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Nils Kåre Birkeland's picture

Nils Kåre Birkeland

Professor
Department of Biological Sciences (BIO)
  • E-mailNils.Birkeland@uib.no
  • Phone+47 55 58 26 57
  • Visitor Address
    Thormøhlens gate 53 A/B
    5006 Bergen
    Room 
    2H07
  • Postal Address
    Postboks 7803
    5020 Bergen

My interests include environmental and molecular microbiology, and evolution and adaptations of prokaryotes. Current research activities involve thermophilic bacteria and archaea, metagenomics in extreme environments, extremophilic methane oxidition, and enteropathogenic bacteria in tropical fresh-waters. Present work aims at (1) identifying molecular adaptations to extreme temperatures using extremophilic microorganisms from a variety of environments, (2) enhance our understanding of the enourmous natural microbial diversity in extreme habitats, (3) elucidation of mechanisms and regulation of biological methane oxidation, (4) metagenomics, and (5) to obtain knowledge about the survival and evolution of Shigella-like bacteria. 

Academic article
  • Show author(s) (2023). Draft Genome Sequence of Agrobacterium radiobacter Strain MD22b, Isolated from a Grape Plant in Tajikistan. Microbiology Resource Announcements (MRA).
  • Show author(s) (2022). Fervidobacterium pennivorans subsp. keratinolyticus subsp. nov., a Novel Feather-Degrading Anaerobic Thermophile. Microorganisms.
  • Show author(s) (2022). Clostridium thailandense sp. nov., a novel CO2-reducing acetogenic bacterium isolated from peatland soil. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 8 pages.
  • Show author(s) (2021). Thermococcus bergensis sp. nov., a Novel Hyperthermophilic Starch-Degrading Archaeon. Biology (Basel). 387.
  • Show author(s) (2021). Simultaneous biogas upgrading and acetic acid production by homoacetogens consortium enriched from peatland soil. Bioresource Technology Reports.
  • Show author(s) (2021). Oral immunization of Escherichia albertii strain DM104 induces protective immunity against Shigella dysenteriae type 4 in mouse model. Acta Microbiologica et Immunologica Hungarica. 273-278.
  • Show author(s) (2021). Metagenome-assembled genomes related to ammonia-oxidizing Thaumarchaeota recovered from near-anoxic environment. Comptes Rendus de l'Academie Bulgare des Sciences. 363-372.
  • Show author(s) (2021). Complete nitrogen cycle driven by the thermophilic microbial community of Rupi II hot spring. Comptes Rendus de l'Academie Bulgare des Sciences. 59-69.
  • Show author(s) (2020). A novel cold-adapted Methylovulum species, with a high C16:1ω5c content, isolated from an arctic thermal spring in spitsbergen. Microbes and Environments. 1-9.
  • Show author(s) (2019). Global Biogeographic Distribution Patterns of Thermoacidophilic Verrucomicrobia Methanotrophs Suggest Allopatric Evolution. Frontiers in Microbiology. 1-11.
  • Show author(s) (2019). Complete genome sequence analysis of the thermoacidophilic verrucomicrobial methanotroph “Candidatus Methylacidiphilum kamchatkense” strain Kam1 and comparison with its closest relatives. BMC Genomics. 1-15.
  • Show author(s) (2019). Bacterial Community Profiling of Tropical Freshwaters in Bangladesh. Frontiers in Public Health. 1-16.
  • Show author(s) (2017). Protection against shigellosis caused by shigella dysenteriae serotype 4 in Guinea pigs using escherichia albertii dm104 as a live vaccine candidate strain. Acta Microbiologica et Immunologica Hungarica. 151-164.
  • Show author(s) (2017). Diversity of bacteria and archaea from two shallow marine hydrothermal vents from Vulcano Island. Extremophiles. 733-742.
  • Show author(s) (2017). Complete genome sequence analysis of Archaeoglobus fulgidus strain 7324 (DSM 8774), a hyperthermophilic archaeal sulfate reducer from a North Sea oil field. Standards in Genomic Sciences.
  • Show author(s) (2016). Acid-tolerant moderately thermophilic methanotrophs of the class Gammaproteobacteria isolated from tropical topsoil with methane seeps. Frontiers in Microbiology.
  • Show author(s) (2015). Novel Methanotrophs of the Family Methylococcaceae from Different Geographical Regions and Habitats. Microorganisms.
  • Show author(s) (2015). Evidence for extensive gene flow and Thermotoga subpopulations in subsurface and marine environments. The ISME Journal. 1532-1542.
  • Show author(s) (2014). Microbial diversity in an Armenian geothermal spring assessed by molecular and culture-based methods. Journal of Basic Microbiology. 1240-1250.
  • Show author(s) (2014). Microbial community analysis of thermophilic mixed culture sludge for biohydrogen production from palm oil mill effluent. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 19285-19293.
  • Show author(s) (2014). An Environmental escherichia albertii strain, dm104, induces protective immunity to shigella dysenteriae in guinea pig eye model. Current Microbiology. 642-647.
  • Show author(s) (2013). Thermoanaerobacter spp. recovered from hot produced water from the Thar Jath oil-field in South Sudan. African Journal of Microbiology Research. 5219-5226.
  • Show author(s) (2013). Serological cross-reaction between O-antigens of Shigella dysenteriae type 4 and an environmental Escherichia albertii isolate. Current Microbiology. 590-595.
  • Show author(s) (2013). Prevalence and distribution of different diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli virulotypes in major water bodies in Bangladesh. Epidemiology and Infection. 2516-2525.
  • Show author(s) (2013). Heavy metal accumulation and the expression of the copA and nikA genes in Bacillus subtilis AG4 isolated from the Sotk gold mine in Armenia. Biological Journal of Armenia. 51-57.
  • Show author(s) (2013). Evidence for successional development in Antarctic hypolithic bacterial communities. The ISME Journal. 2080-2090.
  • Show author(s) (2012). Prevalence of a novel division-level bacterial lineage in Lake Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh, as revealed by deep sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons. Current Microbiology. 356-360.
  • Show author(s) (2012). Evidence of interspecies O antigen gene cluster transfer between Shigella boydii 15 and Escherichia fergusonii. APMIS - Journal of Pathologiy, Microbiology and Immunology. 959-966.
  • Show author(s) (2012). Differential expression of particulate methane monooxygenase genes in the verrucomicrobial methanotroph 'Methylacidiphilum kamchatkense' Kam1. Extremophiles. 405-409.
  • Show author(s) (2011). Uracil-DNA Glycosylase of Thermoplasma acidophilum Directs Long-Patch Base Excision Repair, Which Is Promoted by Deoxynucleoside Triphosphates and ATP/ADP, into Short-Patch Repair. Journal of Bacteriology. 4495-4508.
  • Show author(s) (2011). Recovery and Characterization of Environmental Variants of Shigella flexneri from Surface Water in Bangladesh. Current Microbiology. 372-376.
  • Show author(s) (2010). Virulence of environmental Stenotrophomonas maltophila serologically cross-reacting with Shigella-specific antisera. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences. 937-945.
  • Show author(s) (2010). Thermodynamic and kinetic stability of a large multi-domain enzyme from the hyperthermophile Aeropyrum pernix. Extremophiles. 213-223.
  • Show author(s) (2010). The Hyperthermophilic Euryarchaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus Repairs Uracil by Single-Nucleotide Replacement. Journal of Bacteriology. 5755-5766.
  • Show author(s) (2010). Survival study of Eschericia coli O157:H7 in the aquatic system of Bangladesh. Dhaka University Journal of Biological Sciences. 195-201.
  • Show author(s) (2010). Intracellular Oceanospirillales bacteria inhabit gills of Acesta bivalves. FEMS Microbiology Ecology. 523-533.
  • Show author(s) (2009). The Genome of Thermosipho africanus TCF52B: Lateral Genetic Connections to the Firmicutes and Archaea. Journal of Bacteriology. 1974-1978.
  • Show author(s) (2009). SulfoSYS (Sulfolobus Systems Biology): towards a silicon cell model for the central carbohydrate metabolism of the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus under temperature variation. Biochemical Society Transactions. 58-64.
  • Show author(s) (2009). SulfoSYS (Sulfolobus Systems Biology): towards a silicon cell model for the central carbohydrate metabolism of the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus under temperature variation. Biochemical Society Transactions. 58-64.
  • Show author(s) (2009). Prevalence of antimicrobial resistant bacteria cultured from cattle feces and surface water. Bangladesh Journal of Zoology. 147-156.
  • Show author(s) (2009). Optimization and microbial community analysis for production of biohydrogen from palm oil mill effluent by thermophilic fermentative process. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 7448-7459.
  • Show author(s) (2009). Kosmotoga olearia gen. nov., sp nov., a thermophilic, anaerobic heterotroph isolated from an oil production fluid. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 2991 -3000.
  • Show author(s) (2009). Evaluation of methods for preparing hydrogen-producing seed inocula under thermophilic condition by process performance and microbial community analysis. Bioresource Technology. 909-918.
  • Show author(s) (2009). Comparison of Cultural and Molecular Characteristics of Escherichia coli isolated from Freshwater of Bangladesh. Dhaka University Journal of Biological Sciences. 195-199.
  • Show author(s) (2008). Optimization of simultaneous thermophilic fermentative hydrogen production and COD reduction from palm oil mill effluent by Thermoanaerobacterium-rich sludge. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 1221-1231.
  • Show author(s) (2008). Microbial community structure analysis of produced water from a high-temperature North Sea oil-field. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek. International Journal of General and Molecular Microbiology. 37-49.
  • Show author(s) (2008). Methane oxidation at 55 degrees C and pH 2 by a thermoacidophilic bacterium belonging to the Verrucomicrobia phylum. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 300-304.
  • Show author(s) (2008). Methane assimilation and trophic interactions with marine Methylomicrobium in deep-water coral reef sediment off the coast of Norway. FEMS Microbiology Ecology. 320-330.
  • Show author(s) (2008). Insight into the microbial community structure of a Norwegian deep-water coral reef environment. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers. 1554-1563.
  • Show author(s) (2008). Distribution of Crenarchaeota Representatives in Terrestrial Hot Springs of Russia and Iceland. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 7620-7628.
  • Show author(s) (2008). Caldicellulosiruptor kronotskyensis sp nov and Caldicellulosiruptor hydrothermalis sp nov., two extremely thermophilic, cellulolytic, anaerobic bacteria from Kamchatka thermal springs. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 1492-1496.
  • Show author(s) (2007). Thermal stability of isocitrate dehydrogenase from Archaeoglobus fulgidus studied by crystal structure analysis and engineering of chimers. Extremophiles.
  • Show author(s) (2007). Thermal stability and biochemical properties of isocitrate dehydrogenase from the thermoacidophilic archaeon Thermoplasma acidophilum. Extremophiles. 397-402.
  • Show author(s) (2007). Structural basis for enzymatic excision of N-1-methyladenine and N-3-methylcytosine from DNA. EMBO Journal.
  • Show author(s) (2007). Structural basis for enzymatic excision of N-1-methyladenine and N-3-methylcytosine from DNA. EMBO Journal.
  • Show author(s) (2007). Serological cross-reactivity of environmental isolates of Enterobacter, Escherichia, Stenotrophomonas, and Aerococcus with Shigella spp.-specific antisera. Current Microbiology. 63-67.
  • Show author(s) (2007). Improvement of biohydrogen production and treatment etticiency on palm oil mill effluent with nutrient supplementation at thermophilic condition using an anaerobic sequencing batch reactor. Enzyme and Microbial Technology. 583-590.
  • Show author(s) (2007). Biochemical characterization of isocitrate dehydrogenase from Methylococcus capsulatus reveals a unique NAD(+)-dependent homotetrameric enzyme. Archives of Microbiology.
  • Show author(s) (2006). Thermovirga lienii gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel moderately thermophilic, anaerobic, amino-acid-degrading bacterium isolated from a North Sea oil well. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 1539-1545.
  • Show author(s) (2006). The crystal structure of a hyperthermostable subfamily II isocitrate dehydrogenase from Thermotoga maritima. The FEBS Journal. 2851-2868.
  • Show author(s) (2006). Tepidimicrobium ferriphilum gen nov, sp nov, a novel moderately thermophilic, Fe(III)-reducing bacterium of the order Clostridiales. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 369-372.
  • Show author(s) (2006). Mineralization of 4-aminobenzenesulfonate (4-ABS) by Agrobacterium sp. strain PNS-1. Biodegradation. 495-502.
  • Show author(s) (2005). Transient accumulation of metabolic intermediates of p-cresol in the culture medium by a Pseudomonas sp strain A isolated from a sewage treatment plant. World Journal of Microbiology & Biotechnology. 1529-1534.
  • Show author(s) (2005). Reduction of uranium(VI) phosphate during growth of the thermophilic bacterium Thermoterrabacterium ferrireducens. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 6423-6426.
  • Show author(s) (2005). Isocitrate dehydrogenase from the hyperthermophile Aeropyrum pernix: X-ray structure analysis of a ternary enzyme-substrate complex and thermal stability. Journal of Molecular Biology (JMB). 559-577.
  • Show author(s) (2004). The microbial diversity of deep subsurface oil reservoirs. Studies in Surface Science and Catalysis. 385-403.
  • Show author(s) (2004). The 2.9 Ångström resolution crystal structure of malate dehydrogenase from Archaeoglobus fulgidus: mechanisms of oligomerisation and thermal stabilisation. Journal of Molecular Biology (JMB). 343-356.
  • Show author(s) (2004). Genomic insights into methanotrophy: The complete genome sequence of Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath). PLoS Biology. 1616-1628.
  • Show author(s) (2002). Methylpurine DNA glycosylase of the hyperthermophilic archaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus. Biochemistry. 12697-12705.
  • Show author(s) (2002). Methylpurine DNA glycosylase of the hyperthermophilic archaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus. Biochemistry. 12697-12705.
  • Show author(s) (2002). Identification of cofactor discrimination sites in NAD-isocitrate dehydrogenase from Pyrococcus furiosus. Archives of Microbiology. 297-300.
  • Show author(s) (2002). Identification of cofactor discrimination siten in NAD-isocitrate dehydrogenase from Pyrococcus furious. Archives of Microbiology. 297-300.
  • Show author(s) (2002). Crystallization and preliminary X-ray structure analysis of isocitrate dehydrogenase from two hyperthermophiles, Aeropyrum pernix and Thermotoga maritima. Acta Crystallographica Section D: Biological Crystallography. 2162-2164.
  • Show author(s) (2002). Chromosome replication patterns in the hyperthermophilic euryarchaea Archaeoglobus fulgidus and Methanocaldococcus (Methanococcus) jannaschii. Molecular Microbiology. 1443-1450.
  • Show author(s) (2001). Excision of uracil from DNA by the hyperthermophilic Afung protein is dependent on the opposite base and stimulated by heat-induced transition to a more open structure. Mutation Research (DNA Repair). 175-192.
  • Show author(s) (2001). Differences in the oligomeric state of the LDH-like L-MalDH from the hyperthermophilic archaea Methanococcus jannaschii and Archaeoglobus fulgidus. Biochemistry. 10310-10316.
  • Show author(s) (2001). Differences in Oligomeric States of the (LDH-like)L-MalDH from the Hyperthermophilic Archaea Methanococcus jannaschii and Archaeoglobus fulgidus. Biochemistry. 10310-10316.
  • Show author(s) (2001). Comparison of isocitrate dehydrogenase from three different hyperthermophiles reveals differences in thermostability, cofactor specificity, oligomeric state and phylogenetic affiliation. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 43924-43931.
  • Show author(s) (2001). Comparison of Isocitrate Dehydrogenase from Three Hyperthermophiles Reveals Differences in Thermostability,Cofactor Specificity,Oligomeric State, and Phylogenetic Affiliation. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 43924-43931.
  • Show author(s) (2001). Archaeoglobus fulgidus isocitrate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase and glutamate dehydrogenase. Methods in Enzymology. 13-26.
  • Show author(s) (2001). A novel organization of the dissimilatory sulfite reductase operon of Thermodesulforhabdus norvegica verified by RT-PCR. FEMS Microbiology Letters. 81-85.
  • Show author(s) (2000). Characterization of the desulforubidin operons from Desulfobacter vibrioformis and Desulfobulbus rhabdoformis. FEMS Microbiology Letters. 41-46.
  • Show author(s) (1999). Dissimilatory sulfite reductase from <I>Archaeoglobus profundus</I> and <I>Desulfotomaculum thermocisternum</I>: phylogenetic and structural implications from gene sequences. Extremophiles. 63-70.
  • Show author(s) (1998). Purification and characterization of a monomeric isocitrate dehydrogenase from the sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfobacter vibrioformis and demonstration of the presence of a monomeric enzyme in other bacteria. FEMS Microbiology Letters. 469-474.
  • Show author(s) (1998). Petrotoga mobilis sp. nov., from a North Sea oil-production well. International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology. 1007-1013.
  • Show author(s) (1998). Petrotoga mobilis sp. nov., from a North Sea oil-production well. International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology. 1007-1014.
  • Show author(s) (1998). Corrigendum to `Purification and characterization of a monomeric isocitrate dehydrogenase from the sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfobacter vibrioformis and demonstration of the presence of a monomeric enzyme in other bacteria': [FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 160 (1998) 75–79]. FEMS Microbiology Letters.
  • Show author(s) (1998). Characterization and sequence comparison of temperature-regulated chaperonins from the hyperthermophilic archaeon <I>Archaeoglobus fulgidus</I>. Gene. 431-438.
  • Show author(s) (1997). Purification and properties of an extremely thermostable NADP-specific glutamate dehydrogenase from Archaeoglobus fulgidus. Archives of Microbiology. 536-539.
  • Show author(s) (1997). Properties and primary structure of a thermostable L-malate dehydrogenase from Archaeoglobus fulgidus. Archives of Microbiology. 59-67.
  • Show author(s) (1997). Biochemical and phylogenetic characterization of isocitrate dehydrogenase from a hyperthermophilic archaeon, Archaeoglobus fulgidus. Archives of Microbiology. 412-420.
  • Show author(s) (1997). A highly efficient and stable system for site-specific integration of genes and plasmids into the phage φLC3 attachment site (attB) of the Lactococcus lactis chromosome. Gene. 129-136.
  • Show author(s) (1994). DNA glycosylase activities for thymine residues oxidized in the methyl group are functions of the AlkA enzyme in Escherichia coli. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 30489-30495.
  • Show author(s) (1994). Cloning, molecular characterization, and expression of the genes encoding the lytic functions of lactococcal bacteriophage phi-LC3: a dual lysis system og modular design. Canadian Journal of Microbiology (print). 658-665.
  • Show author(s) (1993). Transduction of a Plasmid Carrying the Cohesive End Region from Lactococcus lactis Bacteriophage ΦLC3. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 1966-1968.
  • Show author(s) (1993). The cos region of lactococcal bacteriophage øLC3. DNA Sequence. 211-214.
  • Show author(s) (1992). Escherichia coli K-12 and B contain functional bacteriophage P2 ogr genes. Journal of Bacteriology. 4094-4100.
  • Show author(s) (1991). Control of bacteriophage P2 gene expression: analysis of transcription of the ogr gene. Journal of Bacteriology. 6927-6934.
  • Show author(s) (1991). Characterization of Phi-LC3, a Lactococcus-lactis subsp cremoris Temperate Bacteriophage with Cohesive Single-Stranded-DNA Ends. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 3206-3211.
  • Show author(s) (1990). Deletion analysis of a bacteriophage P2 late promoter. Gene. 9-15.
  • Show author(s) (1988). Genotypes and phenotypes of ß-lactamase producing strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from African countries. Genitourinary medicine. 226-232.
  • Show author(s) (1988). Directed mutagenesis of the bacteriophage P2 ogr gene defines an essential function. Gene. 327-335.
  • Show author(s) (1986). Coliphage P2 Late Control Gene ogr: DNA Sequence and Product Identification. Journal of Molecular Biology (JMB). 487-490.
  • Show author(s) (1985). Active Uptake of Glutamate in Vesicles of Halobacterium salinarium. Molecular membrane biology. 1-17.
  • Show author(s) (1982). Isolation by gel-filtration and ion-exchange chromatography of a carbohydrate-rich LPS from phenol-water extracts of Leptotrichia-buccalis strain-l11. APMIS - Journal of Pathologiy, Microbiology and Immunology. 435-440.
  • Show author(s) (1982). Chemical-composition, ultrastructure and some serological properties of lipopolysaccharides from Leptotrichia-buccalis. APMIS - Journal of Pathologiy, Microbiology and Immunology. 329-334.
Academic lecture
  • Show author(s) (2022). Thermobaculum Tajikiense Sp. Nov., a Novel Thermophilic Bacterial Species from A High-Altitude Geothermal Spring in Tajikistan.
  • Show author(s) (2021). Thermophilic Breakdown of Feather Keratin by Fervidobacteria.
  • Show author(s) (2021). Metagenome-assembled genomes from a high-altitude geothermal spring in Tajikistan provide insights into its microbial diversity.
  • Show author(s) (2019). Complete genome sequence analysis of the thermoacidophilic verrucomicrobial methanotroph “Ca. Methylacidiphilum kamchatkense” strain Kam1 and comparison with its closest relatives.
  • Show author(s) (2019). Allopatric evolution of thermoacidophilic Verrucomicrobia methanotrophs?
  • Show author(s) (2019). Allopatric Evolution among Thermoacidophilic Verrucomicrobial Methanotrophs from Globally Distributed Terrestrial Hot Springs.
  • Show author(s) (2018). Verrucomicrobia Methanotrophs, a Novel Group of Extremophiles Adapted to Acidic Geothermal Environments.
  • Show author(s) (2018). Methane-oxidation in extreme environments; the complete genome sequence of the thermoacidophilic methanotrophic Verrucomicrobia, Methylacidiphilum kamkcatkense.
  • Show author(s) (2018). Methane oxidation by extremophilic verrucomicrobia adapted to acidic geothermal environments.
  • Show author(s) (2018). Methane oxidation by extremophilic Verrucomicrobia adapted to acidic geothermal environments.
  • Show author(s) (2017). Molecular and genomic analysis of thermoacidophilic methanotrophic verrucomicrobia .
  • Show author(s) (2017). Diversity of anaerobic thermophiles in North Sea oil reservoirs and their biotechnological potential.
  • Show author(s) (2017). Diversity and adaptations of extremophilic microorganisms.
  • Show author(s) (2017). Diversity and adaptation of extreme thermophiles.
  • Show author(s) (2016). Extremophilic methane-oxidizing Verrucomicrobia.
  • Show author(s) (2016). Diversity of thermophiles from North Sea oil fields.
  • Show author(s) (2016). Anaerobic thermophiles from deep and hot North Sea oil wells.
  • Show author(s) (2015). Methane oxidation by methanotrophic Verrucomicrobia.
  • Show author(s) (2014). Methane oxidation in extreme environments by thernmoacidophilic methanotrophic Verrucomicrobia .
  • Show author(s) (2014). Diversity and adaptations in Archaea, the third domain of life.
  • Show author(s) (2014). Armenian mines as a source of heavy metal accumulating metalophilic bacilli.
  • Show author(s) (2014). Antarctic cryptic microbial communities: Martian analogs for extremophilic life?
  • Show author(s) (2014). Adaptations to hot and cold: a case study of isocitrate dehydrogenase from extremophiles.
  • Show author(s) (2014). Adaptations to hot and cold: a case study of isocitrate dehydrogenase from extremophiles.
  • Show author(s) (2014). Adaptations to hot and cold: a case study of isocitrate dehydrogenase from extremophiles.
  • Show author(s) (2012). Diversity of Extremophiles.
  • Show author(s) (2012). Chemical strategies of extremophiles.
  • Show author(s) (2011). The GINS complex from Thermoplasma acidophilum may function as a homotetramer in DNA replication.
  • Show author(s) (2011). Life on the edge: Diversity and adaptations of extremophiles.
  • Show author(s) (2011). Extremophiles; adaptation and diversity.
  • Show author(s) (2011). Archaeal DNA replication.
  • Show author(s) (2010). Methane oxidation by a novel lineage of thermo-acidophilic methanotrophic Verrucomicrobia.
  • Show author(s) (2010). High microbial diversity in Antarctic Dry Valley soil microenvironments.
  • Show author(s) (2009). Thermophilic methane oxidizers belonging to the phylum Verrucomicrobia.
  • Show author(s) (2009). The oil reservoir ecosystem: what is happening and who is living down there?
  • Show author(s) (2009). The genome of Thermosipho africanus: lateral genetic connections to Firmicutes and Archaea.
  • Show author(s) (2009). Oil Well ecology: What’s happening and who is living down there?
  • Show author(s) (2009). Molecular basis of the stability of biomoleculees in hot environments.
  • Show author(s) (2009). Methane oxidation in extreme environments by a novel lineage of thermo-acidophilic methanotrophic Verrucomicrobia.
  • Show author(s) (2009). Genetics of thermophiles.
  • Show author(s) (2009). Functional analysis of the DNA replication initiation proteins, Cdc6 and MCM, from Thermoplasma acidophilum.
  • Show author(s) (2009). Extremophiles: basic concepts.
  • Show author(s) (2009). Evolutionary and genetic relatedness of Shigella-like bacteria in aquatic environment of Bangladesh.
  • Show author(s) (2008). Thermophilic biohydrogen production from palm oil mill effluent by mixed culture community with anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (ASBR).
  • Show author(s) (2008). Thermo-acidophilic methane oxidation by Verrucmicrobia extends our perception of biological methane oxidation.
  • Show author(s) (2008). Nitrile hydrolysing enzymes from extremophiles: their role in biocatalysis.
  • Show author(s) (2008). Functional analysis of the MCM and Cdc6 proteins from the thermoacidophilic euryarchaeon Thermoplasma acidophilum.
  • Show author(s) (2007). Synthesis of methyl ester/s by transesterification using lipase produced by a thermophile.
  • Show author(s) (2007). Microbial Diversity of Deep and Hot Petroleum Reservoirs.
  • Show author(s) (2007). Isocitrate dehydrogenase from (hyper)thermophiles; Molecular adaptations to high temperatures.
  • Show author(s) (2006). Microbial diversity in deep petroleum reservoirs.
  • Show author(s) (2006). Isocitrate dehydrogenase from (hyper)thermophiles; Molecular adaptations to high temperatures.
  • Show author(s) (2006). Exploring the microbiology of a deep water coral reef outside mid Norway.
  • Show author(s) (2006). Excision of 1-methyladenine and 3-methylcytosine from DNA by AfAlkA of Archaeoglobus fulgidus.
  • Show author(s) (2005). Sulphate-reducing bacteria and archaea.
  • Show author(s) (2004). The 2.9 Å resolution structure of malate dehydrogenase from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus: mechanisms of oligomerisation and thermal stabilisation.
  • Show author(s) (2004). Natural gas and biotechnology: Bioprospecting of methane-oxidizing bacteria.
  • Show author(s) (2004). Molecular adaptation of isocitrate dehydrogenase to high temperature.
  • Show author(s) (2004). Extremophiles: basic concepts.
  • Show author(s) (2003). X-ray structure analysis of isocitrate dehydrogenase from the hyperthermophile Aeropyrum pernix.
  • Show author(s) (2003). Treasures in the deep biosphere of North Sea oil-wells.
  • Show author(s) (2003). The genomic sequencing of Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath). Repair of alkylated DNA by oxidative demethylation.
  • Show author(s) (2003). Base excision repair of deaminated DNA-cytosine in Archaea: novel genes and mechanisms.
  • Show author(s) (2002). Thermostable proteins from hyperthermophilic microorganisms.
  • Show author(s) (2002). Thermophilic microbes from North Sea oil wells and their thermostable proteins.
  • Show author(s) (2002). Sequencing of the Methylococcus capsulatus genome.
  • Show author(s) (2002). Bakterielle næringskomponenter og metabolisme.
  • Show author(s) (2001). Members of the Thermotogales order isolated from hot North Sea oil field water.
  • Show author(s) (2001). Detection of sulfate reducers indigenous to North Sea oil wells using probes based on dissimilatory sulfite reductase gene sequences.
  • Show author(s) (2000). Thermosipho strain TBA5, a new thermophilic anaerobic bacterium, isolated from a North Sea oil field.
  • Show author(s) (2000). Thermosipho strain TBA5, a new thermophilic anaerobic bacterium, isolated from a North Sea oil field.
  • Show author(s) (2000). Isocitrate dehydrogenase from Aeropyrum pernix.
  • Show author(s) (2000). Isocitrate dehydrogenase from Aeropyrum pernix.
  • Show author(s) (2000). Expression and characterization of a recombinant L-malate dehydrogenase from Archaeoglobus fulgidus strain VC-16.
  • Show author(s) (2000). Expression and characterization of a recombinant L-malate dehydrogenase from Archaeoglobus fulgidus strain VC-16.
  • Show author(s) (2000). Anaerobic microbiology at University of Bergen.
  • Show author(s) (1999). Overview of the research on molecular biology and biochemistry of thermophiles in Bergen.
  • Show author(s) (1996). L-Malate dehydrogenase from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus.
  • Show author(s) (1996). Isolation and characterization of a novel Petrotoga sp. from a North Sea oil-producing well.
  • Show author(s) (1996). Expression of a thermostable isocitrate dehydrogenase from the hyperthermophilic Archaeoglobus fulgidus in Escherichia coli.
  • Show author(s) (1996). Expression of a thermostable isocitrate dehydrogenase from the hyperthermophilic Archaeoglobus fulgidus in Escherichia coli.
  • Show author(s) (1996). Archaeoglobus fulgidus isocitrate dehydrogenase: Purification, characterization, thermostability, genetic analysis and phylogeny.
  • Show author(s) (1996). Archaeoglobus fulgidus isocitrate dehydrogenase: Purification, characterization, thermostability genetic analysis and phylogeny.
  • Show author(s) (1996). A thermosome-encoding gene from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus.
  • Show author(s) (1996). A thermosome-encoding gene from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus.
  • Show author(s) (1996). A chaperonin-encoding gene from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus.
  • Show author(s) (1996). A chaperonin-encoding gene from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus.
Academic anthology/Conference proceedings
  • Show author(s) (2021). Microbial Communities and their Interactions in the Extreme Environment. Springer.
  • Show author(s) (2018). Extremophiles in Eurasian Ecosystems: Ecology, Diversity, and Applications. Springer.
Abstract
  • Show author(s) (2015). Heavy metal resistance of Bacillus subtilis AG4 isolated from the Sotk Gold Mine in Armenia. The FEBS Journal.
  • Show author(s) (2013). The effect of combined heavy metal ions on copA, nikA and czcD genes expression of metal-resistant bacilli. The FEBS Journal. 231-231.
  • Show author(s) (1984). Invitro deletion analysis of a gene controlling late gene-expression of phage-P2. Hereditas. 271-271.
Academic literature review
  • Show author(s) (2021). Microbial Diversity of Terrestrial Geothermal Springs in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh: A Review. Microorganisms. 1473.
  • Show author(s) (2009). Environmental, genomic and taxonomic perspectives on methanotrophic Verrucomicrobia. Environmental Microbiology Reports. 293-306.

More information in national current research information system (CRIStin)

Current and previous projects, networks and funding for advanced equipment:

2021 - 2024: ThermoK: Thermophilic break-down of keratin-laden biomass waste. ERA-NET Cofund on Food Systems and Climate (https://www.uib.no/en/thermok).

2018 - 2022: (Eurasian - Norwegian) network for research-based higher education in microbial biotechnology. Diku.

2017 - 2021: Methane oxidation by extremophilic Verrucomicrobia adapted to geothermal
environments. Research Council of Norway. FRIMEDBIO.

2017 - 2020: Thermostable isomerase processes for biotechnology (TIPs). ERA-IB/BIOTEK2021.

2017 - 2019: (Eurasian - Norwegian) Network for improving research based higher education in basic and applied microbiology.

2015 - 2016: Extremophilic Archaea in Bulgarian geothermal environments. BG09 Programme. EEA Scholarships Fund.

2013 - 2016: THERMOGENE - Novel thermostable enzymes for industrial biotechnology. NFR/ERA-NET Industrial Biotechnology project

2014 - 2015: Integrative analysis of extremophiles in search for new biotechnological solutions. NILS Science and Sustainability (ES07). EEA Grant.

2013 - 2015: Eurasian-Norwegian network for higher education and research in environmental microbiology and biotechnology

2011 - 2015: Cooperation in environmental microbiology between Armenia and Norway. SIU

 2012: Geomicrobiology for bioenergy. The Agricultural Research Development Agency, Thailand.

2011 - 2014: Cooperation with Armenia in microbiology of extreme environments. SIU/UD. 1.8 mill NOK.

2011-2014: Biological methane oxidation by methanotrophic Verrucomicrobia under  hot and acidic conditions; evolution of an ancient metabolic trait. NFR, 3.5 mill NOK.

 2009-2012: Subsurface metagenomics, functional microbial diversity analysis and gene discovery in deep and hot petroleum reservoirs. VISTA. 2.5 mill NOK.

2010: Is methane oxidation an ancient metabolic trait? Centre for Geobiology, UiB. 180.000 NOK.

2007-2010: Metagenomics and gene discovery in Antarctic terrestrial habitats. The Research Council of Norway/The South-Africa programme. 898.000 NOK.

2009-2012: The Nordic Archaea Network. NordForsk.

2008: Comparative genomics of Archaeoglobus fulgidus strain 7324, a subsurface hyperthermophilic sulfate-reducing archaeon isolated from a hot North-Sea oil-well. University of Bergen/ Friforsk. 300.000 NOK.

2003-2011: Assessment of microbial pollution and diversity of Escherichia coli and Shigella in freshwater resources in Bangladesh. NUFU. 6.5 mill NOK.

2007-2010: Silicon Cell Model for the central carbohydrate metabolism of the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus under temperature variation. SysMo.

2004-2007: Metanspisende bakterier i havbunnsmiljø. VISTA. 1.5 millNOK.

2006-2007: Archaeoglobus fulgidus strain 7324: a unique archaeal sulfate reducer. The Research Council of Norway/ DAAD. 50.000 NOK.

2003-2007: Natural gas and biotechnology (NABI): bioprospecting of methane-oxidizing bacteria. The Norwegian Research Council/ Bioprospecting programme. 6.7 mill NOK.

2003-2007: Biological adaptations to extreme temperatures. The Norwegian Research Council/ Strategic university programme. 5.9 mill NOK.

2003-2007: Archaeal cell-cycle regulation. The Research Council of Norway. 1.7 mill NOK.

2006: Robot for automated picking of bacterial colonies (GenePix2xt). The Research Council of Norway. 1.7 mill NOK.

2002-2006: Biotechnology of intraterrestrial microorganisms. The Research Council of Norway/ Bioprospecting. 1.6 mill NOK.

2003-2005: Reduction of toxic metals and radionuclides by thermophilic prokaryotes. INTAS. 450.000 NOK.

2002-2004: Reduction of metals by thermophilic prokaryotes. NATO. 100.000 NOK.

1999-2003: Biology of Thermophiles. Nordic network. NorFA. 1.5 mill NOK.

1997-2001: VIRTUE: Bioaktive substanser. Wallenbergfondet. 475.000 NOK.

1997-1999: Termoresistens hos Archaeoglobus. The Research Council of Norway. 288.000 NOK.

1996-1999: Dissimilatorisk sulfitt reduktase fra oljebakterier. The Research Council of Norway. 1.2 mill NOK.

1995: Iso-sitronsyre dehydrogenase i Desulfobacter. The Research Council of Norway. 412.000 NOK.

1994: Generell drifts- og utstyrsbevilgning. The Research Council of Norway. 150.000 NOK.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CV

Education

Cand.real. (M.Sc.) in microbiology 1981, University of Bergen, Norway.

Dr.philos. 1992, University of Oslo, Norway (bacteriophage molecular biology).

 

Career/Employment

· Dept. of Physical Chemistry, Norwegian Institute of Technology, Trondheim, Norway: Research assistant, 1981-1982.  Membrane transport in halobacteria.

. Dept. of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway: Research assistant, 1982-1985. Gene regulation in the Escherichia coli P2:P4 system.

. Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA: Research scientist, 1986-1987.  Regulation of gene expression in the P2:P4  bacteriophage system.

·  Laboratory of Microbial Gene Technology, The Norwegian Research Council/The Norwegian   Agricultural University, Ås, Norway: Research scientist, 1988-1993.  Molecular biology and  biotechnology of lactic acid bacteria and phages.

·  Dept. of Biology (previous Dept. of Microbiology), University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway: Associate professor, 1993-1996; full Professor in microbiology from 1996 - present. From 2007 also affiliated with the Centre for Geobiology (a CoE) at Univ. of Bergen. Molecular biology and biochemistry of extremophiles; anaerobic microbiology; methane-oxidising bacteria; environmental microbiology.

 

International experience

·  Research scientist at Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA 1986-1987. Gene regulation.

·  Visiting Professor at the Center of Marine Biotechnology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, 1998-1999 (one year). Molecular biology of hyperthermophiles.

· Coordinator for the NorFA-network Biology of Thermophiles, 1998 – 2003.

· Coordinator of the INTAS program Reduction of toxic metals and radionuclides by thermophilic prokaryotes. 2002 – 2005.

·  Coordinator of the NUFU program Assessment of microbial pollution, diversity and community structure in freshwater resources in Bangladesh using molecular techniques, 2003 – 2012.

· Convenor for the 9th International Thermophiles conference in Bergen in September 2007.

 

Some of my active collaborators

· Prof. Arne Smalås, the Norwegian Structural Biology Center (NORSTRUCT), University of Tromsø, Norway (Protein structure)

· Prof. Svein Bjelland, University of Stavanger, Norway (DNA repair in hyperthermophiles)

· Dr. Elizaveta Bonch-Osmolovskaya, Institute of Microbiology, the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow (Thermophilic bacteria from hot springs)

· Dr. Rudolf Ladenstein, Center for Structural Biochemistry, Karolinska Institutet, NOVUM, Stockholm, Sweden (Protein structure and stability)

· Dr. Zvi Kelman, Center for Advanced Research in Biotechnology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (Regulation of archaeal cell-cycle)

· Dr. Poonsuk Prasertsan, Department of Industrial Biotechnology, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand (Biohydrogen)

· Professor Don Cowan, University of the Western Cape, South Africa (Antarctic metagenomics)

· Professor Sirajul Islam Khan, Department of Microbiology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh (enteropathogens in tropical freshwaters)

 

Patent applications

· Lillehaug D and Birkeland NK (1994): Bacteriophage ΦLC-3-based vector system for transformation of bacteria. WO 9419460.

· Jonassen I et al. (2002): Systems for expression of heterologous proteins in Methylococcus capsulatus. WO 02055549.

· Eisen JA et al. (2002): Metylococcus capsulatus genes and DNA array for the determination of gene expression in Metylococcus capsulatus. WO 02055655. 

· Birkeland NK and Islam T: Novel methanotroph (biological conversion of methane to methanol). Pending.