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Dr. Gloria Levicán

Charge: 
Biology Department. Basic and Applied Microbiology Laboratory
E-mail: 
gloria.levican@usach.cl

El efecto del NaCl sobre un microorganismo acidófilo oxidante de hierro modelo. La inducción de estrés osmótico, la acidificación del citoplasma y la inducción de estrés oxidativo explicarían la extrema sensibilidad que presentan estos microorganismos al cloruro y otros aniones. ( Rivera-Araya et al., 2020)

Biography: 

Biologist from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (1992), she completed her doctoral studies at the Universidad de Chile. She graduated as a Doctor of Science with a mention in microbiology in 2003. Between 2003-2005 she did a postdoctoral stay in the laboratory of Dr. Omar Orellana (University of Chile). Her thesis and postdoctoral work were focused on the study of the physiology and biochemistry of acidophilic microorganisms of importance in metal bioleaching processes. She completed two doctoral stays at the CNRS_Marseille, France, and a postdoctoral stay at Yale University, USA.

Research Area: 

Dedicated to the study of the adaptive mechanisms of extremophilic microorganisms, particularly acidophilic iron oxidizers. A special emphasis has been placed on the study of the response to oxidative stress, by metals, salt, and temperature, and in the understanding of the adaptive mechanisms of microorganisms isolated from extreme natural environments. A current focus is also related to the metabolic adaptations that autotrophic microorganisms present to increase energy efficiency and carry out the efficient synthesis and recycling of biomolecules.

Projects: 

  1. Understanding the fundamentals of autotrophy/energetic optimization in chemolithotrophic, acidophilic, iron-oxidizing microorganisms. Fondecyt Regular 1211386 (2021-2024). Investigador Responsible.

  2. Elucidating the oxidative stress response of acidophilic iron-oxidizing bacteria. Fondecyt Regular 1170799 (2017-2020). Investigador Responsible.

  3. Interplay between codon bias and tRNA levels modulates the translation of the genetic information. Fondecyt Regular1190552 (2019-2022). Co- Investigador

  4. Thioredoxin 2 (TFP2) from Leptospirillum sp. CF-1 is a chaperedoxin that play a key role under oxidative stress. Fondecyt Postdoctorado 3200487 (2020-2022). Investigador Patrocinante.

  5. Phylogenetic diversity of microorganisms involved in iron cycle of Antarctic environments: isolation of iron-oxidizing acidophiles with potential biotecnological aplications. INACH RT_31-16 (2017-2019). Investigador Responsible.

  6. Estudio sobre la funcionalidad del sistema de ensamblaje de centros [Fe-S] (Sistema Isc) de la bacteria acidófila oxidante de hierro Leptospirillum sp. CF-1: análisis de su rol bajo condiciones de estrés oxidativo. Dicyt-Usach Postdoctorado. 2017. Investigador Patrocinante.

Non-coding RNAs and translation efficiency coordinately contribute to the regulatory networks that control global gene expression in bacteria. Fondecyt 1150834 (2015-2018).Co- Investigador

Latest Publications: 
  1. Farías R, Norambuena J, Ferrer A, Camejo P, Zapata C, Chávez R, Orellana O, Levicán G. 2021. Redox stress response and UV tolerance in the acidophilic iron-oxidizing bacteria Leptospirillum ferriphilum and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. Research in Microbiology. 23:103833. doi: 10.1016/j.resmic.2021.103833

  2. van der Nest MA, Chávez R, De Vos L, Duong TA, Gil-Durán C, Ferreira MA, Lane FA, Levicán G, Santana QC, Steenkamp ET, Suzuki H, Tello M, Rakoma JR, Vaca I, Valdés N, Wilken PM, Wingfield MJ, Wingfield BD. 2021. IMA genome - F14 : Draft genome sequences of Penicillium roqueforti, Fusarium sororula, Chrysoporthe puriensis, and Chalaropsis populi IMA Fungus. 12(1):5. doi: 10.1186/s43008-021-00055-1. 

  3. Retamal-Morales G, Senges CHR, Stapf M, Olguín A, Modak B, Bandow JE, Tischler D, Schlömann M, Levicán G. 2021. Isolation and characterization of arsenic-binding siderophores from Rhodococcus erythropolis S43: role of heterobactin B and other heterobactin variants. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 105(4):1731-1744. doi: 10.1007/s00253-021-11123-2

  4. Crous PW et al. 2020. Fungal Planet description sheets: 1042-1111. Persoonia. 44:301-459. doi: 10.3767/persoonia.2020.44.11.

  5. Huynh D, Norambuena J, Boldt C, Kaschabek SR, Levicán G, Schlömann M. 2020. Effect of sodium chloride on pyrite bioleaching and initial attachment by Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans. Frontiers in Microbiology 11:2102. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.02102

  6. Schwabe R, Senges CHR, Bandow JE, Heine T, Lehmann H, Wiche O, Schlömann M, Levicán G, Tischler D. 2020. Cultivation dependent formation of siderophores by Gordonia rubripertincta CWB2. Microbiological Research 238:126481. doi: 10.1016/j.micres.2020.126481

  7. Schwabe R, Senges CHR, Bandow JE, Heine T, Lehmann H, Wiche O, Schlömann M, Levicán G, Tischler D. 2020. Data on metal-chelating, -immobilisation and biosorption properties by Gordonia rubripertincta CWB2 in dependency on rare earth adaptation Data in Brief 21;31: 105739. doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2020.105739

  1. Huiliñir C, Acosta L, Yanez D, Montalvo S, Esposito G, Retamales G, Levicán G, Guerrero L. 2020. Elemental sulfur-based autotrophic denitrification in stoichiometric S0/N ratio: Calibration and validation of a kinetic model. Bioresource Technology. 307:123229. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123229

  2. González D, Álamos P, Rivero M, Orellana O, Norambuena J, Chávez R, Levicán G. 2020. Deciphering the role of multiple thioredoxin fold proteins of Leptospirillum sp. in oxidative stress tolerance. International Journal of Molecular Science. 10; 21(5):1880. doi: 10.3390/ijms21051880

  3. Rivera-Araya J, Pollender A, Huynh D, Schlömann M, Chávez R, Levicán G. 2019. Osmotic imbalance, cytoplasm acidification and oxidative stress induction support the high toxicity of chloride in acidophilic bacteria. Frontiers in Microbiology 29; 10: 2455. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02455

  4. Poveda G, Gil-Durán C, Vaca I, Levicán G, Chávez R. 2018. Cold-active pectinolytic activity produced by filamentous fungi associated with Antarctic marine sponges. Biological Research, 51(1):28. doi: 10.1186/s40659-018-0177-4.

  5. Rojas-Aedo JF, Gil-Durán C, Goity A, Vaca I, Levicán G, Larrondo LF, Chávez R. 2018. The developmental regulator Pcz1 affects the production of secondary metabolites in the filamentous fungus Penicillium roqueforti. Microbiological Research, 212-213:67-74. doi: 10.1016/j.micres.2018.05.005

  6. Ullrich SR, Poehlein A, Levicán G, Mühling M, Schlömann M. 2018. Iron targeted transcriptome study draws attention to novel redox protein candidates involved in ferrous iron oxidation in "Ferrovum" sp. JA12. Research in Microbiology, 169(10):618-627. doi: 10.1016/j.resmic.2018.05.009 

  7. Retamal-Morales G, Heine T, Tischler JS, Erler B, Gröning JAD, Kaschabek SR, Schlömann M, Levicán G, Tischler D. 2018. Draft genome sequence of Rhodococcus erythropolis B7g, a biosurfactant producing actinobacterium. Journal of Biotechnology, 280:38-41. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2018.06.001

  8. Retamal-Morales G, Mehnert M, Schwabe R, Tischler D, Zapata C, Chávez R, Schlömann M, Levicán G. 2018. Detection of arsenic-binding siderophores in arsenic-tolerating Actinobacteria by a modified CAS assay. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 157:176-181. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.03.087

  9. Zapata C, Paillavil B, Chávez R, Álamos P, Levicán G. 2017. Cytochrome c peroxidase (CcP) is a molecular determinant of the oxidative stress response in the extreme acidophilic Leptospirillum sp. CF-1. FEMS Microbiology Ecolology, 93(3). doi: 10.1093/femsec/fix001

  10. Rojas-Aedo JF, Gil-Durán C, Del-Cid A, Valdés N, Álamos P, Vaca I, García-Rico RO, Levicán G, Tello M, Chávez R. 2017. The Biosynthetic Gene Cluster for Andrastin A in Penicillium roqueforti. Frontiers in Microbiology, 8:813. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00813

  11. Alamos P, Tello M, Bustamante P, Gutiérrez F, Shmaryahu A, Maldonado J, Levicán G, Orellana O. 2017. Functionality of tRNAs encoded in a mobile genetic element from an acidophilic bacterium. RNA Biology, 15(4-5):518-527. doi: 10.1080/15476286.2017.1349049

  12. García-Rico RO, Gil-Durán C, Rojas-Aedo JF, Vaca I, Figueroa L, Levicán G, Chávez R. 2017. Heterotrimeric G protein alpha subunit controls growth, stress response, extracellular protease activity, and cyclopiazonic acid production in Penicillium camemberti. Fungal Biology, 121(9):754-762. doi: 10.1016/j.funbio.2017.05.007

  13. Claudia Torrent, Carlos Gil-Durán, Juan F. Rojas-Aedo, Exequiel Medina, Inmaculada Vaca, Paulo Castro, Ramón O. García-Rico, Milena Cotoras, Leonora Mendoza, Gloria Levicán and Renato Chávez. 2017. Role of sfk1 gene in the filamentous fungus Penicillium roqueforti. Frontiers in Microbiology, 8:2424. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02424

  1. Ferrer A, Rivera J, Zapata C, Norambuena J, Sandoval Á, Chávez R, Orellana O, Levicán G. 2016. Cobalamin Protection against Oxidative Stress in the Acidophilic Iron-oxidizing Bacterium Leptospirillum Group II CF-1. Frontiers in Microbiology, 23;7:748. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00748

  2. Ferrer A, Bunk B, Spröer C, Biedendieck R, Valdés N, Jahn M, Jahn D, Orellana O, Levicán G. 2016. Complete genome sequence of the bioleaching bacterium Leptospirillum sp. group II strain CF-1. Journal of Biotechnology, 222:21-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2016.02.008

  3. Del-Cid A, Gil-Durán C, Vaca I, Rojas-Aedo JF, García-Rico RO, Levicán G, Chávez R. 2016. Identification and Functional Analysis of the Mycophenolic Acid Gene Cluster of Penicillium roqueforti. PLoS One, 11(1): e0147047. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147047