Affiliation entity
BIM Biochemistry of Microbial Interactions
Interdisplinary research theme
Extremophile microbiology, Molecular mechanisms of microbial survival under extreme conditions
Researches
Accreditation to supervise research
Speciality
Microbiology (archaea and bacteria), Molecular and cellular adaptations to extreme environments, Bioremediation, Biomineralization, Extremophiles, Astrobiology/Exobiology

Contact

E-mail
adrienne.kish [at] mnhn.fr
Phone
01 40 79 31 53
Address(es)

43 rue Buffon

24 allée des crapauds

75005 Paris

Responsibilities inside unit

Scientific coordinator of the MCAM Bacteriology service

Appointed member of the MCAM Research Unit Council

Responsibilities outside unit

Coordinator Units ES2 (Microbiodiversity) of the Master 1 (ES program MNHN/Sorbonne University)

Elected member of the European Astrobiology Network Association executive council http://www.eana-net.eu/

Elected member of the French Society of Exobiology administrative council https://www.exobiologie.fr/

Expert member of the European Space Agency Life Sciences Working Group (ESA LSWG)

Member of the European Space Agency Gateway / Moon Facility Definition Team

Online communications coordinator for MES Master (LinkedIn)

Guest Editor, Frontiers in Microbiology Research Topic "Astrobiology At The Interface: Interactions Between Biospheres, Geospheres, Hydrospheres And Atmospheres Under Planetary Conditions"

Member of the grant review panel for the CNRS INSU, program INTERRVIE, action TelluS (2018-2023)

Member of the grant review panel « Action Transversale du Muséum (ATM) »

 

Teaching

Presentation

News

HDR - Successfully obtained my HDR (« Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches ») entitled Prokaryotic cell surfaces as interaction interfaces under extreme conditions” presenting the work done over the past decade in my lab, focusing on the work done by the amazing students/ECRs I have had the privilege of supervising. Enjoyed a wonderful science discussion with my jury (Bénédicte Ménez, Roxane Lestini, Cédric Hubas, Mohamed Jebbar, Purificación Lopez-Garcia) about the molecular limits of life, exobiology, and cell surfaces in extreme environments.

Research Activities

      Beyond the boundaries of the ‘ideal’ conditions for microbial life exists a diverse group of microorganisms (mostly prokaryotic bacteria and archaea) that thrive in ‘extreme’ conditions that present serious physical and chemical challenges for the survival of living organisms (pH, temperature, hydrostatic pressure, high concentrations of salts/metals, etc). These ‘extremophiles’ possess adaptations that protect them from the cellular damages induced by the surrounding environment. We use an interdisciplinary approach to characterize the molecular mechanisms enabling the survival of such microorganisms, and identify adaptations enabling survival under a variety of stress conditions. Fundamentally, understanding these mechanisms at the cellular and molecular levels increases our understanding of global biodiversity and geo(bio)chemical cycles, provides resistant biomolecules for structural studies, and even contributes to medical research in areas like DNA damage and repair (cancer). It also helps us trace the origins of life on Earth and determine the possibility for life on other planets.

     We are currently focusing on the roles of cell surface wall components called S-layers as adaptations against abiotic stresses in the environment (metals, salts, extremes in temperatures/pH, etc). S-layers are self-assembling proteinaceous structures present as well-ordered arrays on the surface of bacterial and archaeal cells as part of the cell envelope, forming their interaction interface with the external milieu. The direct contact of the S-layer with the surrounding environment provides a context for understanding mineral / microorganism interactions. S-layer proteins form an ordered structure that can serve as a site of nucleation for bio- or organo-mineralization. Preservation of S-layers during fossilization and diagenesis provides a potential biosignature for microbial life in the fossil record. The study of S-layers has implications for the origins and evolution of life on Earth, and the potential for life on other planets such as Mars.

 

kish_extremophile_research.jpg
Credits
Adrienne Kish, Kjell Ove Storvik

“The earth never tires,

The earth is rude, silent, incomprehensible at first,

Nature is rude and incomprehensible at first

Be not discouraged, keep on, there are divine things well envelop’d,

I swear to you there are divine things more beautiful than words can tell.”

            -Walt Whitman “Song of the open road”

 

Additional Research Interests

  • Origins and evolution of microbial life
  • Astrobiology/Exobiology

Selection of Articles Prior to 2012

  • Glamoclija M, Fogel M, Steele A, Kish A. (2012) Microbial Nitrogen and Sulfur Cycles at the Gypsum Dunes of White Sands National Monument, New Mexico. Geomicrobiology Journal. 29:8, 733-51.

  • Kish A, Griffin P, Rogers K, Fogel M, Hemley R, Steele A. (2012) High-Pressure Tolerance in Halobacterium salinarum NRC-1 and Other Non-Piezophilic Prokaryotes. Extremophiles. 16(2):355-61.

  • Kish A, Kirkali G, Robinson C, Rosenblatt R, Jaruga P, Dizdaroglu M, and DiRuggiero J. (2009) Salt Shield: Intracellular Salts Provide Cellular Protection against Ionizing Radiation in the Halophilic Archaeon, Halobacterium salinarum str. NRC-1. Environ Microbiol. May;11(5):1066-78.

  • Whitehead K* & Kish A*, Pan M, Kaur A, Reiss DJ, King N, Hohmann L, DiRuggiero J, Baliga NS. (2006) An integrated systems approach for understanding cellular responses to gamma radiation. Mol.Syst.Biol. 2:47. (*these authors contributed equally to this work)

  • Kottemann M, Kish A, Iloanusi C, Bjork S, DiRuggiero J. (2005) Physiological Responses of the Halophilic Archaeon Halobacterium sp. str. NRC1 to Desiccation and Gamma Irradiation. Extremophiles Jun,9(3):219-27.

Collective Activities

  • Participation in the annual “Festival of Science”
  • Member of the following professional organizations : Société Française d’Exobiologie, Société Française de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire, European Astrobiology Network Association, American Society for Microbiology, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Mars Society of Canada, American Geophysical Union, European Association of Geochemistry

Projects

Publications

2023
  • Favreau Charly, Tribondeau Alicia, Marugan Marie, Guyot François, Alpha-Bazin Beatrice, Marie Arul, Puppo Remy, Dufour Thierry, Huguet Arnaud, Zirah Séverine & Kish Adrienne, 2023Molecular acclimation of Halobacterium salinarum to halite brine inclusions. Frontiers in Microbiology vol. 13, , p. 1075274
    ISSN
    1664-302X
  • Elsaesser Andreas, Burr David J., Mabey Paul, Urso Riccardo Giovanni, Billi Daniela, Cockell Charles, Cottin Hervé, Kish Adrienne, Leys Natalie, van Loon Jack J. W. A., Mateo-Marti Eva, Moissl-Eichinger Christine, Onofri Silvano, Quinn Richard C., Rabbow Elke et al., 2023Future space experiment platforms for astrobiology and astrochemistry research. npj Microgravity vol. 9, n° 1, p. 1-9
    ISSN
    2373-8065
  • Hellequin Eve, Collin Sylvie, Seder-Colomina Marina, Véquaud Pierre, Anquetil Christelle, Kish Adrienne & Huguet Arnaud, 2023Membrane lipid adaptation of soil Bacteroidetes isolates to temperature and pH. Frontiers in Microbiology vol. 14, , p. 1032032
    ISSN
    1664-302X
2020
  • Simonin Pierre, Lombard Carine, Huguet Arnaud & Kish Adrienne, 2020Improved Isolation of SlaA and SlaB S-layer proteins in Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. Extremophiles vol. 24, n° 4, p. 673-680
    ISSN
    1433-4909
2019
  • Chandramohan Archjana, Duprat Elodie, Remusat Laurent, Zirah Severine, Lombard Carine & Kish Adrienne, 2019Novel Mechanism for Surface Layer Shedding and Regenerating in Bacteria Exposed to Metal-Contaminated Conditions. Frontiers in Microbiology vol. 9, , p. 3210
    ISSN
    1664-302X
2017
  • Miot J., Bernard S., Bourreau M., Guyot F. & Kish A., 2017Experimental maturation of Archaea encrusted by Fe-phosphates. Scientific Reports vol. 7, n° 1, p. 16984
    ISSN
    2045-2322
2016
  • Kish A., Gaillard J. C., Armengaud J. & Elie C., 2016Post-translational methylations of the archaeal Mre11:Rad50 complex throughout the DNA damage response. Molecular microbiology vol. 100, n° 2, p. 362-78
    ISSN
    1365-2958 (Electronic) 0950-382X (Linking)
  • Kish Adrienne, Miot Jennyfer, Lombard Carine, Guigner Jean-Michel, Bernard Sylvain, Zirah Séverine & Guyot François, 2016Preservation of Archaeal Surface Layer Structure During Mineralization. Scientific Reports vol. 6, n° 1, p. 26152
    ISSN
    2045-2322
2015
  • Kish A., 2015« Electrophoresis » in Encyclopedia of Astrobiology.. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology , , dir. Springer-Verlag GmbH p. 718-719 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-11274-4