
Research in my lab is driven by an interest in understanding how photosynthetic microorganisms perceive and evolve in response to environmental stressors, such as light, nutrients and viral attack.
We focus on cyanobacteria which are abundant, globally relevant and have been used to probe environmentally important processes ranging from photosynthesis to symbioses to circadian rhythms.
We work both with model organisms and with cyanobacteria in naturally occurring communities. Recently,we have started to develop synthetic biology-inspired approaches to use in cyanobacteria.
Lab Tabs
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Victoria Calatrava Porras (Postdoctoral Fellow)
My name is Victoria (Vickie) and I received my Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2018) from the University of Cordoba (Spain) in the lab of Profs. Aurora Galvan and Emilio Fernandez. My research focused on the assimilation of nitrogen by algae using the model microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, as well as revealing insights of a new mutualistic interaction between this alga and the plant-benefiting bacteria Methylobacterium spp. that allows the alga to thrive under nitrogen limitation. I continued to investigate this algal-bacterial symbiosis as a postdoc fellow in the same lab until I joined Carnegie in 2020. As a postdoc in Profs. Arthur Grossman and Devaki Bhaya’s labs, I am currently investigating a more intimate symbiotic interaction between the amoeba Paulinella and its cyanobacterial endosymbiont to gain insights into the origin and evolution of photosynthetic organelles. Outside of the lab I enjoy outdoor activities, live music, brewing beer and kombucha, and traveling.
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Frederick De St Pierre Bunbury (Postdoctoral Fellow)
I started as a PostDoctoral researcher in Arthur Grossman and Devaki Bhaya’s lab in 2019 to study the microbial communities found in the hot springs of Yellowstone National Park. Prior to this, I did my undergraduate studies in Plant Biology at Cambridge University and continued with a PhD in Alison Smith’s lab, where I focused on mutualistic interactions between algae and bacteria centered around the exchange of vitamin B12. I’m currently working on better understanding how Cyanobacteria and Chloroflexi found in hot spring mats interact physically, move cooperatively and build biofilm structure, as well as how they interact chemically through nutrient exchange.
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Amanda Shelton (Postdoctoral Research Fellow)
Former Lab Members/Visitors
- SHEETAL GOSRANI, Masters in Computer Science, joint with Sami Khuri, Computer Science Dept, San Jose State University (2010-2012)
- SUSANNE WISEN, Postdoctoral fellow,2008-2011
- ROSARIO GOMEZ , Postdoctoral fellow,2009-2011
- FARIBA FAZELI, Research Technician, 2004-2009, currently Aurora Biotech
- ANNE SOISIG STEUNOU, Postdoc (2004-2007), currently Faculty, Laboratoire de Photosynthèse Bactérienne , Centre de Génétique Moléculaire -C.N.R.S. 11989, Gif-sur-Yvette cedex- France
- MELISSA ADAMS, Masters student , Stanford University (2006-2008) Currently graduate student, Harvard University
- NATASHA KHURI, Visiting Faculty (2004-2006) Computer Science, San Jose Sate University, Currently Graduate student, Bioinformatics
- UCSF KENLEE NAKASUGI, Visitor from Neilan lab, University of New South Wales, Australia (2006)
- OLIVER KILIAN, Postdoctoral Fellow (2005-2007), currently at Aurora Biotech , San Francisco
- CLARE SIMPSON, Postdoctoral Fellow (2004-2005)
- JULIANNA ROSS, Masters student, Stanford University
- WING ON (JACKY), NG Postdoctoral Fellow (2001 -2003)
Summer Interns and Undergraduates
- EMMA SEDIVY (Stanford University, 2012), Summer 2008-2012, currently Graduate program, MIT, FIRESTONE MEDAL for EXCELLENCE IN UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH, 2012
- AMIR GHOWSI, Senior, Homestead High School, Cupertino, Summer 2012, joins UCLA 2012
- GAYATHRI DILEEP, Junior,Mission San Jose High school, Summer 2012
- MARISA BROWN, High school teacher, Summer 2012 (HHMI/ IISME/ STANFORD)
- LI WEN, Computer Science Dept, San Jose State University, Winter 2011
- MATTHEW BURRIESCI(Stanford University, '07), Summer 2004-2007, currently Graduate program, Dept. of Genetics, Stanford. FIRESTONE Medal for EXCELLENCE IN UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH, 2007
- CANDICE CHERK, (Swarthmore College), Summer 2006, currently Graduate program, UC Berkeley
- ERIC LEHNERT(Stanford University, '07), Summer 2004-2006, currently Graduate program , Dept. Genetics, Stanford
- ADRIANO CAMINHA, UFRJ ,Brasil
- NIMNA RAMATUNGA(Concordia University, '08), Summer 2007
- JAYA NAIR, (San Jose State University), Summer 2004-2005,
- TOM DILLIG, (Stanford University, '06), Summer 2004, currently Graduate program, Computer Science Dept., Stanford
- ISHIL OZGENER(Stanford University, '06), Summer 2004, currently Graduate program Computer Science Dept., Stanford
- DAWNIS CHOW(Stanford University, '04) Summer 2003
- JASON HOM(Stanford University, '04) Summer 2002
- SAMIR KAPADIA(Rutgers Unversity '04) Summer 2003
- ASHVIN KUMAR(Stanford University, '04) Summer 2002-2003
- KUMUDA MURTHY(San Jose State University) Summer 2001
- GEORGINA SALAZAR(Stanford University) Summer 1999-2000
- PAYAM SHAHI(San Jose State University) Summer 2001
- IRENE YANG(Stanford University) Fall 2000
- KAITLYN BAAB, Castilleja School, currently Undergraduate ,Bioengineering , Stanford
- SONIA BHATTACHARYA, Harker School Summer 2010, Currently UC Berkeley
- MATTHEW HARTNUNG , Colorado College, Summer 2008, 2009
REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Chau R, Bhaya D, Huang K C. (2017) Emergent phototactic responses of cyanobacteria under complex light regimes. Mbio;8(2). pii: e02330-16. (featured in Commentary section: Kim).
Govindjee, Bhaya D, Grossman AR. (2016) Gordon research conference on the dynamics and regulation of photosynthesis: from the origin of bio-catalysis to innovative solar conversion. Photosyn Res. 127:379-89. doi: 10.1007/s11120-015-0187-9. PMID: 26338068.
Silas S, Makarova KS, Shmakov S, Páez-Espino D, Mohr G, Liu Y, Davison M, Roux S, Krishnamurthy SR, Fu BXH, Hansen LL, Wang D, Sullivan MB, Millard A, Clokie MR,Bhaya D, Lambowitz AM, Kyrpides NC, Koonin EV, Fire AZ. (2017) On the Origin of Reverse Transcriptase-Using CRISPR-Cas Systems and Their Hyperdiverse, Enigmatic Spacer Repertoires. MBio. 2017 Jul 11;8(4). pii: e00897-17.
Yu FB, Willis L, Chau RM, Zambon A, Horowitz M, Bhaya D, Huang KC, Quake SR. (2017) Long-term microfluidic tracking of coccoid cyanobacterial cells reveals robust control of division timing. BMC Biol.; 15 (1):11.
Silas S, Mohr G, Sidote DJ, Markham LM, Sanchez- Amat A, Bhaya D, Lambowitz AM, Fire AZ (2016) Direct CRISPR spacer acquisition from RNA by a natural reverse transcriptase-Cas1 fusion protein Science 351(6276): 351(6276):aad4234. doi:10.1126/science.aad4234.
Bhaya D. (2016) In the Limelight: Photoreceptors in Cyanobacteria. MBio.7(3). pii: e00741-16. (Invited Commentary)
Rosen M, Davison M, Bhaya D, Fisher D. (2015) A quasi-sexual bacterial population occupying a broad niche Science. 348(6238):1019-23. PMID: 26023139 PDF Supporting information see Comment ('Flexible Gene Pools' by Desai MM and AM Walczak)
Chau RM,,Ursell T, Wang S, Huang KC , Bhaya D. (2015) Rapid motility bias adaptation during cyanobacterial phototaxis Biophys J. 108(7):1623-32. PMID: 25863054 PDF Supporting information
Davison M, Bhaya D. (2015) Creation and Analysis of a Virome: Using CRISPR Spacers. Methods Mol Biol. CRISPR methods and Protocols 1311:307-16. PMID: 25981482 PDF
Davison M, Hall E, Zare RN, Bhaya D (2014) Challenges of metagenomics and single-cell genomics approaches for exploring cyanobacterial diversity. Photosyn Res Dec 17 ePub PMID: 25515769 PDF
Gomez R, Fazeli F, Bhaya D. (2013) The role of polyphosphate accumulation in Synechococcus sp. J. Bact 195(15):3309-19 PMID: 23687278 PDF Supporting information
Ursell T, Chau R, Wisen S, Bhaya, D, Huang KC. (2013) Motiltiy enhancement through surface modification is sufficient for cyanobacetrail community organization during phototaxis PLoS Comp Biol. (9):e1003205 PMID: 24039562 PDF
Galante A, Wisen S, Bhaya D, Levy D. (2012) Modeling local interactions during the motion of cyanobacteria. J Theor Biol. 309:147-58. PMID: 22713858 PDF
Nelson WC, Bhaya D, Heidelberg JF. (2012) Novel miniature transposable elements in thermophilic Synechococcus strains and their impact on an environmental population. J Bacteriol. 194(14):3636-42. PMID: 22563047 PDF Supporting information
Bhaya D, Davison M, Barrangou R.Bhaya D, Davison M, Barrangou R. (2011) CRISPR-Cas systems in bacteria and archaea: versatile small RNAs for adaptive defense and regulation. Ann Rev Genet 45:273-97. PMID: 22060043 PDF
Klatt CG, Wood JM, Rusch DB, Bateson MM, Hamamura N, Heidelberg JF, Grossman AR, Bhaya D, Cohan FM, Kühl M, Bryant DA, Ward DM. (2011) Community ecology of hot spring cyanobacterial mats: predominant populations and their functional potential. ISME J. 5(8):1262-78. PMID: 21697961 PDF Supporting information
Chueh BH, Li CW, Wu H, Davison M, Wei H, Bhaya D, Zare RN. (2011) Whole gene amplification and protein separation from a few cells. Anal Biochem. 411(1):64-70. PMID: 21185803 PDF
Jensen SI, Steunou AS, Bhaya D, Kühl M, Grossman AR. (2011) In situ dynamics of O2, pH and cyanobacterial transcripts associated with CCM, photosynthesis and detoxification of ROS. ISME J. 5(2):317-28. PMID: 20740024 PDF Supporting information
Nelson WC, Wollerman L, Bhaya D, Heidelberg JF. (2011) Analysis of insertion sequences in thermophilic cyanobacteria: exploring the mechanisms of establishing, maintaining, and withstanding high insertion sequence abundance. Appl Environ Microbiol. 77(15):5458-66. PMID: 21666019 PDF Supporting information
Gomez-Garcia MR, Davison M, Hartnung MB, Grossman AR, D Bhaya (2011) Alternative Pathways for Phosphonate Metabolism in Thermophilic Cyanobacteria from Microbial Mats ISME J. 5(1):141-9 PMID:20631809 PDF Supporting information
Jensen S., Steunou, A-S, Bhaya, D, Kühl M. and A.R. Grossman (2011) In situ Dynamics of O2, pH and Cyanobacterial Transcripts Associated with Inorganic Carbon Concentration, Photosynthesis and Detoxification of Reactive Oxygen Species in Hot Spring Microbial Mats ISME J 5(2):317-28 PMID:20740024 PDF Supporting information
Heidelberg J.F., W.C. Nelson, T. Schoenfeld and D. Bhaya (2009) Germ warfare in a microbial mat community: CRISPRs provide insights into the co-evolution of host and viral genomes. PloS ONE 4(1):e4169. PMID:19132092 PDF Supporting information Commentary in Faculty of 1000 Biology
Adams M, Gomez, R. Grossman A.R. and D. Bhaya (2008) Responses of thermophilic Synechococcus sp. to phosphate deprivation and growth on phosphonate. J Bacteriol. 190 (24):8171-84. Oct 17 PMID: 18931115 PDF Supporting information
Ulijasz, AT. G. Cornilescu, D. von Stetten, S. Kaminsky, M.A. Mroginski, J. Zhang, D. Bhaya, P. Hildebrandt, and R. D. Vierstra (2008) Characterization of two thermostable cyanobacterial phytochromes reveal global movements in the chromophore–binding domain during photoconversion. J. Biol. Chem. 283(30):21251-66 PMID:18480055 PDF
Burriesci M. and Bhaya D. (2008) Tracking phototactic responses and modeling motility of Synechocystis sp. strain PCC6803 J. Photochem. Photobiol. 91(2-3):77-86. Feb 13 PMID: 18343151 PDF Supporting information
Steunou A-S, Jensen S, Brecht E., Becraft E.D., Bateson, Kilian O, Bhaya D. , Ward D.M., Peters J.W., Grossman A.R., Kühl M. (2008) Regulation of nif Gene Expression and the Energetics of N2 Fixation over the Diel Cycle in a Hot Spring Microbial Mat ISME J., 2(4):364-78. PMID: 18323780 PDF Supporting information
Kilian O, Steunou A-S., Grossman A.R., Bhaya D. A novel two domain-fusion protein in cyanobacteria with similarity to the CAB/ELIP/HLIP superfamily: Evolutionary implications and regulation (2008) Molecular Plant 1;155-166 PMID: 20031922 PDF
Bhaya D., Grossman, A.R., Steunou A.S., N.Khuri, F.M. Cohan, N. Hamamura, M. C. Melendrez, M. M. Bateson, D. M. Ward, J.F. Heidelberg (2007) Genomic, metagenomic and functional analyses of cyanobacteria from hot-spring microbial mats reveal an unexpected diversity in nutrient utilization strategies ISME J: 1(8):703-13 PMID:18059494 PDF Supporting information Commentary in Faculty of 1000 Biology
Kilian O, A-S Steunou, F. Fazeli, S. Bailey, D. Bhaya, A R. Grossman: Light Responses of Thermophilic Synechococcus isolates from the Microbial Mats of Octopus Spring (2007) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 73: 4268-4278 PMID:17483258 PDF
Ward D.M., Cohan, F.M., Bhaya D., Heidelberg J.F., Kühl, M., and Grossman A.R. (2007) Genomics, Environmental Genomics and the Issue of Microbial Species. Nature Heredity 100(2):207-19 PMID: 17551524 PDF
Huang, B., Wu H., Bhaya D., Grossman A. R., Granier, S., Kobilka B.K. and Zare R. N.(2007) Counting low-copy number proteins in a single cell. Science 315: 81-84 PMID: 17204646 PDF Supporting information Faculty of 1000 Biology
Labiosa, R.G., Arrigo, K.R. Tu C.J., Bhaya D, Bay S, Grossman A.R., and J Shrager (2006) Examination of diel changes in global transcript accumulation in Synechocystis sp. Strain PCC6803: A study in photoacclimation. J Phycol. 42:622-636 PDF
Kapell A.D., Bhaya D., van Waasbergen L.G. (2006) Negative control of the high light-inducible hliA gene and implications for the activities of the NblS sensor kinase in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus strain PCC 7942. Arch. Microbiol 186:403-413 PMID: 16897032 PDF
Bhaya, D., Fazeli F, Nakasugi K.N., and Burriesci M., (2006) Phototaxis and impaired motility in adenylyl cyclase and cyclase receptor protein mutants of Synechocystis sp. Strain PCC6803 J. Bacteriol 188: 7306-7610 PMID:17015670 PDF
Steunou, A.S., Bhaya, D., Bateson, M., Melendrez, M., Ward, D., Brecht, E., Peters, J.W., Kühl, K, Grossman, A.R. (2006) In situ analysis of nitrogen fixation and metabolic switching in unicellular thermophilic cyanobacteria inhabiting a hot-spring microbial mat Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.103:2398-2407 PMID: 16467157 PDF Supporting information Commentary in Faculty of 1000 Biology
Bhaya, D., (2004) Light matters: Phototaxis and signal transduction in unicellular cyanobacteria Mol. Microbiol. 53:745-754 PMID: 15255889 PDF
Ng, W-O, Grossman A.R. and D. Bhaya (2003) Multiple light inputs control phototaxis in Synechocystis sp. Strain PCC6803. J.Bacteriol 185:1599-607 PMID: 12591877 PDF
Bhaya, D., Dufresne A., Vaulot D. and A.R.Grossman (2002): Analysis of the hli gene family in marine and freshwater cyanobacteria. FEMS Microbiol Letters. 215:209-219 PMID: 12399037 PDF
Bhaya D, Takahashi A, Shahi P., and A R. Grossman (2001) Novel motility mutants from Synechocystis PCC6803 generated by in vitro transposon mutagenesis. J. Bacteriol. 183:6140-6143 PMID:11567015 PDF
Bhaya D, Takahashi, A and A R. Grossman (2001) Light regulation of TypeIV pilus-dependent motility by chemosensor-like elements in Synechocystis PCC 6803. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.,98:7540-7545 PMID:11404477 PDF
Grossman, A. R., D. Bhaya and Q. He (2001) Tracking the light environment by cyanobacteria and the dynamic nature of light harvesting. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 276:11449-52 PMID: 11279225 PDF
Mrázek, J., D. Bhaya, A. R. Grossman and S. Karlin (2001) Highly expressed and alien genes of the Synechocystis genome. Nucleic Acids Res. 29:1590-601 PMID: 11266562 PDF
Huala, E, et al. The Arabidopsis Information Resource (TAIR) (2001): A comprehensive database and web-based information retrieval, analysis, and visualization system for a model plant. Nucleic Acids Res 29:102-105 PMID: 11125061 PDF
Bhaya, D, N. R. Bianco, D. Bryant and A. R. Grossman (2000) Type IV pilus biogenesis and motility in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. Mol. Microbiol. 37: 941-951 PMID: 10972813 PDF
Bhaya, D., D.Vaulot, P.Amin, A.W. Takahashi and A.R. Grossman (2000) Isolation of regulated genes of the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp.strain PCC6803 by differential display. J. Bacteriol. 182:5692-5699 PMID: 10077659 PDF
Bhaya, D. and A.R. Grossman (1999) The role of an alternative sigma factor in motility and pilus formation in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC6803. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 96: 3188-3193 PMID: 10077659 PDF
Bhaya, D (1996) Molecular responses of cyanobacteria to nutrient stress. Journal of Industrial Research 55: 630-637
Grossman, A.R., D. Bhaya, K.E. Apt and D.M. Kehoe (1995) Light harvesting in photosynthetic organisms: Regulation and evolution. Annu. Rev. Genet. 29: 231-288 PMID: 9512353 PDF
Dolganov, N., D. Bhaya and A.R. Grossman (1995) Cyanobacterial protein with homology to the chlorophyll a/b binding proteins of plants: Evolution and regulation. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 92: 636-640 PMID: 7831342 PDF
Srivastava, M., D. Bhaya, P. Mohanty and S. Bose (1994) Changes in the antenna size of photosystem I and photosystem II in Synechococcus PCC 7942 in the presence of Sandoz 9785, a photosystem II inhibitor. Photosyn. Res., 41: 303-313
Apt, K.E., D. Bhaya and A.R. Grossman (1994) Characterization of the genes encoding the light-harvesting proteins in diatoms: the biogenesis of the fucoxanthin-chlorophyll a/c protein complex. Journal of Applied Phycol. 6:225-230
Bhaya, D. and A.R. Grossman (1993) Characterization of gene clusters encoding the fucoxanthin chlorophyll protein of the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Nucleic Acids Res. 21: 4458-4466 PMID: 8233779 PDF
Bhaya, D. and A.R. Grossman (1991) A new route for targeting proteins into plastids: evidence from diatoms. Molec. Gen. Genet. 229: 400-404.
Ray, J., Bhaya, D., M. Block and A.R. Grossman (1991) An atypical alkaline phosphatase from Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942; gene isolation, transcription and inactivation. J. Bacteriol. 173: 4297-4309
Bhaya, D. and P.A. Castelfranco (1986) Regulation of chlorophyll and cytochrome in isolated developing plastids. Plant Physiol. 82: 960-964 PDF
Bhaya, D. and P.A. Castelfranco (1986) In vitro synthesis of chlorophyll and assembly of chlorophyll protein complexes in developing plastids of cucumber and peas. Proc. Natl. Acad Sci. U.S.A. 82: 5370-5374 PDF
Bhaya, D. and A.T. Jagendorf (1985) Alpha and beta subunits of CF1 are synthesized on the thylakoid-bound ribosomes of pea chloroplasts. Arch. Biochim. Biophys. 234: 273-278
Bhaya, D. and A.T. Jagendorf (1984) Synthesis of subunit III of the CFo on thylakoid-bound polysomes from pea chloroplasts. Plant Molec. Biol. 3:273-280
Bhaya, D and A.T. Jagendorf (1984) Optimal conditions for the translation of thylakoid-bound ribosomes from pea chloroplasts. Plant Physiol. 75: 832-838
BOOK CHAPTERS:
Bhaya D and Brahamsha B (2014) “Motility and the regulation of phototaxis in cyanobacteria” in "The Cell Biology of Cyanobacteria" pp 233-262 Eds : E. Flores & A. Herrero, Caister Academic Press. PDF
Held N, Childs L M, Davison M, Weitz, J S, Whitaker R J and Bhaya, D. (2013) “CRISPR-cas systems to probe ecological diversity and host-viral interactions” in CRISPR-Cas systems RNA-Mediated Adaptive immuinty in Bacteria and Archaea Eds R. Barrangou and J. van der Oost , Springer. PDF
Bhaya D. (2012) “Meta- and functional genomic analysis of oxygenic phototrophy in the hot springs” In “Functional Genomics and Evolution of Photosynthetic Systems”, ADVANCES IN PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND RESPIRATION Series on Photosynthesis, Springer PDF
Bhaya D. (2011)“Approaches to understanding population level functional diversity in a microbial community” Invited chapter in “Handbook of Molecular Microbial Ecology, Vol II: Metagenomics in Different Habitats”, Ed. De Bruijn, Wiley/Blackwell PDF
Bhaya, D, Levy, D., Requeijo, T. (2006) Group Dynamics of Phototaxis: Interacting Stochastic Many-Particles Systems and their Continuum Limit, in S. Benzoni-Gavage and D. Serre (Eds.), Hyperbolic Problems: Theory, Numerics, Applications'', Proceedings of the Eleventh International Conference on Hyperbolic Problems, Lyon, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, pp.145--159. PDF
Bhaya, D., R. Schwarz and A. R. Grossman (2000) “Molecular responses to environmental stresses” in “Ecology of Cyanobacteria: Their diversity in time and space” Ed. B. A. Whitton and M. Potts, Kluwer Academic Publishers Ltd. pp 397-442
Grossman, A. R., R. Schwarz, D. Bhaya and N. Dolganov (1998) Phycobilisome degradation and responses of cyanobacteria to nutrient limitation and high light. Proceedings of the XI th International Congress on Photosynthesis. Eds. G. Gareb and J. Pusztai, Kluwer Academic Publishers Ltd
Grossman. A.R., D. Bhaya and J.L. Collier (1994) Specific and general responses of cyanobacteria to macronutrient deprivation. In Cellular and Molecular Biology of Phosphate and Phosphorylated Compounds in Microorganisms. Eds. Torriani-Gorini, Yagil and Silver, ASM Press, Washington DC, USA. pp. 112-118
Bhaya, D., and P.A. Castelfranco (1986) Synthesis of chlorophyll and assembly of chlorophyll protein complexes in developing plastids. In Chloroplast Development. Ed. G. Akoyunoglou.
Databases and Bioinformatics Tools
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BioCyc
A Collection of 371 Pathway/Genome Databases -
Emboss Explorer
Bioinformatics Tools -
Galaxy @ Pasteur
Formerly Mobyle -
JGI
Joint Genome Institute -
JGI Gold
Genomes Online