Dr. Ryan F. Seipke

Position: Senior Research Associate

Room: BIO 1.18

Telephone: +44 (0) 160 359 7269

E-mail: r.seipke@uea.ac.uk

Career

2009 to Present, University of East Anglia, MRC-funded Senior Research Associate
2008 to 2009, Cornell University, USDA-funded Postdoctoral Research Associate
2003 to 2008, Cornell University, PhD Microbiology
1999 to 2003, Adrian College, BA Biology summa cum laude

Research

Host-microbe interactions (both pathogenic and mutualistic) are widespread in the environment. Highlighting the importance of host-microbe interactions, nearly all higher organisms are influenced by microorganisms at some stage in their development. Understanding how these relationships form is of critical and far reaching importance that impacts agriculture and human health. My current research uses fungus-growing ants as a model system to better understand how a host selects its microbial community and how these interactions are sustained (e.g. how mutualisms form). I utilise a genome-guided chemistry approach to elucidate the identity of symbiont-produced antimicrobial compounds and other small molecules. The long term goal of this work is to genetically manipulate antibiotic-deficient symbiont strains and assess their fitness as symbionts in captive ant colonies and to assess how changes in individual symbionts influence the composition of ant-associated microbial communities.

Professional Affiliations

American Society for Microbiology
Society for General Microbiology
Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions
American Association for the Advancement of Science

Publications

[Google Scholar Citation Profile]

2012

Seipke RF, Gruschow S, Goss RJM, Hutchings MI. 2012. Isolating antifungals from fungus-growing ant symbionts using a genome-guided chemistry approach. Methods in Enzymology. Invited, in press.

Moore, JM, Bradshaw E, Seipke RF, Hutchings MI, McArthur M. Use and discovery of chemical elicitors that stimulate Streptomyces bacteria. Methods in Enzymology. Invited, in press.

2011

Seipke RF, Kaltenpoth M, Hutchings MI. 2011. Streptomyces as symbionts: an emerging and widespread theme? FEMS Microbiology Reviews. DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2011.00313.x. Abstract

Seipke RF, Kaltenpoth M, Hutchings MI. 2011. Streptomyces as symbionts: an emerging and widespread theme? FEMS Microbiology Reviews. DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2011.00313.x. Abstract

Seipke RF, Barke J, Brearley C, Hill L, Yu DW, Goss RG, Hutchings MI. 2011. A single Streptomyces mutualist makes multiple antifungals to support the fungus farming ant Acromyrmex octospinosus. PLoS ONE 6:e22028. Abstract Open Access

Seipke RF, Song L, Bicz J, Laskaris P, Yaxley AM, Challis GL, Loria R. 2011. The plant pathogen Streptomyces scabies 87-22 has a functional pyochelin biosynthetic pathway that is regulated by TetR- and AfsR-family protein. Microbiology 157:2681-2693. Abstract

Seipke RF, Barke J, Ruiz-Gonzalez MX, Orivel J, Yu DW, Hutchings MI. 2011. Fungus-growing Allomerus ants are associated with antibiotic-producing actinobacteria. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek doi:10.1007/s10482-011-9621-y. Abstract

Seipke RF, Crossman LC, Drou N, Heavens D, Bibb MJ, Caccamo M, Hutchings MI. 2011. Draft Genome Sequence of Streptomyces S4, a symbiont of the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex octospinosus. J Bacteriol 193:4270-4271. Abstract **Featured on the front cover with image**

Barke J, Seipke RF, Yu DW, Hutchings MI. 2011. A mutualistic microbiome: how do fungus-growing ants select their antibiotic-producing bacteria? Commun Integr Biol 4:41-43. Abstract Open Access

2010

Barke J, Seipke RF, Gruschow S, Heavens D, Drou N, Bibb MJ, Goss RJM, Yu DW, Hutchings MI. 2010. A mixed community of actinomycetes produce multiple antibiotics for the fungus farming ant Acromyrmex octospinosus. BMC Biology 8:109. Abstract Open Access

Bignell DB, Seipke RF, Huguet-Tapia JC, Chambers AH, Parry RJ, Loria R. 2010. Streptomyces scabies 87-22 contains a coronafacic acid-like biosynthetic cluster that contributes to plant-microbe interactions. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 23:161-175. Abstract

2009

Seipke RF, Loria R. 2009. Hopanoids are not essential for growth of Streptomyces scabies 87-22. J Bacteriol 191:5216-5223. Abstract

2008

Seipke RF, Loria R. 2008. Streptomyces scabies 87-22 possesses a functional tomatinase. J Bacteriol 190:7684-7692. Abstract

Loria R, Bignell DR, Moll S, Huguet-Tapia JC, Joshi MV, Johnson EG, Seipke RF Gibson DM. 2008. Thaxtomin biosynthesis: the path to plant pathogenicity in the genus Streptomyces. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 94:3-10. Abstract