Emeritus
John H. Paul
Emeritus, Distinguished University Professor
Biological Oceanography
Ph.D., University of Miami, 1980
Email: jpaul@usf.edu
CV: View PDF
* Please Note: These professors are retired and are no longer accepting new students.
Research: Development of Biological Sensors to Detect Harmful Microbes in the Coastal
Ocean; Development of 鈥淕rouper Forensics鈥� to Detect Authenticity of Seafood in Restaurants
and Seafood Suppliers; Importance of Silent Viral Infections on Life in the Seas;
Mechanisms of Gene Transfer in the Oceans that Involve Viruses
The common research theme in Dr. Paul鈥檚 is the measurement of gene expression as a
means to understanding microbially-mediated processes in the oceans. This is divided
into specific areas of research that include lysogeny, microbial gene transfer by
virus-like gene transfer agents (GTAs), phytoplankton carbon fixation, and development
of sensors. Lysogeny is the process whereby a virus establishes a stable symbiosis
in its host. His group is examining the genomes of temperate marine bacteriophages
to understand the control of lysogeny in heterotrophic bacteria and picocyanobacteria
in the marine environment. This group has also performed several high impact studies
documenting the activity of microbial gene transfer by particulate GTAs in both cultures
and natural marine microbial assemblages. His studies in carbon fixation have focused
on the control of this process in oceanic river plumes. Such plumes have tremendous
CO2 drawdown, yet also behave as areas of high levels of recycled production.
Dr. Paul鈥檚 group is using their experience in measuring mRNA as a surrogate for microbial
gene expression in the design of hand-held [and autonomous] sensors (in conjunction
with the Center for Ocean Technology) for the detection of noxious microorganisms
in coastal environments. This has led to the USF technology spinoff, PureMolecular
LLC, a company that develops applications of gene detection by RNA amplification using
point of care handheld sensors.