Keiner, R., A. Rusznyak, D. M. Akob, S. Hanf, K. Küsel, J. Popp, and T. Frosch. 2013. Raman spectroscopy – an innovative and versatile tool to follow the respirational activity and carbonate biomineralization of important cave bacteria. Analytical Chemistry, 85(18): 8708–8714 (DOI: 10.1021/ac401699d).
Denise M Akob, Ph.D.
Denise Akob is a Research Microbiologist for the USGS Geology, Energy & Minerals (GEM) Science Center in Reston, VA.
Biography
Dr. Denise M. Akob is a microbial ecologist and biogeochemist whose research aims to understand interactions between microbes and their environment in order to solve anthropogenic issues. Her research focuses primarily on understanding microbial impacts on Cold War Biogeochemistry (uranium and chlorinated solvent contamination); energy production (either by mitigating degradation of contaminants (from hydraulic fracturing or oil spills) or by enhancing natural gas production); and carbon cycling. Dr. Akob joined the U.S. Geological Survey in 2012 as a research scientist in the Water Mission Area, and move to the Geology, Energy, and Minerals Science Center in 2020. For more information, please visit the Reston Microbiology Lab website.
Education
- Ph.D. 2008, Florida State University, Department of Oceanography, Advisor: Dr. Joel E. Kostka
- B.A. 2002, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Major: Biology
Work Experience
- Affiliated Professor, Department of Biology at George Mason University, 2017-current.
- Affiliated Professor, Department of Geology, Appalachian State University, 2017- present.
- Adjunct Graduate Faculty, University of Alabama, Department of Biological Sciences, 2016-present.
- Affiliated Professor, Department of Geography and Planning, Appalachian State University, 2016-current.
- Affiliated Professor, Environmental Science and Policy Department at George Mason University, 2013-current.
- Research Microbiologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Water Mission Area, Reston Microbiology Laboratory. 2012-current
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Friedrich-Schiller University Jena. 2010-2012
- Marie Curie Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Friedrich-Schiller University Jena. 2008-2010
Professional Affiliations or Activities
- Associate Editor, Biogeosciences, 2016-present.
- Editorial Board Member, FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 2016-present.
- Editorial Board Member, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, January 1, 2018- December 31, 2020.
- President, Washington, D.C. Branch of the American Society for Microbiology, 2019-present.
- President-Elect, Washington, D.C. Branch of the American Society for Microbiology, 2017-2019.
- USGS Community for Data Integration’s Bioinformatics Community of Practice, co-organizer, 2017-present.
- USGS Eastern Water Science Series, co-organizer, 2017-present.
- Applied and Environmental Microbiology Gordon Research Seminar Mentor, July 15-16, 2017.
- USGS NRP-EB Weekly Science Series, co-organizer (2013-2017)
- Geobiology Theme Chair, Goldschmidt 2015 25th Anniversary Meeting
- Co-Chair for Session T50. Microbial Hydrocarbon Formation and Biodegradation: Organisms, Pathways, Environmental Limitations, and Isotope Signatures, 2015 Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD
Awards
- USGS Early Career Leadership Award, 2017
Science and Products
Date published: June 4, 2020
Status: Completed Framework for Examining Stream Ecosystem Health in Areas of Shale Gas Development—A Multi-Parameter Watershed-Based Case Study in Pennsylvania
In a case study of 25 headwater streams in Pennsylvania, no statistically significant associations were determined between shale gas development and geochemical tracers of produced waters or measures of microbial and macroinvertebrate community composition. Although the results are specific to the region studied, the integrated biological and geochemical framework provides a tool for...
Date published: April 18, 2018
Status: Active Energy Integrated Science Team
The Energy Integrated Science Team focuses on the potential for contaminant exposures in the environment that might originate from energy resource activities including, transportation, storage, extraction, waste management and restoration. Perceived health risks to humans and other organisms will be distinguished from actual risks, if any. If actual risks are identified...
Date published: May 19, 2017
Status: Completed Two Scientists Receive Early Career Excellence in Leadership Award
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 2016 Early Career Excellence in Leadership Award was given to Dr. Denise M. Akob and Dr. Karl B. Haase. Drs. Akob and Haase have demonstrated outstanding leadership through their scientific accomplishments and service to the USGS.
Contacts: Denise M Akob, Ph.D., Karl B Haase, Ph.D.
Date published: April 12, 2017
Status: Completed Trace Levels of Organic Chemicals Limited to Local Reaches of a Stream near an Oil and Gas Wastewater Disposal Facility
Organic contaminants that were present in Wolf Creek near a wastewater disposal facility were not evident farther downstream where Wolf Creek enters the New River. Wolf Creek and the New River are used for drinking water and recreational purposes.
Contacts: William H Orem, Ph.D., Denise M Akob, Ph.D.
Date published: February 24, 2017
Status: Completed Examining Shifts in Stream Microbial Communities Exposed to Oil and Gas Wastewaters
Shifts in the overall microbial community structure were present in stream sediments that contained chemicals associated with unconventional oil and gas wastewaters. This work is part of a long-term study designed to understand persistence of chemicals from oil and gas wastewaters in sediments and water and how those factors might be related to exposures and adverse health effects, if any, on...
Contacts: Denise M Akob, Ph.D., Isabelle M Cozzarelli, Ph.D.
Date published: May 9, 2016
Status: Completed Indication of Unconventional Oil and Gas Wastewaters Found in Local Surface Waters
Evidence indicating the presence of wastewaters from unconventional oil and gas (UOG) production was found in surface waters and surficial sediments near an UOG disposal facility in West Virginia.
Contacts: Denise M Akob, Ph.D., Isabelle M Cozzarelli, Ph.D.
Date published: June 17, 2015
Status: Completed Microbiology and Chemistry of Waters Produced from Hydraulic Fracking—A Case Study
A new U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study determined that the microbiology and organic chemistry of produced waters varied widely among hydraulically fractured shale gas wells in north-central Pennsylvania.
Contacts: Denise M Akob, Ph.D., Isabelle M Cozzarelli, Ph.D.
Year Published: 2021
Draft genome sequence of Bordetella sp. strain FB-8, isolated from a former uranium mining area in Germany
Here, we present the draft genome sequence of Bordetella sp. strain FB-8, a mixotrophic iron-oxidizing bacterium isolated from creek sediment in the former uranium-mining district of Ronneburg, Germany. To date, iron oxidation has not been reported in Bordetella species, indicating that FB-8 may be an environmentally important...
Harris, Cassandra Rashan; Akob, Denise M.; Fabisch, Maria; Beulig, Felix; Woyke, Tanya; Shapiro, Nicole; Lapidus, Alla; Klenk, Hans-Peter; Küsel, Kirsten
Year Published: 2021
Syntrophotalea acetylenivorans sp. nov., a diazotrophic, acetylenotrophic anaerobe isolated from intertidal sediments
A Gram-stain-negative, strictly anaerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterium, designated SFB93T, was isolated from the intertidal sediments of South San Francisco Bay, located near Palo Alto, CA, USA. SFB93T was capable of acetylenotrophic and diazotrophic growth, grew at 22–37 °C, pH 6.3–8.5 and in the presence of 10–45 g l−1 NaCl....
Baesman, Shaun; Sutton, John M.; Fierst, Janna L.; Akob, Denise M.; Oremland, Ronald S.
Year Published: 2021
Acetylene-fueled trichloroethene reductive dechlorination in a groundwater enrichment culture
In aquifers, acetylene (C2H2) is a product of abiotic degradation of trichloroethene (TCE) catalyzed by in situ minerals. C2H2 can, in turn, inhibit multiple microbial processes including TCE dechlorination and metabolisms that commonly support dechlorination, in addition to supporting the growth of acetylenotrophic microorganisms....
Gushgari-Doyle, Sara; Oremland, Ronald S.; Keren, Ray; Baesman, Shaun; Akob, Denise M.; Banfield, Jillian F.; Alvarez-Cohen, LisaAttribution: Reston Microbiology Laboratory
Year Published: 2021
Geochemical and geophysical indicators of oil and gas wastewater can trace potential exposure pathways following releases to surface waters
Releases of oil and gas (OG) wastewaters can have complex effects on stream-water quality and downstream organisms, due to sediment-water interactions and groundwater/surface water exchange. Previously, elevated concentrations of sodium (Na), chloride (Cl), barium (Ba), strontium (Sr), and lithium (Li), and trace hydrocarbons were determined to be...
Cozzarelli, Isabelle M.; Kent, Douglas B.; Briggs, Martin A.; Engle, Mark A; Benthem, Adam; Skalak, Katherine; Mumford, Adam; Jaeschke, Jeanne B.; Farag, Aida; Lane, Jr., John W.; Akob, Denise M.
Year Published: 2020
Mixotrophic iron-oxidizing Thiomonas isolates from an acid mine drainage-affected creek
Natural attenuation of heavy metals occurs via coupled microbial iron cycling and metal precipitation in creeks impacted by acid mine drainage (AMD). Here, we describe the isolation, characterization, and genomic sequencing of two iron-oxidizing bacteria (FeOB) species: Thiomonas ferrovorans FB-6 and Thiomonas metallidurans FB-...
Liu, Shuang-Jiang; Akob, Denise M.; Hallenbeck, Michelle; Beulig, Felix; Fabisch, Maria; Kusel, Kirsten; Keffer, Jessica L; Woyke, Tanja; Shapiro, Nicole; Lapidus, Alla; Klenk, Hans-Peter; Chan, ClaraAttribution: Reston Microbiology Laboratory
Year Published: 2020
Compositional analysis of formation water geochemistry and microbiology of commercial and carbon dioxide-rich wells in the southwestern United States
Studies of naturally occurring subsurface carbon dioxide (CO2) accumulations can provide useful information for potential CO2 injection projects; however, the microbial communities and formation water geochemistry of most reservoirs are understudied. Formation water and microbial biomass were sampled at four CO2-rich reservoir sites: two within...
Shelton, Jenna L.; Andrews, Robert S.; Akob, Denise M.; DeVera, Christina A.; Mumford, Adam C.; Engle, Mark; Plampin, Michelle R.; Brennan, Sean T.Attribution: Eastern Energy Resources Science Center, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Energy Resources Program, Reston Microbiology Laboratory
View Citation
Shelton, J.L., Andrews, R.S., Akob, D.M., DeVera, C.A., Mumford, A.C., Engle, M., Plampin, M.R., and Brennan, S.T., 2020, Compositional analysis of formation water geochemistry and microbiology of commercial and carbon dioxide-rich wells in the southwestern United States: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2020–5037, 26 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20205037.
Year Published: 2020
Shale gas development has limited effects on stream biology and geochemistry in a gradient-based, multiparameter study in Pennsylvania
The number of horizontally drilled shale oil and gas wells in the United States has increased from nearly 28,000 in 2007 to nearly 127,000 in 2017, and research has suggested the potential for the development of shale resources to affect nearby stream ecosystems. However, the ability to generalize current studies is limited by the small geographic...
Mumford, Adam; Maloney, Kelly O.; Akob, Denise M.; Nettemann, Sarah; Proctor, Arianne; Ditty, Jason; Ulsamer, Luke; Lookenbill, Josh; Cozzarelli, Isabelle M.
Year Published: 2020
Binning singletons: Mentoring through networking at ASM microbe 2019
The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) national conference, Microbe, is the flagship meeting for microbiologists across the globe. The presence of roughly 10,000 attendees provides enormous opportunities for networking and learning. However, such a large meeting can be intimidating to many, especially early career scientists, students, those...
James, Joseph B.; Gunn, Amanda L.; Akob, Denise M.Attribution: Water Resources, Reston Microbiology Laboratory
Year Published: 2019
Draft genome sequence of the Mn(II)-oxidizing bacterium Oxalobacteraceae sp. AB_14
Biological Mn(II) oxidation produces reactive manganese oxides that help to mitigate metal contamination in the environment. Here we present the genome of Oxalobacteraceae sp. AB_14, a species of Mn(II)-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) notable for its ability to catalyze Mn oxidation at low pH (5.5).
Bushman, Timothy; Akob, Denise M.; Bohu, Tsing; Beyer, Andrea; Woyke, Tanja; Shapiro, Nicole; Lapidus, Alla; Klenk, Hans-Peter; Küsel, KirstenAttribution: Water Resources, Reston Microbiology Laboratory
Year Published: 2019
Phylogenetic techniques in geomicrobiology
Molecular biological techniques have revolutionized the field of geomicrobiology by providing researchers with robust techniques for identifying microorganisms and characterizing microbial communities in a wide variety of environments. These techniques have freed researchers from the constraints of classical culture-based microbiology and allowed...
Akob, Denise M.; Mumford, Adam C.; Dunlop, Darren S.; Poret-Peterson, Amisha T.Attribution: Water Resources, Reston Microbiology Laboratory
Year Published: 2019
Organic geochemistry and toxicology of a stream impacted by unconventional oil and gas wastewater disposal operations
Water and sediment extracts samples were analyzed for extractable hydrocarbons by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) using an Agilent (Agilent Technologies, Palo Alto, CA, USA) 7890 series GC and 5975 electron ionization (EI) mass selective detector (MSD) operated in scan mode. Agilent ChemStation software was used for data acquisition...
Orem, William H.; Varonka, Matthew S.; Crosby, Lynn M.; Haase, Karl B.; Loftin, Keith A.; Hladik, Michelle; Akob, Denise M.; Tatu, Calin; Mumford, Adam C.; Jaeschke, Jeanne B.; Bates, Anne L.; Schell, Tiffani; Cozzarelli, Isabelle M.Attribution: California Water Science Center, Eastern Energy Resources Science Center, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Kansas Water Science Center, Water Resources, Energy Resources Program, Eastern Energy and Environmental Laboratory, Reston Biogeochemical Processes in Groundwater Laboratory, Reston Microbiology Laboratory
Year Published: 2018
Microbial community composition of a hydrocarbon reservoir 40 years after a CO2 enhanced oil recovery flood
Injecting CO2 into depleted oil reservoirs to extract additional crude oil is a common enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) technique. However, little is known about how in situ microbial communities may be impacted by CO2 flooding, or if any permanent microbiological changes occur after flooding has ceased. Formation water was...
Shelton, Jenna L.; Andrews, Robert S.; Akob, Denise M.; DeVera, Christina A.; Mumford, Adam C.; McCray, John E.; McIntosh, Jennifer C.Pre-USGS Publications
Gray, S. M., D. M. Akob, S. J. Green, and J. E. Kostka. 2012. The predictability of bacterial composition within the Sarracenia purpurea model system: local scale differences and relationships with the other members of the food web. PLoS One 7(12): e50969.
Akob, D. M.*, S. H. Lee*, M. Sheth, K. Küsel, D. B. Watson, A.V. Palumbo, J.E. Kostka, and K.-J. Chin. 2012. Gene expression correlates with process rates quantified for sulfate- and Fe(III)-reducing bacteria in U(VI)-contaminated sediments. Frontiers in Terrestrial Microbiology, 3:280. *Equal contribution.
Risse-Buhl, U., M. Herrmann, D. M. Akob, P. Geesink, N. Pizani, W. Schönborn, K.-U. Totsche and K. Küsel. 2012 Phagotrophic protist diversity in the groundwater of a karstic aquifer - morphological and molecular analysis. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology, 60(5): 467–479 (DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12054.
Rusznyák, A., D. M. Akob, S. Nietzsche, K. Eusterhues, K. U. Totsche, T. R. Neu, T. Frosch, J. Popp, R. Keiner, J. Geletneky, L. Katzschmann, E.-D. Schulze, and K. Küsel. 2012. Calcite biomineralization by bacterial isolates from the recently discovered pristine karstic Herrenberg Cave. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 78(4): 1157–1167.
Akob, D. M. and K. Küsel. 2011. Where microorganisms meet rocks in the Earth's Critical Zone. Biogeosciences 8, 3531-3543.
Akob, D. M., L. Kerkhof, K. Küsel, D. B. Watson, A. V. Palumbo, and J. E. Kostka. 2011. Linking specific heterotrophic bacterial populations to bioreduction of uranium and nitrate using stable isotope probing in contaminated subsurface sediments. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 77(22):8197-8200
Burkhardt, E.-M., S. Bischoff, D. M. Akob, G. Büchel, and K. Küsel. 2011. Heavy metal tolerance of Fe(III)-reducing microbial communities in a contaminated creek bank soil. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 77(9): 3132-3136.
Lu, S., S. Gischkat, M. Reiche, D. M. Akob, K. B. Hallberg, and K. Küsel. 2010. Ecophysiology of Fe-cycling Bacteria in Acidic Sediments. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 76 (24): 8174-8183.
Vishnivetskaya, T. A., C. C. Brandt, A. S. Madden, M. S. Drake, J. E. Kostka, D. M. Akob, K. Küsel, and A. V. Palumbo. 2010. Microbial Community Changes in Response to Ethanol or Methanol Amendments for U(VI) Reduction. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 76(17): 5728-5735.
Sitte, J., D. M. Akob, C. Kaufmann, K. Finster, D. Banerjee, E.-M. Burkhardt, J. E. Kostka, A. Scheinost, Georg Büchel and K. Küsel. 2010. Microbial Links between Sulfate Reduction and Metal Retention in Uranium and Heavy Metal-contaminated Soil. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 76(10): 3143–3152.
Green, S. J., O. Prakash, T. M. Gihring, D. M. Akob, P. Jasrotia, P. M. Jardine, D. B. Watson, S. D. Brown, A. V. Palumbo and J. E. Kostka. 2010. Denitrifying bacteria from the terrestrial subsurface exposed to mixed waste contamination. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 76(10): 3244–3254.
Burkhardt, E.-M., D. M. Akob, S. Bischoff, J. Sitte, J. E. Kostka, D. Banerjee, A. C. Scheinost, K. Küsel. 2010. Impact of Biostimulated Redox Processes on Metal Dynamics in an Iron-rich Creek Soil of a former Uranium Mining Area. Environmental Science & Technology 44(1): 177-183.
O. Prakash, T.M. Gihring, D.D. Dalton, K.-J. Chin, S.J. Green, D.M. Akob, G. Wanger, J.E. Kostka. 2010. Geobacter daltonii sp. nov., an iron(III)- and uranium(VI)-reducing bacterium isolated from the shallow subsurface exposed to mixed heavy metal and hydrocarbon contamination. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 60: 546-553.
D. M. Akob, H. J. Mills, T. M. Gihring, L. Kerkhof, J. W. Stucki, Kuk-Jeong Chin, Kirsten Kuesel, Anthony V. Palumbo, David B. Watson, and Joel E. Kostka. 2008. Functional diversity and electron donor dependence of microbial populations capable of U(VI) reduction in radionuclide contaminated subsurface sediments. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 74: 3159-3170.
Blöthe, M., D.M. Akob, K. Walter, J.E. Kostka, H.L. Drake, and K. Küsel. 2008. Heterogeneity of Fe(III)-reducing microorganisms in coal-mining lake sediments caused by a pH gradient. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 74(4): 1019–102.
D. M. Akob, H. J. Mills, D. L. Swofford, J. E. Kostka. 2007. Metabolically-Active Microbial Communities in Uranium-Contaminated Subsurface Sediments. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 59: 95-107.
Date published: May 9, 2016
Evidence of Unconventional Oil and Gas Wastewater Found in Surface Waters near Underground Injection Site
These are the first published studies to demonstrate water-quality impacts to a surface stream due to activities at an unconventional oil and gas wastewater deep well injection disposal site.
Date published: May 11, 2015
The Chemistry of Waters that Follow from Fracking: A Case Study
In a study of 13 hydraulically fractured shale gas wells in north-central Pennsylvania, USGS researchers found that the microbiology and organic chemistry of the produced waters varied widely from well to well.