University of Illinois Springfield Emeritus Professor of Biology Michael Lemke has led the publication of a special issue of the scientific journal Microbial Ecology. The April 2023 edition explores the role of microbial genomics in restoration ecology.

Lemke and Rob DeSalle, curator at the American Museum of Natural History’s Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, proposed the topic and served as guest co-editors for the special issue. Lemke also serves as a research associate at the museum.

“The special issue captured, in part, the state of the scientific topic at this point in time, documentation of approaches to restoration ecology that feature microbes described through genomics and created a forum to explore an important question about the role of microbes for sustaining natural areas as well as human life,” Lemke said.

The special issue features 27 articles from authors who were invited and/or submitted manuscripts for publication. Lemke and DeSalle wrote the opening peer-reviewed review of the topic, “The Next Generation of Microbial Ecology and Its Importance in Environmental Sustainability.” They also wrote the introduction and a summary that features “lessons learned” from contributions.

In their article, Lemke and DeSalle argue that microbial ecology is coming of age in the “next generation” and it’s time to revisit gaps left undiscovered during technological breakthroughs. They also suggest it's time to enter into the “next, next generation” of microbial discovery that has to do with understanding communities and how they affect health – whether that is human or natural ecosystems.

“The importance of the next generation concept is two-fold,” Lemke said. “When genomics started, it was cumbersome, work-intensive and brilliant. We cloned segments of DNA and then ran sequences on short pieces. The technology caught up and we went into next-generation sequencing.”

The cover of the special issue of Microbial Ecology features a microbial “algae” bloom on Thompson Lake at the Emiquon Preserve in Lewistown, Illinois. The site is home to the UIS Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon.

DeSalle is originally from Springfield and has worked with Lemke for more than 20 years on various projects. He has spoken at UIS and even donated lab equipment.

Lemke has been working in microbial ecology and molecular biology since 1995. This is the second special issue of a scientific journal he has published, the first being a 2017 edition of Hydrobiologia.

The special issue of Microbial Ecology can be found online.