[All-postdocs] Bioseminar - Steven Biller

[Ana Velez]

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Biology Department Seminar

Thursday, April 9, 2026 - 12:00 pm
Redfield Auditorium

Steven Biller
Associate Professor, Wellesley College

Extracellular Vesicles in the Marine Environment: Origins, Contents, and Ecological Functions
Extracellular vesicles are small (~20-200 nm diameter) membrane-bound structures released by most, if not all, marine microbes. Vesicles are a component of marine DOM and can contain a wide variety of secreted cellular compounds including lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, and small molecules. These particles are thought to facilitate interactions between cells and the biotic and abiotic environment, with roles in numerous processes ranging from nutrient exchanges within the microbial food web to horizontal gene transfer, modulating host-phage interactions, and facilitating extracellular enzymatic activities. While vesicles are abundant in both coastal and oligotrophic waters, our understanding of this nanoscale component of the marine environment remains in its infancy. In this talk I will provide an overview of extracellular vesicles and discuss recent progress toward elucidating their biological functions. First, I will present data quantifying the contribution of vesicles to dissolved organic carbon production by the globally abundant marine cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus and describe experiments identifying which heterotrophs can utilize this material. Next, I will discuss our efforts to characterize the diverse DNA pools found within marine vesicle populations and explore their potential contributions to marine horizontal gene transfer networks. These results add to the emerging understanding that extracellular vesicles likely mediate a complex network of transport and exchange within marine microbial communities.

If you are interested in meeting with Steve, there is a Google Doc<https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdocs.google.com%2Fspreadsheets%2Fd%2F1_pt7Pi_rRB4Eydct6f40rRbZCUUmdCIcffc5SEzcsHQ%2Fedit%3Fusp%3Dsharing&data=05%7C02%7Call-postdocs%40whoi.edu%7Ca38b192eea16458874b008de93d272b0%7Cd44c5cc6d18c46cc8abd4fdf5b6e5944%7C0%7C0%7C639110729409941526%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Wi16iqfj52olE0zDkDT3PLs7YUCAMrvB5olasw2Q8LQ%3D&reserved=0> where you can sign up for individual meetings Please sign by Tuesday E.O.B.

Biology Seminar Web Page<https://www.whoi.edu/what-we-do/understand/departments-centers-labs/bio/bio-highlights-events/>

For questions, contact:

Ana Maria Velez
Biology Pre-Award Administrative Associate
Ph: 508-289-2334
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