Christina Kellogg, Ph.D.
I am an environmental microbiologist that uses molecular techniques and microbiology methods to study marine microbes, particularly the microbial ecology of tropical and deep-sea corals.
Dr. Kellogg joined the U.S. Geological Survey as a Mendenhall Fellow, characterizing the microbial communities in aerosolized African desert dust, beach sediments, seagrass beds and coral reefs. Currently, she leads the Coral Microbial Ecology Laboratory at the U.S. Geological Survey, studying the microbiomes and environments of tropical and cold-water corals.
Dr. Kellogg is active in shaping the direction of microbiome research in the U.S., having represented the Department of Interior (DOI) on the Federal Microbiome Interagency Working Group, the National Microbiome Data Collaborative, and serving as Subject Matter Expert to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy rollout of the National Microbiome Initiative in 2016.
Professional Experience
2003 – Present: Research principal investigator and head of Coral Microbial Ecology Lab, USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
2001 – 2003: USGS Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellow, USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
1998 – 2001: Postdoctoral Fellow, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC
1991 – 1998: Research Assistant, Department of Marine Science, University of South Florida
Education and Certifications
PhD: 1998, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL
BS: 1991, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
Science and Products
Coral-associated bacterial diversity is conserved across two deep-sea Anthothela species
Seasonal microbial and environmental parameters at Crocker Reef, Florida Keys, 2014–2015
USGS research on Atlantic coral reef ecosystems
Investigación del USGS sobre el ecosistema de arrecifes de coral en el Atlántico
Comparing bacterial community composition of healthy and dark spot-affected Siderastrea siderea in Florida and the Caribbean
Sampling from living organisms
Comparison of three DNA extraction kits to establish maximum yield and quality of coral-associated microbial DNA
Comparing bacterial community composition between healthy and white plague-like disease states in Orbicella annularis using PhyloChip™ G3 microarrays
Comparison of DNA preservation methods for environmental bacterial community samples
Cultured fungal associates from the deep-sea coral Lophelia pertusa
Deepwater Program: Studies of Gulf of Mexico lower continental slope communities related to chemosynthetic and hard substrate habitats
PhyloChip™ microarray comparison of sampling methods used for coral microbial ecology
Science and Products
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Coral-associated bacterial diversity is conserved across two deep-sea Anthothela species
Cold-water corals, similar to tropical corals, contain diverse and complex microbial assemblages. These bacteria provide essential biological functions within coral holobionts, facilitating increased nutrient utilization and production of antimicrobial compounds. To date, few cold-water octocoral species have been analyzed to explore the diversity and abundance of their microbial associates. For tAuthorsStephanie N. Lawler, Christina A. Kellogg, Scott C France, Rachel W Clostio, Sandra D. Brooke, Steve W. RossSeasonal microbial and environmental parameters at Crocker Reef, Florida Keys, 2014–2015
Crocker Reef, located on the outer reef tract of the Florida Keys (fig. 1), was the site of an integrated “reefscape characterization” effort focused on calcification and related biogeochemical processes as part of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Coral Reef Ecosystem STudies (CREST) project. It is characterized as a senile or dead reef, with only scattered stony coral colonies and areas of sandAuthorsChristina A. Kellogg, Kimberly K. Yates, Stephanie N. Lawler, Christopher S. Moore, Nathan A. SmileyUSGS research on Atlantic coral reef ecosystems
Overview Coral reefs are massive, biomineralized structures that protect coastal communities by acting as barriers to hazards such as hurricanes and tsunamis. They provide sand for beaches through the natural process of erosion, support tourism and recreational industries, and provide essential habitat for fisheries. The continuing global degradation of coral reef ecosystems is well documented. ThAuthorsIlsa B. Kuffner, Kimberly K. Yates, David G. Zawada, Julie N. Richey, Christina A. Kellogg, Lauren T. TothInvestigación del USGS sobre el ecosistema de arrecifes de coral en el Atlántico
Información General Los arrecifes de coral son estructuras sólidas, biomineralizadas que protegen comunidades costeras actuando como barreras protectoras de peligros tales como los huracanes y los tsunamis. Estos proveen arena a las playas a través de procesos naturales de erosión, fomentan la industria del turismo, las actividades recreacionales y proveen hábitats pesqueros esenciales. La conti-nAuthorsIlsa B. Kuffner, Kimberly K. Yates, David G. Zawada, Julie N. Richey, Christina A. Kellogg, Lauren T. Toth, Legna M. Torres-GarciaComparing bacterial community composition of healthy and dark spot-affected Siderastrea siderea in Florida and the Caribbean
Coral disease is one of the major causes of reef degradation. Dark Spot Syndrome (DSS) was described in the early 1990's as brown or purple amorphous areas of tissue on a coral and has since become one of the most prevalent diseases reported on Caribbean reefs. It has been identified in a number of coral species, but there is debate as to whether it is in fact the same disease in different corals.AuthorsChristina A. Kellogg, Yvette M. Piceno, Lauren M. Tom, Todd Z. DeSantis, Michael A. Gray, Gary L. AndersenSampling from living organisms
Living organisms, unlike inanimate surfaces, seem to exert some control over their surface microbiota, in many cases maintaining conserved, species-specific microbial communities. Microbial ecologists seek to characterize and identify these microbes to understand the roles they are playing in the larger organism's biology.AuthorsChristina A. KelloggComparison of three DNA extraction kits to establish maximum yield and quality of coral-associated microbial DNA
Coral microbiology is an expanding field, yet there is no standard DNA extraction protocol. Although many researchers depend on commercial extraction kits, no specific kit has been optimized for use with coral samples. Both soil and plant DNA extraction kits from MO BIO Laboratories, Inc., have been used by many research groups for this purpose. MO BIO recently replaced their PowerPlant® kit withAuthorsErin J. Baker, Christina A. KelloggComparing bacterial community composition between healthy and white plague-like disease states in Orbicella annularis using PhyloChip™ G3 microarrays
Coral disease is a global problem. Diseases are typically named or described based on macroscopic changes, but broad signs of coral distress such as tissue loss or discoloration are unlikely to be specific to a particular pathogen. For example, there appear to be multiple diseases that manifest the rapid tissue loss that characterizes ‘white plague.’ PhyloChip™ G3 microarrays were used to compareAuthorsChristina A. Kellogg, Yvette M. Piceno, Lauren M. Tom, Todd Z. DeSantis, Michael A. Gray, David G. Zawada, Gary L. AndersenComparison of DNA preservation methods for environmental bacterial community samples
Field collections of environmental samples, for example corals, for molecular microbial analyses present distinct challenges. The lack of laboratory facilities in remote locations is common, and preservation of microbial community DNA for later study is critical. A particular challenge is keeping samples frozen in transit. Five nucleic acid preservation methods that do not require cold storage werAuthorsMichael A. Gray, Zoe A. Pratte, Christina A. KelloggCultured fungal associates from the deep-sea coral Lophelia pertusa
The cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa provides important habitat to many deep-sea fishes and invertebrates. Studies of the microbial taxa associated with L. pertusa thus far have focused on bacteria, neglecting the microeukaryotic members. This is the first study to culture fungi from living L. pertusa and to investigate carbon source utilization by the fungal associates. Twenty-seven fungal isolaAuthorsJulia P. Galkiewicz, Sarah H. Stellick, Michael A. Gray, Christina A. KelloggDeepwater Program: Studies of Gulf of Mexico lower continental slope communities related to chemosynthetic and hard substrate habitats
This report summarizes research funded by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW) on the ecology of deep chemosynthetic communities in the Gulf of Mexico. The research was conducted at the request of the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE; formerly Minerals Management Service) to complemenAuthorsSteve W. Ross, Amanda W.J. Demopoulos, Christina A. Kellogg, Cheryl L. Morrison, Martha S. Nizinski, Cheryl L. Ames, Tara L. Casazza, Daniel Gualtieri, Kaitlin Kovacs, Jennifer P. McClain, Andrea M. Quattrini, Adela Y. Roa-Varon, Andrew D. ThalerPhyloChip™ microarray comparison of sampling methods used for coral microbial ecology
Interest in coral microbial ecology has been increasing steadily over the last decade, yet standardized methods of sample collection still have not been defined. Two methods were compared for their ability to sample coral-associated microbial communities: tissue punches and foam swabs, the latter being less invasive and preferred by reef managers. Four colonies of star coral, Montastraea annularisAuthorsChristina A. Kellogg, Yvette M. Piceno, Lauren M. Tom, Todd Z. DeSantis, David G. Zawada, Gary L. Andersen - News
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