Cristine Barreto
cbarreto@microbio.umass.edu

I am interested in studying the impact of horizontal gene transfer in evolution. This mechanism of genetic variation called a lot of attention recently since the analysis of complete genome sequences of prokaryotes revealed that horizontal gene transfer is more common than previously thought. My questions involve the understanding of this cellular mechanism in natural environments and its correlation with natural selection. As a system model I chose to study the microbial community in an abandoned pyrite mine in northern Massachusetts. So far, I am analyzing the community structure using molecular tools. In the future these data will be used for controlled experiments in laboratory settings, or microcosms.

Pictures   (click on the picture for a larger view)

	Davis Mine main shaft- This pyrite mine was abandoned in 1917 after the main shaft collapsed. The waters are rich in iron oxyhydroxides that cause its orange color.
	Biofilm downstream the main shaft: This biofilm is a complex microbial community composed by algae, protists, fungi, and bacteria in the process of characterization.

Publications

Barreto, C.C.; Alves, L.C.; Aragão, F.J.L.; Rech, E.; Schrank, A. and Vainstein, M.H. (1997) High frequency gene transfer by microprojectile bombardment of intact conidia from the entomopathogenic fungus Paecilomyces fumosoroseus. FEMS Microbiology Letters 156: (1) 95-99.

Pinto, A.D.S.; Barreto, C.C.; Schrank, A.; Ulhoa, C.J. and Vainstein, M.H. (1997) Purification and characterization of an extracellular chitinase from the entomopathogen Metarhizium anisopliae. Canadian Journal of Microbiology 43: (4) 322-327.

Barros, L.M.G.; Gama, M.I.C.S.; Gonçalves, C.H.R.D., Barreto, C.C., Santana, E.F. and Carneiro, V.T.D. (1997) Bean tissue culture for introduction of foreign genes. Pesquisa Agropecuaria Brasileira 32: (3) 267-275.

Background

PhD student in the Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Program
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Supported by the "Brazilian National Center for research and science development " -
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq

Masters in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul 1996

Baccalaureate in Biological Sciences,University of Brasilia, 1992