), Algae ATX (City of Austin, Texas; 2020-2025), and CyanoCSI (Lower Colorado River Authority; 2021-2026). The Manning laboratory uses cutting-edge technology to sequence and process environmental DNA (eDNA). Next-generation sequencing is combined with powerful computational pipelines to deconvolute complex mixtures of organisms, revealing high-resolution information on plankton community structure and the relative abundance of major taxa. These data are coupled with liquid-chromatography mass spectrometry to analyze water and biomass for algal toxins.

Related research is examining Everglades periphyton as part of the CERP-S project (PIs: Dorn and Gaiser) as plans are being developed to restore natural water flow to the southern tip of Florida. We are using eDNA to examine these calcareous mats, which include a complex microalgal community and its microbiome, to compare periphytom communtiy struture betewen the wet and dry seasons prior to flow restoration..

Another project, in collaboration with the University of Miami (PI: Gabrielle-Solo), is investigating the utility of stranded Sargassum, the brown seaweed that inundates tropical and sub-tropical beaches every year. Ongoing studies are measuring levels of heavy metals and bacteria as well as conducting common garden experiments using composted Sargassum as biofertilizer.

Lastly, Dr. Manning has been the lead developer for biotechnology curriculum since 2016 for the Algae Foundation and the Algae Technology Educational Consortium (sponsored via the National Renewable Energy Laborotry and the Department of Energy).

BoB

AIM

AlgaePharm

📢 Announcements 📢

👀 Check out the new paper in Toxins by Dr. Perri et al., Environmental Factors Impacting the Development of Toxic Cyanobacterial Proliferations in a Central Texas Reservoir, https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins16020091 💚

🗒️The Manning Lab is not accepting new graduate students or seeking postdoctoral associates at this time.

Manning Lab research is generously funded by the following sponsors: