Mark Schneegurt PhD

The microbiology of hypersaline environments relevant to Mars and the ocean worlds is the main focus of the Schneegurt Lab. Substantial work was done at the Great Salt Plains of Oklahoma to isolate and characterize halotolerant and halophilic microbes growing in high NaCl. This work was extended to salty environments (Hot Lake and Basque Lake) rich in magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts), as this is an important salt on Mars. The astrobiology work impacts the search for life on Mars and forward planetary protection (keeping Mars clean). We measure tolerances to other Mars salts as well, including perchlorate and chlorate salts. Related studies on sugars teach us more about living in very high solutes, and hence, low water activity. We have demonstrated bacterial growth in saturated and eutectic solutions of Mars salts. Dry salts on Mars may absorb humidity from the atmosphere and form dense brines with low freezing points that may remain liquid on Mars.
Beyond our work with NASA, we participate in collaborative projects in medical microbiology. We are working with WSU Chemists on a new class of antibiotics, we call liptins, which bind specifically to bacterial lipids. Liptins seem to be specific, with low toxicity, and are active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and Mycobacteria. A project with WSU Biomedical Engineers is examining the formation of biofilms on advanced materials that can be used as coatings for bone implants and cardiac stents. An earlier project on feather microbiology led to the discovery of plant pathogens on wild bird feathers, perhaps carrying disease over long distances. Many of the feather isolates exhibit keratinases that degrade the protein keratin. These have great potential for use in dermatology and the hide industry.

General Biology I
General Microbiology
Applied and Environmental Microbiology

Carte, M., F. Chen, B. C. Clark, and M. A. Schneegurt  (2024)  Succession of the bacterial community from a spacecraft assembly cleanroom when enriched in brines relevant to Mars.  International Journal of Astrobiology, in press.

Garcia, G. J., E. C. Sklute, M. A. Schneegurt, J. F. Holden, and M. D. Dyar  (2023)  Spectral characterization of halophiles isolated from hypersaline environments relevant to Mars and ocean worlds.  LPSC LIV:1689.

Alsuri, M. R., B. D. Bower, D. H. Burns, G. Fraire, B. Seelam, R. Shaban, S. Shaban, and M. A. Schneegurt  (2023)  The broad antibacterial activity of a small synthetic receptor for cellular phosphatidylglycerol lipids.  Folia Microbiologica 68:465-476.

Howell, S. P., B. R. Kilmer, T. Porazka, and M. A. Schneegurt.  Abundance, isolation, and characterization of halotolerant microbes from common oligosaline soils.  Pedobiologia 95:150827.

Tran, M. D., J. W. Dille, W. L. Camden, D. Brunt, C. M. Rogers, and M. A. Schneegurt  (2022)  Keratinolytic bacteria from the feathers of wild Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis).  Avian Biology Research 15:73-83.

Cesur, R. M., I. M. Ansari, F. Chen, B. C. Clark, and M. A. Schneegurt  (2022)  Bacterial growth in brines formed by the deliquescence of salts relevant to cold arid worlds.  Astrobiology 22:104-115.

Zbeeb, H. Z., Md Joad, H. H. Zayed, T. M. Luhring, M. A. Schneegurt, A. Mahdi, F. Chen, and B. C. Clark  (2021)  Bacterial growth tolerances to heavy brines formed by an iterative matrix of ions and their salts.  LPSC LII:2331.

Cesur, R. M., I. M. Ansari, C. R. Stewart, M. A. Schneegurt, F. Chen, and B. C. Clark  (2021)  Bacterial survival and growth in fluid inclusions and deliquescent brines of salt evaporites relevant to cold arid worlds.  LPSC LII:1243.

Ratcliffe, A. L., J. V. Tong, A. T. Hoang, S. Howell, and M. A. Schneegurt  (2021)  Bacterial survival under the extreme chemical and physical conditions of Europa and the ocean worlds.  LPSC LII:1151.

Spellmeyer, A. J., C. M. Rogers, and M. A. Schneegurt  (2020)  Radiotracking refines the role of food supplementation on overwinter survival of the Dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis).  Avian Biology Research 13:92-99.

Shrestha, N., K. K. Dandinpet, and M. A. Schneegurt  (2020)  Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus limitation on the accumulation of biodiesel lipids in Chlorella kessleri str. UTEX 263 grown in darkness on sugars and plant biomass hydrolysates.  Journal of Applied Phycology 32:2795-2805.

Carrier, B. L., D. W. Beaty, M. A. Meyer, M. A. Schneegurt, and 57 authors.  (2020)  Mars extant life:  What's next? Conference report.  Astrobiology 20:785-814.

Schneegurt, M. A.  (2019)  In memoriam: Christopher M. Rogers, 1956-2018.  The Auk 136:ukz043.

Nickel, T. D., W. G. Welch, C. H. Cope, R. A. Hacker, A. K. Reed, D. A. Distler, C. M Rogers, and M. A. Schneegurt  (2019) Reassessment of freshwater unionid mussel diversity and abundance in the Walnut River Basin, Kansas.  Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 122:39-48.

Crisler, J. D., F. Chen, B. C. Clark, and M. A. Schneegurt  (2019)  Cultivation and characterization of the bacterial assemblage of epsomic Basque Lake, BC.  Antonie van Leuwenhoek 112:1105-1119.

Wilks, J. M., F. Chen, B. C. Clark, and M. A. Schneegurt  (2019)  Bacterial growth in saturated and eutectic solutions of magnesium sulphate and potassium chlorate with relevance to Mars and the ocean worlds.  International Journal of Astrobiology 18:502-509.

Schneegurt, M. A.  (2018) Author responsibilities in the aftermath of a scientific publication.  Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 121:400-402.

Caton, I. R., T. M. Caton, and M. A. Schneegurt  (2018)  Nitrogen-fixation activity and the abundance and taxonomy of nifH genes in agricultural, pristine, and urban prairie stream sediments chronically exposed to different levels of nitrogen loading. Archives of Microbiology 200:623-633. 

Schneegurt, M. A. (2017) Copyediting and proofreading scientific publications after acceptance. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 120:200-202.

Al Soudi, A. F., O. Farhat, F. Chen, B. C. Clark, and M. A. Schneegurt  (2017)  Bacterial growth tolerance to concentrations of chlorate and perchlorate salts relevant to Mars. International Journal of Astrobiology 16:229-235.

Fredsgaard, C., D. B. Moore, F. Chen, B. C. Clark, and M. A. Schneegurt. (2017) Prevalence of sucretolerant bacteria in common soils and their isolation and characterization. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 110:995-1005.

Parker, N., M. A. Schneegurt, A.-H. T. Tu, B. M. Forster, and P. Lister (2017) OpenStax Microbiology. OpenStax College, Rice University, 1308 pp.

Fredsgaard, C., D. B. Moore, A. F. Al Soudi, J. D. Crisler, F. Chen, B. C. Clark, and M. A. Schneegurt (2017) Relationships between sucretolerance and salinotolerance in bacteria from hypersaline environments and their implications for the exploration of Mars and the icy worlds. International Journal of Astrobiology 16:156-162.

Schneegurt, M. A. (2016) Peer review in scientific publication. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 119:360-362.

Harris, D. and M. A. Schneegurt (2016) The other open-access debate. American Scientist 104:334-336; 105:3.

Dille, J. W., C. M. Rogers, and M. A. Schneegurt (2016) Isolation and characterization of bacteria isolated from the feathers of wild Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis). The Auk 133:155-167.

Schneegurt, M. A. (2015) Choosing a scientific journal for your manuscript. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 118:248-250.

Schneegurt, M. A. (2014) Awarding the distinction of authorship on a scientific paper. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 117:270-272.

Kilmer, B. R., T. C. Eberl, B. Cunderla, F. Chen, B. C. Clark, and M. A. Schneegurt (2014) Molecular and phenetic characterization of the bacterial assemblage of Hot Lake, WA, an environment with high concentrations of magnesium sulphate, and its relevance to Mars. International Journal of Astrobiology 13:69-80.

Professor 2012-present
Biological Sciences, Wichita State University

Professor
Curriculum and Instruction, Wichita State University 2014-present

Coleman Foundation Faculty Fellow in Entrepreneurship
Barton School of Business, Wichita State University 2014-present

Affiliated Faculty
Biomedical Engineering, Wichita State University 2013-present

 Links

• Published Abstracts not appearing elsewhere
• Cyanosite
• WSU Chapter of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society
• WSU GK-12 program archive
• NASA NSCORT in Bioregenerative Live Support