Dr Mike Capeness
Lab Manager
Hello, my name is Michael Capeness.
I gained my BSc in Genetics in 2009 and PhD in 2014 from the University of Nottingham, before joining the Horsfall Group in 2013. I have since become the lab manager.
My research involves improving Morganella psychrotolerans and Desulfovibrio alaskensis as chassis for increased production of high value metal nanoparticles and determining their underlying biology for this process.
My hobbies include, squash, computer games, and I have a keen interest in history.
Public Abstract
I’m looking at the pathways in Desulfovibrio that are involved in synthesis of nanoparticles. This involves elucidating what proteins are involved by doing proteomics by which I challenge Desulfovibrio with metals and see what the bacterium does in response. From this I can work out which proteins may be responsible for the production of nanoparticles. I then express these proteins, and purify them and use a technique called Microscale Thermophoresis to ascertain whether or not they bind those ionic metals.
Eventually I’ll have a complete picture of which proteins are involved in this pathway, and I’ll be able to tailor the resultant nanoparticle formed.
Scientific Abstract
As metal availability is becoming a big problem, new technologies are sought to recapture metals from waste streams. My projects focus on using either Desulfovibrio or Morganella to combat this. Both these bacteria are able to capture metals ions from the environment and convert them into high value nanoparticles. These nanoparticles are highly desirable in industrial applications as catalysts and can be made of high-value metals such as platinum or palladium. The pathways which allow these bacteria to carry this out is what I'm researching, to both understand the biology underlying this ability, and to improve the capability of these organisms so we can alter the resultant nanoparticles that are formed.
