Jean-Marie Volland, PhD

Marine Biology - Chemosynthesis - Symbiosis

Welcome!

I'm a microbiologist interested in symbiosis and the evolution of biological complexity. My research focuses on non-model organisms from extreme, yet accessible, environments such as marine shallow-water hydrothermal vents, mangroves, or terrestrial sulfur springs. I work at the interface of cell biology, evolutionary biology, ecophysiology and microbial ecology. I use classic and cutting-edge imaging approaches in conjunction with sequencing technologies to investigate unusual life strategies and symbiotic interactions in uncultivated bacteria and small eukaryotes.

More about my research

More about me

News & Events

Media coverag of our latest paper

credit: T. Tyml

Latest Publications

A centimeter-long bacterium with DNA contained in metabolically active, membrane-bound organelles

Cells of most bacterial species are around 2 micrometers in length, with some of the largest specimens reaching 750 micrometers. Using fluorescence, x-ray, and electron microscopy in conjunction with genome sequencing, we characterized Candidatus (Ca.) Thiomargarita magnifica, a bacterium that has an average cell length greater than 9000 micrometers and is visible to the naked eye. ells.