Research Interests

Dr. Mayali's interest is in the molecular ecology and physiology of microorganisms and how they control carbon and nitrogen biogeochemistry. He applies 'omics and geochemical techniques (the NanoSIMS in particular) to link microbial phylogenetic structure and biogeochemical functions.

Ph.D., Biological Oceanography, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, 2007

M.S., Marine Biology, University of Charleston, South Carolina, 2001

B.A., Environmental Science, University of California at Berkeley, 1996

In review:

46. Mayali X, Samo TJ, Kimbrel JA, Stuart RK, Morris M, Rolison K, Ramon C, Kim YM, Munoz-Munoz N, Nicora C, Purvine S, Lipton M, Weber PK, Single cell carbon and nitrogen incorporation and remineralization profiles are uncoupled from phylogenetic groupings of diatom-associated bacteria doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.07.01.498368

45. Brisson V, Swink C, Kimbrel J, Mayali X, Samo TJ, Kosina SM, Thelen M, Northen TR, Stuart RK, Dynamic Phaeodactylum tricornutum exometabolites shape surrounding bacterial communities doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.06.08.495228

44. Harding K, Turk-Kubo KA, Kwan Mak EW, Weber PK, Mayali X, Zehr JP (in review, Nature Comm) Direct cell-specific measurements show N₂ fixation by particle-attached non-cyanobacterial diazotrophs in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre

 

Published or in press

43. Agans RT, Banks G, Barbato RA, Concannon P, Cui H, Dichosa AEK, Hayes RB, Howard M, Mayali X, Meeks HN, Ruffing A, Steen TY, Turick CE, Robert P. Volpe RP (in review, Countering WMD Journal) Harnessing the Environment to Identify Nuclear Processes: I. Biological Markers to Assess Environmental Exposure

42. Windler M, Stuart R, Deutzmann JS, Mayali X, Navid A, D’haeseleer P, Marcu OE, Lipton M, Nicora C, Spormann AM (accepted, FEMS Microb Ecol) Bacterial exometabolites influence Chlamydomonas cell cycle and double algal productivity

41. Morris MM, Jeffrey A. Kimbrel JA, Geng H, Tran-Gyamfi MB, Yu ET, Sale KL, Lane TW, Mayali X (accepted, mSphere) Bacterial community assembly, succession, and metabolic function during Microchloropsis salina outdoor cultivation

40. Chaffin JD, Judy A. Westrick JA, Furr E, Reitzc LA, Stanislawczyk K, Li W, Weber PK, Mayali X, Davis TW (2022) Quantification of microcystin production and loss rates in the western basin of Lake Erie. Limnology and Oceanography https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.12096  

39. Buessecker S, Palmer M, Lai D, Dimapilis J, Mayali X, Mosier D, Jiao JY, Colman DR, Keller L, St. John E, Miranda M, Gonzalez C, Gonzalez L, Sam C, Villa C, Zhuo M, Bodman N, Robles F, Boyd E, Cox AD, St. Clair B, Hua ZS, Li WJ, Reysenbach AL, Stott MB, Weber PK, Pett-Ridge J, Hedlund BP, Dekas AE, Dodsworth JA (in press) Tungsten is essential for carbohydrate metabolism in members of a novel family of anaerobic thermophilic Caldarchaeales (Aigarchaeota). Nature Communications

38. Kolton M, Weston DJ, Mayali X, Weber PK, McFarlane K, Pett-Ridge J, Somoza M, Lietard J, Glass JB, Lilleskov EA, Shaw AJ, Tringe S, Hanson PJ, Kostka JE (2022) Defining the core Sphagnum microbiome and its role in ecosystem function in peatlands across the North American continent. mBio 13(1), https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.03714-21

37. Brisson V, Mayali X, Bowen B, Golini A, Thelen M, Stuart RK, Northen TR (2021) Identification of effector metabolites using exometabolite profiling of diverse microalgae, mSystems 6:6 e00835-21 https://doi.org/10.1128/mSystems.00835-21

36. Nuccio E, Nguyen NH, Nunes da Rocha U, Mayali X, Bougoure J, Weber PK, Brodie EL, Firestone M, Pett-Ridge J (2021) Community RNA-Seq: Effects of living versus decaying roots on microbial and microfaunal communities ISME Communications 1, 72 https://doi.org/10.1038/s43705-021-00059-3

35. Kim H, Kimbrel JA, Wollard JR, Mayali X, Buie CR (2021) Bacterial response to algal-derived nutrient gradients in a porous microplate, International Society of Microbial Ecology (ISME) Journal https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-021-01147-x

34. Kieft B, Li Z, Bryson S, Hettich RL, Pan C, Mayali X, Mueller RS (2021) Exudate and lysate fractions of phytoplankton organic matter support the growth of unique microbial consortia with specialized metabolic and ecophysiological traits. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 118 (41) e2101178118 https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2101178118

33. Chorazyczewski AM, Huang IS, Abdulla H, Mayali X, Zimba PV (2021) The influence of bacteria on the growth, lipid production, and extracellular metabolite accumulation by Phaeodactylum tricornutum (Bacillariophyceae), Journal of Phycology https://doi.org/10.1111/jpy.13132

32. Mayali X (2021) Microscale Carbon Cycling Between Bacteria and Algae under the sun; in Microbes: the foundation stone of the biosphere, Advances in Environmental Microbiology, C. Hurst, ed., Springer Nature

31. Mayali X (2020) NanoSIMS: microscale quantification of biogeochemical activity with large-scale impacts, Annual Review of Marine Science 12:449-467

30. Dekas AE, Parada A, Mayali X, Fuhrman JA, Wollard J, Weber PK, Pett-Ridge J (2019) Characterizing chemoautotrophy and heterotrophy in marine archaea and bacteria with single-cell multi-isotope nanoSIP. Frontiers in Microbiology 10:2682

29. Mayali X, Weber PK, Nuccio E, Lietard J, Somoza M, Blazewicz S, Pett-Ridge J (2019) Chip-SIP: stable isotope probing analyzed with rRNA-targeted microarrays and NanoSIMS, in Methods in Molecular Biology, Walk JM (ed), Springer

28. Fisher CL, Ward CS, Lane PD, Kimbrel JA, Sale KL, Stuart RK, Mayali X, Lane TW (2019) Bacterial communities protect the alga Microchloropsis salina from grazing by the rotifer

Brachionus plicatilis, Algal Research 40: 101500

27. Gomez-Consarnau L, Needham DM, Weber PK, Fuhrman JA, Mayali X (2019) Influence of light on particulate organic matter utilization by attached and free-living marine bacteria. Frontiers in Microbiolology 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01204

26. Kimbrel JA, Samo T, Ward CS, Nilson D, Thelen MP, Siccardi A, Zimba P, Lane TW, Mayali X (2019) Host selection and stochastic effects influence bacterial community assembly on the microalgal phycosphere, Algal Research 40:101489

25. Samo T, Kimbrel JA, Nilson DJ, Pett-Ridge J, Weber PK, Mayali X (2018) Attachment between heterotrophic bacteria and microalgae influences symbiotic microscale interactions, Environmental Microbiolology 20(12):4385-4400

24. Kieft B, Li Z, Bryson S, Hettich R, Pan C, Mayali X, RS Mueller (2018) Microbial community structure-function relationships in Yaquina Bay estuary reveal spatially distinct carbon and nitrogen cycling capacities, Frontiers in Microbiolology doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01282

23. Mayali X (2018) Editorial: Metabolic interactions between bacteria and phytoplankton, Frontiers in Microbiology doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.00727

22. Mayali X, Weber PK (2018) Quantitative isotope incorporation reveals substrate partitioning in a coastal microbial community, FEMS Microbiology Ecology 94 (5) fiy047

21. Bryson S, Li Z, Chavez F, Weber PK, Pett-Ridge J, Hettich RL, Pan C, Mayali X and Mueller RS (2017) Phylogenetically conserved resource partitioning in the coastal microbial loop, International Society of Microbial Ecology (ISME) Journal 11, 2781–2792, doi: 10.1038/ismej.2017.128

20. Stuart RK, Mayali X, Thelen MP, Pett-Ridge J, and Weber PK (2017) Measuring Cyanobacterial Metabolism in Biofilms with NanoSIMS Isotope Imaging and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Bioprotocol 7(9) e2263; doi.org/10.21769/BioProtoc.2263

19. Arandia-Gorostidi N, Weber PK, Alonso-Sáez L, Morán XAG, Mayali X (2017) Elevated temperature increases carbon and nitrogen fluxes between phytoplankton and heterotrophic bacteria through physical attachment, International Society of Microbial Ecology (ISME) Journal 11, 641–650; doi: 10.1038/ismej.2016.156

18. Stuart RK, Mayali X, Boaro A, Lipton M, Lee JZ, Everroad RC, Nilson D, Bebout BM, Weber PK, Pett-Ridge J, and Thelen MP (2016) Light regimes shape utilization of extracellular organic C and N in a cyanobacterial biofilm, mBio 7(3): 00650-16

17. Bryson S, Li Z, Pett-Ridge J, Hettich R, Mayali X, Pan C, and Mueller R (2016) Proteomic-based stable isotope probing reveals taxonomically conserved patterns in amino acid assimilation by coastal marine bacterioplankton, mSystems 1(2): 00027-15 DOI: 10.1128/mSystems.00027-15

16. de-Bashan LE, Mayali X, Bebout BM, Weber PK, Detweiler AM, Hernandez JP, Prufert-Bebout L, Bashan Y (2016) Establishment of stable synthetic mutualism without co-evolution between microalgae and bacteria demonstrated by mutual transfer of metabolites (NanoSIMS isotopic imaging) and persistent physical association (Fluorescent in situ hybridization), Algal Research 15:179-186.        doi:10.1016/j.algal.2016.02.019

15. Stuart RK, Mayali X, Lee JZ, Everroad, CR, Hwang M, Bebout BM, Weber PK, Pett-Ridge J, Thelen MP (2016) Cyanobacterial reuse of extracellular organic carbon in microbial mats. International Society of Microbial Ecology (ISME) Journal 10, 1240–1251; doi:10.1038/ismej.2015.180

14. Mayali X, Stewart B, Mabery S, Weber PK (2016) Temporal succession in carbon incorporation from macromolecules by particle-attached bacteria in marine microcosms, Environmental Microbiology Reports 8(1): 68-75; doi: 10.1111/1758-2229.12352

13. Mueller RS, Bryson S, Kieft B, Li Z, Pett-Ridge J, Chavez F, Hettich RL, Pan C, Mayali X (2015) Metagenome Sequencing of a Coastal Marine Microbial Community from Monterey Bay, California, Genome Announcements 3:e00341-15; doi:10.1128/genomeA.00341-15

12. Woebken D, Burow LC, Behnam F, Mayali X, Schintlmeister A, Fleming ED, Prufert-Bebout L, Singer SW, López Cortés A, Hoehler TM, Pett-Ridge J, Spormann AM, Wagner M, Weber PK, Bebout BM (2015) Revisiting N₂ fixation in Guerrero Negro intertidal microbial mats with a functional single-cell approach, ISME Journal 9, 485–496; doi:10.1038/ismej.2014.144

11. Mayali X, Mabery S, Weber PK, Pett-Ridge J (2014) Phylogenetic patterns in the microbial response to resource availability: amino acid incorporation in San Francisco Bay, PLoS ONE 9(4): e95842. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0095842

10. Mayali X, Weber PK, Pett-Ridge J (2013) Taxon-specific C:N relative use efficiency for amino acids in an estuarine community, FEMS Microbiology Ecology 83(2):402-412.

9. Mayali X, Weber P, Brodie E, Mabery S, Hoeprich P, Pett-Ridge J (2012) High-throughput isotopic analysis of RNA microarrays to quantify microbial resource use, International Society of Microbial Ecology (ISME) Journal 6:1210-1221.

8. Mayali X, Franks PJS, Burton RS (2011) Temporal attachment dynamics by distinct bacterial taxa during a dinoflagellate bloom, Aquatic Microbial Ecology 63:111-122.

7. Mayali X, Palenik B, Burton R.S. (2010) Dynamics of marine bacterial and phytoplankton populations using multiplex liquid bead array technology, Environmental Microbiology 12(4): 975-989.

6. Mayali X, Franks PJS, Tanaka Y, Azam F (2008) Bacteria induced motility reduction in the dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedrum (Dinophyceae), Journal of Phycology, 44: 923-928.

5. Mayali X, Franks PJS, Azam F (2008) Cultivation and ecosystem role of marine RCA cluster bacteria, Applied and Environmental Microbiology 74 (9): 2595-2603

4. Mayali X, Franks PJS, Azam F (2007) Bacterial induction of ecdysis in the dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedrum, Aquatic Microbial Ecology, 50:51-62

3. Mayali X, Azam F (2004) Algicidal bacteria in the sea and their impact on algal blooms. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology 51: 139-144

2. Shankle AM, Mayali X, Franks PJS (2004) Temporal pattern in population genetic diversity of Prorocentrum micans (Dinophyceae). Journal of Phycology 40: 239-247

1. Mayali X, Doucette GJ (2002) Microbial community interactions and population dynamics of an algicidal bacterium active against Karenia brevis (Dinophyceae). Harmful Algae 1: 277-293

LLNL Global Security E Program Silver Award                                                          2018

JGI User meeting poster Award                                                                                  2018

PLS Directorate Postdoctoral Award                                                                           2012

PLS Directorate SPOT Award                                                                                     2012

LLNL Outstanding Research and Best Poster Presentation                                         2011

Edward A. Frieman Prize for Excellence in Graduate Student Research                      2008

San Diego Chapter ARCS fellow                                                                                 2005-2007

UCSD Teaching Assistant Excellence Award                                                              2004

Charles H. Stout Foundation fellow                                                                             2004

UC Regents fellow                                                                                                       2001-2002

University of Charleston Outstanding Graduate Student Award                                  2001