1. Kansas State University
  2. »Division of Communications and Marketing
  3. »K-State Today
  4. »Manuel Kleiner to present Division of Biology Seminar

K-State Today

February 1, 2024

Manuel Kleiner to present Division of Biology Seminar

Submitted by Division of Biology

Manuel Kleiner, associate professor in the department of plant and microbial biology at North Carolina State University, will present "Metaproteomics to Investigate Functional Interactions in Microbial Symbioses and Microbiomes" as part of the Division of Biology Seminar Series at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 5, in 221 Ackert Hall.

Metaproteomics is the large-scale identification and quantification of proteins from microbial communities and thus provides direct insight into the phenotypes of microorganisms on the molecular level. Initially metaproteomics was mainly used to assess the "expressed" metabolism and physiology of microbial community members. However, we have recently increased the range of questions we can address with metaproteomics by developing new approaches that allow us to quantify species biomass contributions to determine community structure (Kleiner et al., 2017, Nat Comm, 8:1558), to determine in situ carbon sources of community members (Kleiner et al. 2018, PNAS, 109: E1173), and the uptake of labelled substrates by community members (Kleiner et al. 2023, Microbiome, 11(1):1-23). With these tools in hand, we are able to address a large range of questions in host-microbe systems. Kleiner will provide an overview of the different types of questions that we can address in host-microbe systems using metaproteomics. Kleiner will provide some examples of the discoveries we have recently made with metaproteomics in plant-associated microbiomes, as well as on diet-microbiota interactions in the mammalian gut.

If you would like to visit with Kleiner, please contact Tanner Richie at tgrichie@k-state.edu