Ben Peterson
@bigmicrobeben.bsky.social
Assistant Professor - School of Freshwater Science at UW-Milwaukee. Contaminant and microbial biogeochemistry. Great Lakes. petersonlab(dot)org
Check it out, and let me know what you think! This represented a major effort from a large team, and I'm proud to see this work out in the world.
March 30, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Check it out, and let me know what you think! This represented a major effort from a large team, and I'm proud to see this work out in the world.
Overall transcriptional activity was also higher in SRB. However, we also identified an arsR-like transcriptional regulator preceding hgcA (previously reported, see text for ref.); these elements were associated with lower hgcA expression and found more frequently in the non-SRB methylators.
March 30, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Overall transcriptional activity was also higher in SRB. However, we also identified an arsR-like transcriptional regulator preceding hgcA (previously reported, see text for ref.); these elements were associated with lower hgcA expression and found more frequently in the non-SRB methylators.
Inhibition of sulfate-reducing bacteria using molybdate resulted in a drastic decrease in MeHg production across all redox conditions. Surprisingly, sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) only accounted for <10% of the hgcA gene abundance, but represented the majority (>50%) of the hgcA gene transcription.
March 30, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Inhibition of sulfate-reducing bacteria using molybdate resulted in a drastic decrease in MeHg production across all redox conditions. Surprisingly, sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) only accounted for <10% of the hgcA gene abundance, but represented the majority (>50%) of the hgcA gene transcription.
We designed a method for conducting enriched stable isotope Hg transformations assays under in situ conditions using custom-designed trace-metal clean bags resuspended in the lake for the duration of the incubation. This was a labor of love... the first trial assays were conducted in 2017!
March 30, 2025 at 5:40 PM
We designed a method for conducting enriched stable isotope Hg transformations assays under in situ conditions using custom-designed trace-metal clean bags resuspended in the lake for the duration of the incubation. This was a labor of love... the first trial assays were conducted in 2017!
Lake Mendota is a well-studied and eutrophic lake with an anoxic hypolimnion for most of the stratified year. Methylmercury concentrations can reach up to 80% (!!!) of total mercury in the hypolimnion, and sulfate reduction appears to be a key pathway driving microbial metabolism.
March 30, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Lake Mendota is a well-studied and eutrophic lake with an anoxic hypolimnion for most of the stratified year. Methylmercury concentrations can reach up to 80% (!!!) of total mercury in the hypolimnion, and sulfate reduction appears to be a key pathway driving microbial metabolism.
First shipment of supplies into the new lab! Can't wait to put these new toys to use.
August 31, 2024 at 4:01 AM
First shipment of supplies into the new lab! Can't wait to put these new toys to use.
I'm excited to share that today was my first day as an Assistant Professor in the School of Freshwater Sciences at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee! I am very excited to join the great faculty at this one-of-a-kind program, especially in my home state and a city I love.
August 20, 2024 at 4:40 AM
I'm excited to share that today was my first day as an Assistant Professor in the School of Freshwater Sciences at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee! I am very excited to join the great faculty at this one-of-a-kind program, especially in my home state and a city I love.