Research and Publications

Research Interests

My research is mainly focused on biocatalyst development for biodegradation of environmental pollutants.
Historically, I have studied the biodegradation of crude oil and petroleum by microorganisms in fermentor-based systems.
Currently, my lab is interested in understanding the molecular and biochemical basis for alkyl carbon-sulfur bond cleavage
in organic molecules for future development of biocatalysts to detect and destroy Mustard Gas. In addition, my lab is working
on the biodegradation of highly fluorinated organic chemicals, such as those used in the production of Teflon and GoreTex,
under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. My research has both fundamental and applied aspects.

Publications – Student contributions in bold

For up to date lists use these links:






Selected publications:


Thijs S., Van Hamme J.D., Gkorezis P., Rineau F, Weyens N, Vangronsveld J (2014) Draft genome sequence of Raoultella ornithinolytica TNT, a trinitrotoluene-denitrating and plant growth-promoting strain isolated from explosive-contaminated soil.
Genome Announcements 2(3), e00491-14

http://genomea.asm.org/content/2/3/e00491-14.full


Van Hamme J.D., Bottos E.M. Bilbey N.J.., Brewer S.E. (2013) Genomic and proteomic characterization of Gordonia sp. NB4-1Y in relation to 6: 2 fluorotelomer sulfonate biodegradation.
Microbiology. 159(Pt 8):1618-1628.

http://mic.sgmjournals.org/content/159/Pt_8/1618.full


Moote P.E., Church J.S., Schwartzkopf-Genswein K.S., Van Hamme J.D. (2014) Effect of Fermented Winery By-Product Supplemented Rations on the Temperament and Meat Quality of Angus-Hereford X Steers During Feeding in a British Columbia Feedlot.
Journal of Food Research. 3(6):124-135.

http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/jfr/article/download/38739/21936


Lynch J.P., Prema D., Van Hamme J.D., Church J.S., Beauchemin K.A. (2014) Fiber degradability, chemical composition and conservation characteristics of alfalfa haylage ensiled with exogenous fibrolytic enzymes and a ferulic acid esterase-producing inoculant.
Canadian Journal of Animal Science. 94(4):697-704.


Turner T.D., Pilfold J.L. Jensen J. Prema D., Donkor K.K. Van Hamme J.D., Cinel B., Galbraith J.K., Church J.S. (2014) Fatty Acid Profiles of Western Canadian Bison (Bison bison) Meat.
Journal of Food Research. 3(6):146-155

http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/jfr/article/viewFile/37834/22219


Church J.S., MacIntyre C., Archambault W.R., Moote P.E., Cochran J.L.,
Durance T.D., Van Hamme J.D. (2013) Effect of radiant energy vacuum on physical and
microbial properties of beef jerky. J. Food Sci. Engineering. 3:33-39.

http://www.davidpublishing.com/davidpublishing/Upfile/2/27/2013/2013022786104393.pdf


Brooks S.L., Van Hamme J.D. (2012) Whole Genome Shotgun Sequence of Rhodococcus species strain JVH1. J.
Bacteriol. 194(19):5492-5493.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22965106


Stanley B., Mehr K.A., Kellock T., Van Hamme J.D., and K.K. Donkor (2009)
Separation and determination of closely-related lantibiotics by micellar electrokinetic chromatography. J Sep. Sci. 32:2993–3000.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19639549


Singh A., Van Hamme J.D. and O.P. Ward (2007) Surfactants in microbiology and biotechnology (Part 2): application aspects.
Biotech. Advances, 25:99-121.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17156965


Van Hamme J.D., Singh A., and O.P. Ward (2006) Surfactants in microbiology and biotechnology: Part 1. physiological aspects.
Biotech. Advances, 24:604-620.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16979315


Van Hamme J.D., Gray M.R., Fedorak P.M., and H.D. Dettman (2004) The use of a novel fluorinated organosulfur-compound to
isolate bacteria capable of desulfurizing subterminal alkyl sulfides via specific carbon-sulfur bond cleavage Appl. Environ.
Microbiol. 70:1487-1493.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15006770


Van Hamme J.D., Singh A., and O.P. Ward (2003) Recent Advances in Petroleum Microbiology Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev.
67:503-549.

http://mmbr.asm.org/content/67/4/503.full


Ward O.P., Singh A., and J.D. Van Hamme (2003) Accelerated biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbon waste J. Ind. Microbiol.
Biot. 30:260-270

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12687495


Van Hamme, J.D., Wong E.T., Dettman H.D., Gray M.R., and M.A. Pickard (2003) Dibenzyl sulfide metabolism
by white-rot fungi Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69:1320-1324

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC143626/


Nadarajah, N., Van Hamme, J., Pannu, J., Singh, A., and O. Ward (2002) Enhanced transformation of
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using a combined Fenton’s reagent, microbial treatment and surfactants Appl. Microbiol.
Biotechnol. 59:540-544

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12172623


Liu S., Laliberte, F., Bobechko, B., Bartlett, A., Lario, P., Gorseth, E., Van Hamme, J., Gresser, M.J., Huang, Z. (2001)
Dissecting the cofactor-dependent and independent bindings of PDE4 inhibitors Biochemistry 40:10179-10186s

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11513595


Van Hamme, J.D., and O.P. Ward (2001) Physical and metabolic interactions of Pseudomonas sp. strain JA5-B45 and Rhodococcus sp.
strain F9-D79 during growth on crude oil and effect of a chemical surfactant on them Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 67:4974-4879

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC93243/


Van Hamme, J.D., and O.P. Ward (2001) Volatile hydrocarbon biodegradation by a mixed-bacterial culture during growth on crude oil
J. Ind. Microbiol. Biot. 26:356-362

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11571619


Van Hamme, J.D., and O.P. Ward (2000) Development of a method for the application of solid-phase microextraction to monitor the
biodegradation of volatile hydrocarbons during growth on crude oil J. Ind. Microbiol. Biot. 25:155-162

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11571619


Van Hamme, J.D., Odumeru J.A., and O.P. Ward (2000) Community dynamics of a mixed-bacterial culture growing on petroleum
hydrocarbons in batch culture Can. J. Microbiol. 46:441-450

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10872080


Van Hamme, J.D., and O.P. Ward (1999) Influence of chemical surfactants on the biodegradation of crude oil by a mixed-bacterial
culture Can. J. Microbiol. 45:130-137

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10380646

Books or Chapters, Authored


Franzetti A., Gandolfi I., Fracchia L., Van Hamme, J.D., Gkorezis P., Marchant R., Banat I.M. (2014) Biosurfactant use in heavy metal removal from industrial effluents and contaminated sites.
In: Biosurfactants: Production and Utilization—Processes, Technologies, and Economics. CRC Press, v159, pp 361-369.


Ward, O.P., Singh, A., Van Hamme, J.D., Voordouw, G. (2012) Petroleum Microbiology. In: Schmidt T, Schaechter M (eds) Topics in
Ecological and Environmental Microbiology, Academic Press, USA, pp 625-643.


Van Hamme J.D., and J Urban (2009) Biosurfactants in bioremediation. A. Singh, R.C. Kuhad and O.P. Ward (eds) Advances in applied
bioremediation, Soil Biology 17. (Springer-Verglag Berlin Heidelberg.)


Ward O.P., Singh A., Van Hamme J.D., and G. Voordouw (2009) Petroleum Microbiology in Encyclopedia of Microbiology 3E (Elsevier)


Van Hamme J.D. (2004) Bioavailability and biodegradation of organic pollutants: a microbial perspective A. Singh and
O.P. Ward (eds) Bioremediation, phytoremediation and natural attenuation (Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg.)