Jared R. Leadbetter
Professor of Environmental Microbiology
B.S., Goucher College, 1991; Ph.D., Michigan State University, 1997. Assistant Professor, Caltech, 2000-06; Associate Professor, 2006-10; Professor, 2010-.
Research Options
Environmental Science and Engineering;
Geobiology;
Profile
Professor Leadbetter's research seeks to clarify the form, function, and spatial distribution of diverse microbes in their environment. His past studies have focused on the cultivation of microbial strains possessing unusual, atypical, or previously unrecognized properties, and have sought to reveal the impact of these organisms on their given environment. He has applied the use of a number of physiological, chemical, and molecular genetic techniques to his studies, underscoring the utility of both classical and newly developed methods in the pursuit of fundamental questions in Environmental Microbiology.
Publications
- Perl, Scott M.;Cockell, Charles S. et al. (2024) The Biology of Biosignature Detection: Rationale and Experimental Frameworks for Biological Validation
- Yu, Hang;Chadwick, Grayson L. et al. (2022) Comparative Genomics on Cultivated and Uncultivated Freshwater and Marine "Candidatus Manganitrophaceae" Species Implies Their Worldwide Reach in Manganese ChemolithoautotrophymBio
- Ne Ville, Christopher J.;Leadbetter, Jared R. et al. (2021) Hybrid Assembly of the Quorum-Quenching Isolate Variovorax paradoxus VAI-C Genome SequenceMicrobiology Resource Announcements
- Mickol, Rebecca L.;Louyakis, Artemis S. et al. (2021) Draft Genome Sequence of the Free-Living, Iridescent Bacterium Tenacibaculum mesophilum Strain ECRMicrobiology Resource Announcements
- Tsypin, Lev M.;Saunders, Scott H. et al. (2020) Draft Genome Sequence of the Redox-Active Enteric Bacterium Citrobacter portucalensis Strain MBLMicrobiology Resource Announcements
- Yu, Hang;Leadbetter, Jared R. (2020) Bacterial chemolithoautotrophy via manganese oxidationNature
- Kee, H. Lynn;Mikheyeva, Irina V. et al. (2019) Draft Genome Sequence of the Iridescent Marine Bacterium Tenacibaculum discolor Strain IMLK18Microbiology Resource Announcements
- Choi, Harry M. T.;Calvert, Colby R. et al. (2016) Mapping a multiplexed zoo of mRNA expressionDevelopment
- Mariita, Richard M.;Bhatnagar, Srijak et al. (2015) Complete Genome Sequence of Streptomyces sp. Strain CCM_MD2014, Isolated from Topsoil in Woods Hole, MassachusettsGenome Announcements
- Mariita, Richard M.;Bhatnagar, Srijak et al. (2015) Complete Genome Sequence of Curtobacterium sp. Strain MR_MD2014, Isolated from Topsoil in Woods Hole, MassachusettsGenome Announcements
- Mariita, R. M.;Bhatnagar, S. et al. (2014) Characterization, Comparative Genomics and Genome Mining for Antibiotics and Secondary Metabolite of two Actinomycetales isolates
- Tocheva, Elitza I.;Matson, Eric G. et al. (2014) Structure and Expression of Propanediol Utilization Microcompartments in Acetonema longumJournal of Bacteriology
- Lucey, Kaitlyn S.;Leadbetter, Jared R. (2014) Catechol 2,3-dioxygenase and other meta-cleavage catabolic pathway genes in the "anaerobic" termite gut spirochete Treponema primitiaMolecular Ecology
- Matson, Eric G.;Rosenthal, Adam Z. et al. (2013) Genome-Wide Effects of Selenium and Translational Uncoupling on Transcription in the Termite Gut Symbiont Treponema primitiamBio
- Rosenthal, Adam Z.;Zhang, Xinning et al. (2013) Localizing transcripts to single cells suggests an important role of uncultured deltaproteobacteria in the termite gut hydrogen economyProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
- Han, Jong-In;Spain, Jim C. et al. (2013) Genome of the Root-Associated Plant Growth-Promoting Bacterium Variovorax paradoxus Strain EPSGenome Announcements
- Ballor, Nicholas R.;Leadbetter, Jared R. (2012) Patterns of [FeFe] Hydrogenase Diversity in the Gut Microbial Communities of Lignocellulose-Feeding Higher TermitesApplied and Environmental Microbiology
- Zhang, Xinning;Leadbetter, Jared R. (2012) Evidence for Cascades of Perturbation and Adaptation in the Metabolic Genes of Higher Termite Gut SymbiontsmBio
- Ballor, Nicholas R.;Leadbetter, Jared R. (2012) Analysis of Extensive [FeFe] Hydrogenase Gene Diversity Within the Gut Microbiota of Insects Representing Five Families of DictyopteraMicrobial Ecology
- Ballor, Nicholas R.;Paulsen, Ian et al. (2012) Genomic Analysis Reveals Multiple [FeFe] Hydrogenases and Hydrogen Sensors Encoded by Treponemes from the H_2-Rich Termite GutMicrobial Ecology
- Tocheva, Elitza I.;Matson, Eric G. et al. (2011) Peptidoglycan Remodeling and Conversion of an Inner Membrane into an Outer Membrane during SporulationCell
- Chen, Songye;Beeby, Morgan et al. (2011) Structural diversity of bacterial flagellar motorsEMBO Journal
- Tadmor, Arbel D.;Ottesen, Elizabeth A. et al. (2011) Probing Individual Environmental Bacteria for Viruses by Using Microfluidic Digital PCRScience
- Rosenthal, Adam Z.;Matson, Eric G. et al. (2011) RNA-seq reveals cooperative metabolic interactions between two termite-gut spirochete species in co-cultureISME Journal
- Ottesen, Elizabeth A.;Leadbetter, Jared R. (2011) Formyltetrahydrofolate Synthetase Gene Diversity in the Guts of Higher Termites with Different Diets and LifestylesApplied and Environmental Microbiology
FS/ESE/Ge 18. First-Year Seminar: The Unseen Microbial World in Plain Sight.
6 units (2-0-4); first term, 2023-24.
To paraphrase a Caltech engineering colleague: "In terms of Earth and the Environment, our species had been nothing more than the hood ornament on a really interesting car. We should be studying what's under the hood, the microbial world, if we want to understand the engine". We will spend the term examining striking examples of microbes and microbial activities in the environment. First-year (undergraduates) only; limited enrollment.
Instructor: Leadbetter
Instructor: Leadbetter
FS/ESE/Ge 18. First-Year Seminar: The Unseen Microbial World in Plain Sight.
6 units (2-0-4); first term, 2022-23.
To paraphrase a Caltech engineering colleague: "In terms of Earth and the Environment, our species had been nothing more than the hood ornament on a really interesting car. We should be studying what's under the hood, the microbial world, if we want to understand the engine". We will spend the term examining striking examples of microbes and microbial activities in the environment. First-year (undergraduates) only; limited enrollment.
Instructor: Leadbetter
Instructor: Leadbetter
ESE/Bi 166. Microbial Physiology.
9 units (3-1-5); first term, 2020-21.
Prerequisites: one year of general biology recommended.
A course on growth and functions in the prokaryotic cell. Topics covered: growth, transport of small molecules, protein excretion, membrane bioenergetics, energy metabolism, motility, chemotaxis, global regulators, and metabolic integration.
Instructor: Leadbetter
Instructor: Leadbetter
FS/ESE/Ge 18. Freshman Seminar: The Unseen Microbial World in Plain Sight.
6 units (2-0-4); first term, 2020-21.
To paraphrase a Caltech engineering colleague: "In terms of Earth and the Environment, although fascinating, until recently our species had been nothing more than the hood ornament on a really interesting car. We should be studying what's under the hood, the microbial world, if we want to understand the engine". We will examine striking examples of microbes and microbial activities in the environment. There is one required field trip to visit sites of microbial interest somewhere in southern California. Freshmen only; limited enrollment.
Instructor: Leadbetter
Instructor: Leadbetter
ESE/Bi 166. Microbial Physiology.
9 units (3-1-5); first term, 2019-20.
Prerequisites: Recommended prerequisite: one year of general biology.
A course on growth and functions in the prokaryotic cell. Topics covered: growth, transport of small molecules, protein excretion, membrane bioenergetics, energy metabolism, motility, chemotaxis, global regulators, and metabolic integration.
Instructor: Leadbetter
Course Website: http://www.gps.caltech.edu/documents/3123/2019_Fall_Bacterial_Physiology_SYLLABUS.pdf
Instructor: Leadbetter
Course Website: http://www.gps.caltech.edu/documents/3123/2019_Fall_Bacterial_Physiology_SYLLABUS.pdf
FS/ESE/Ge 18. Freshman Seminar: The Unseen Microbial World in Plain Sight.
6 units (2-0-4); first term, 2019-20.
To paraphrase a Caltech engineering colleague: "In terms of Earth and the Environment, although fascinating, until recently our species had been nothing more than the hood ornament on a really interesting car. We should be studying what's under the hood, the microbial world, if we want to understand the engine". We will examine striking examples of microbes and microbial activities in the environment. There is one required field trip to visit sites of microbial interest somewhere in southern California. Freshmen only; limited enrollment.
Instructor: Leadbetter
Instructor: Leadbetter