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Carl Johnston Department of Biological Sciences/Environmental Studies Program Molecular Biology and Microbiology Division Youngstown State University Youngstown, Ohio 44555-3601 Phone (330)742-7151 email cgjohnst@cc.ysu.edu	Back to Scientists

Research Interests

• Bioremediation of Soils Contaminated by Organic Pollutants Using White Rot Fungi
  White rot fungi excrete ligninase, an enzyme used for the extracellular digestion of lignin. Ligninase generates highly reactive free radicals which nonspecifically degrades not only lignin, but a wide range of organic contaminants. The goal for research in this area is to provide supportive data needed for full scale site remediation.
• Microbial Ecology of Mahoning River Sediments
  Sediments in the Mahoning River have been impacted by various unregulated industrial processes for about a century. The role of the indigenous microbes in this system has not yet been investigated. We are attempting to answer the following questions: What is the relationship between contamination, toxicity, microbial biomass, and microbial activity in impacted sediments? Are the native microbes able to degrade the contaminants, or are the contaminants too toxic?
• Fermentation of Wine Using Natural Yeast
  Wineries make up a small but significant and growing part of Ohio commerce and culture. Research, using a combination of microbiological and molecular techniques, is being conducted to answer the following questions. What is the role of native yeast in wine fermentation? Does one or many yeast species or strains contribute to the process? Does the grape variety affect the distribution of native yeast species?

Selected References

• Johnston, CG, MA Becerra, RL Lutz, and MA Staton. 1997. Fungal remediation of PCP and TNT contaminated soil in the field. In: Papers from the Fourth International In Situ and On Site Bioremediation Symposium (New Orleans, LA). Vol. 2:537-544. Battelle Press, Columbus OH.
• Johnston, CG and SD Aust. 1994. Detection of Phanerochaete chrysosporium in soil by PCR and restriction enzyme analysis. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 60:2350-2354.
• Johnston, CG and SD Aust. 1994. Transcription of ligninase H8 by Phanerochaete chrysosporium under nutrient nitrogen sufficient conditions. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 200:108-112.
• Johnston, CG and JR Vestal. 1993. Biogeochemistry of oxalate in Antarctic cryptoendolithic lichen communities. Microb. Ecol. 25:305-319.
• Johnston, CG and JR Vestal. 1991. Photosynthetic carbon incorporation and turnover in Antarctic cryptoendolithic microbial communities: are they the slowest growing communities on earth? Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 57:2308-2311.
• Johnston, CG and JR Vestal. 1990. Distribution of inorganic species in two Antarctic cryptoendolithic microbial communities. Geomicrobiol. J. 7:137-153.
• Johnston, CG and GW Kipphut. 1988. Microbially mediated Mn(II) oxidation in an oligotrophic arctic lake. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 54:1440-1145.

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