Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre

Professor Ulrike Kappler

Dr rer nat (Bonn)
Professor
School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences
+61 7 336 52978
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Primary research interest

Microbial physiology and biochemistry of metalloenzymes

About me

After the completion of my PhD at the University of Bonn (Germany) in 1999 I took up a postdoctoral position at UQ and subsequently, in 2003, I was offered a three year UQ Postdoctoral Fellowship which enabled me to develop my own research interests. In 2006 I was appointed to a lectureship for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UQ and from 2008-2012 I held an ARC Australian Research Fellowship. I am a Fellow of the Australian Society of Microbiology (since 2011).

Research focus and collaborations

Energy generation from inorganic compounds, including inorganic forms of sulfur, is one of the special properties of many bacteria. This process contributes significantly to the biogeochemical sulfur cycle, to the bioavailability of sulfur for plant growth in soils and to the detoxification of various volatile sulfur compounds, some of which are known to be climate active. In addition there is evidence that enzymes turning over sulfur compounds can contribute to bacterial virulence. We are interested in investigating the metabolic pathways and enzymes involved in these processes, as well as their role in these very different types of microorganisms.

Sulfite oxidizing enzymes - what makes them indispensable for living cells?

Sulfite oxidizing enzymes are found in almost all types of living cells, and especially bacteria are known to harbour a great variety of these enzymes. However, it is unknown what the metabolic role of sulfite oxidation is. We are investigating the diversity of these enzymes, the reactions catalyzed by the three structurally distinct known types of these enzymes with a view to uncovering the role of these evolutionarily old enzymes for cellular function.

Sulfur oxidizing extremophiles and biotechnological applications

Alkaliphilic sulfur oxidizing bacteria have only been discovered in the last decade, and they have a unique potential for use in biotechnological applications designed to remediate sulfur pollution in waste streams and biogas. Many of the volatile sulfur compounds that are common pollutants in industrial and municipal waste as well as by-products of biogas manufacturing processes show increased solubility at the high pH values at which these bacteria thrive. Following chemical stripping of the volatile compounds from e.g. gases, the bacteria can be used to transform them into insoluble, biogenic sulfur, which can then be removed from the process.

Metalloenzymes and bacterial pathogenesis

Metalloenzymes are involved in key energy-generating processes in living cells, and they contribute significantly to the adaptation of microorganisms to different environmental conditions. This project investigates how respiratory enzymes can aid pathogens in colonizing specific niches in the host and how these enzymes might be exploited as future drug targets.

Collaborators

My group has extensive collaborations with research groups overseas and at UQ and other Australian universities.

Funded projects

  • NHMRC Project Grant 2015-2019
    Immune recognition of upper airway microbiota in early life as a determinant of respiratory health in children
  • NHMRC Project Grant 2013-2015
    Metabolism-driven interactions of non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae and its host: a critical factor in infection?

Teaching interests

Microbiology, molecular biology and protein chemistry, general biochemistry:

  • BIOL1020, Genesm Cells & Evolution
  • MICR3003, Molecular Microbiology
  • MICR3004 Microbial Genomics
  • BIOC3005 Systems Biology.
  • BIOC3005 (Coordinator)

Achievements and awards 

  • Fellow of the Australian Society of Microbiology
  • ARC Research Fellowship
  • UQ Postdoctoral Fellowship
  • Chair of the ASM Qld branch committee
  • Member of the ASM National Council
  • Grant panel member NHMRC (2016 & 2017)
  • Review Editor for Frontiers in Microbiology

Featured publications

Publications by Ulrike Kappler

Researcher biography

Associate Professor Kappler (ORCiD: 0000-0002-2642-1319) is Group Leader in the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences at UQ, and Chair of the Metals in Biology group. She held an ARC Australian Fellowship (2008-12) and has proven expertise in managing research projects funded by ARC & NHMRC project grants (>$2.5 million) as well as funding from other agencies. A/Prof. Kappler has > 20 years experience in bacterial physiology and the investigation of enzyme function and metabolic pathways in a wide variety of bacteria, with a particular focus on bacterial sulfur metabolism. Over the past ~10 years she has developed an extensive program of research on the physiology and pathogenesis of the human respiratory pathogen Haemophilus influenzae. Her laboratory is investigating the role of H. influenzae metabolism for host-pathogen interactions, as well as molecular defences against antimicrobials produced by the human immune system (publications: Front. Microbiol., 2015, 2016, 2021, Res. Microbiol. 2018, Adv. Microb. Physiol. 2019, 2xACS Infect. Dis. 2020) Her research has contributed to the development of a novel model of H. influenzae infection that is based on primary human nasal cells differentiated at Air-Liquid Interface.

A/ Prof. Kappler is regularly invited to present her work at international conferences (GRCs, MoTec, EMBO Microbial Sulfur Metabolism, Biometals), and has extensive expertise in the successful supervision of research students and has graduated 10 PhD, 24 Masters and 28 Honors students. She has been the Chair of the UQ Institutional Biosafety Subcommittee (2018-2021), and is the current Chair of the Australian Society for Microbiology (ASM) Queensland branch committee and a member of the ASM national council.

Publications

Book Chapters (7)
Journal Articles (92)
Conference Papers (19)

Book Chapters

West, J., Veenstra, A., Kappler, U., Pedwell, R., Cheung, S., O'Sullivan, L. and Rowland, S. (2019). Chapter 3: implementing an ALURE. Engaging undergraduate students in authentic science research: a large-scale approach. (pp. 15-22) edited by Susan Rowland, Gwendolyn Lawrie and Rhianna Pedwell. Hammondville, NSW Australia: Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia.
Kappler, Ulrike and Schwarz, Guenter (2017). The sulfite oxidase family of molybdenum enzymes. Molybdenum and tungsten enzymes: biochemistry. (pp. 240-273) edited by Russ Hille, Carola Schulzke and Martin L. Kirk. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Royal Society of Chemistry. doi: 10.1039/9781782623915-00240
Kappler, Ulrike and Schäfer, Hendrik (2014). Transformations of dimethylsulfide. The Metal-Driven Biogeochemistry of Gaseous Compounds in the Environment. (pp. 279-313) edited by Peter M.H. Kroneck and Martha E. Sosa Torres. Hoboken, NJ, United States: John Wiley and Sons . doi: 10.1007/978-94-017-9269-1_11
Hurse, T. J., Kappler, U. and Keller, J. (2008). Using anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria for the removal of sulfide from wastewater. Sulfur Metabolism in Phototrophic Organisms. (pp. 437-460) edited by Hell, R., Dahl, C., Knaff, D. and Leustek, T.. The Netherlands: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4020-6863-8_22
Kappler, U. (2008). Bacterial Sulfite-Oxidizing Enzymes - enzymes for Chemolithotrophs Only?. Microbial Sulfur Metabolism. (pp. 151-166) edited by Dahl, C. and Friedrich, C.. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.
McEwan, A. G., Kappler, U. and Mc Devitt, C. (2004). Microbial molybdenum-containing enzymes in respiration: Structural and functional aspects. Respiration in Archaea and Bacteria. (pp. 176-202) edited by D. Zannoni. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Kluwer.
Kappler, Ulrike and Maher, Megan J. (2004). SoxAX Cytochromes. Encyclopedia of Inorganic and Bioinorganic Chemistry. (pp. 1-11) Chichester, United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/9781119951438.eibc2169

Journal Articles

Kappler, Ulrike, Henningham, Anna, Nasreen, Marufa, Yamamoto, Ayaho, Buultjens, Andrew H., Stinear, Timothy P., Sly, Peter and Fantino, Emmanuelle (2024). Tolerance to Haemophilus influenzae infection in human epithelial cells: Insights from a primary cell-based model. PLoS Pathogens, 20 (7) e1012282, e1012282. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012282
Phan, Minh-Duy, Schirra, Horst Joachim, Nhu, Nguyen Thi Khanh, Peters, Kate M., Sarkar, Sohinee, Allsopp, Luke P., Achard, Maud E. S., Kappler, Ulrike and Schembri, Mark A. (2024). Combined functional genomic and metabolomic approaches identify new genes required for growth in human urine by multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli ST131. mBio, 15 (3), e0338823. doi: 10.1128/mbio.03388-23
Ganio, Katherine, Nasreen, Marufa, Yang, Zihao, Maunders, Eve A., Luo, Zhenyao, Hossain, Sheikh Imamul, Ngu, Dalton H. Y., Ellis, Daniel, Gu, Jin, Neville, Stephanie L., Wilksch, Jonathan, Gunn, Adam P., Whittall, Jonathan J., Kobe, Boštjan, Deplazes, Evelyne, Kappler, Ulrike and McDevitt, Christopher A. (2024). Hfe permease and Haemophilus influenzae manganese homeostasis. ACS Infectious Diseases, 10 (2), 436-452. doi: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00407
Hosmer, Jennifer, McEwan, Alastair G and Kappler, Ulrike (2024). Bacterial acetate metabolism and its influence on human epithelia. Emerging Topics in Life Sciences, 8 (1), 1-13. doi: 10.1042/ETLS20220092
Nasreen, Marufa, Ellis, Daniel, Hosmer, Jennifer, Essilfie, Ama-Tawiah, Fantino, Emmanuelle, Sly, Peter, McEwan, Alastair G. and Kappler, Ulrike (2024). The DmsABC S-oxide reductase is an essential component of a novel, hypochlorite-inducible system of extracellular stress defense in Haemophilus influenzae. Frontiers in Microbiology, 15 1359513. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1359513
Song, Young C., Holland, Sophie I., Lee, Matthew, Chen, Gao, Zaugg, Julian, Löffler, Frank E., Manefield, Michael J., Hugenholtz, Philip and Kappler, Ulrike (2023). Corrigendum: 'A comparative genome analysis of the Bacillota (Firmicutes) class Dehalobacteriia'. Microbial Genomics, 9 (8) 001092. doi: 10.1099/mgen.0.001092
Buan, Nicole R. and Kappler, Ulrike (2023). Editorial: Rising stars in microbial physiology and metabolism: 2022. Frontiers in Microbiology, 14 1254900, 1-2. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1254900
Kappler, Ulrike and Wang, Jack T. H. (2023). Exploring the utility of virtual laboratory training tools. Microbiology Australia, 44 (3), 149-151. doi: 10.1071/ma23043
Song, Young C., Holland, Sophie I., Lee, Matthew, Chen, Gao, Löffler, Frank E., Manefield, Michael J., Hugenholtz, Philip and Kappler, Ulrike (2023). A comparative genome analysis of the Bacillota (Firmicutes) class Dehalobacteriia. Microbial Genomics, 9 (6) 001039, 1-15. doi: 10.1099/mgen.0.001039
Mukhopadhyay, Biswarup, Kappler, Ulrike, Potrykus, Katarzyna, Zhao, Xinqing and Welte, Cornelia (2022). Editorial: Insights in microbial physiology and metabolism: 2021. Frontiers in Microbiology, 13 1054708, 1054708. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1054708
Wizrah, Maha S. I., Chua, Sheena M. H., Luo, Zhenyao, Manik, Mohammad K., Pan, Mengqi, Whyte, Jessica M. L., Robertson, Avril A. B., Kappler, Ulrike, Kobe, Bostjan and Fraser, James A. (2022). AICAR transformylase/IMP cyclohydrolase (ATIC) is essential for de novo purine biosynthesis and infection by Cryptococcus neoformans. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 298 (10) 102453, 102453. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102453
Nasreen, Marufa, Nair, Remya Purushothaman, McEwan, Alastair G. and Kappler, Ulrike (2022). The peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase (MsrAB) of Haemophilus influenzae repairs oxidatively damaged outer membrane and periplasmic proteins involved in nutrient acquisition and virulence. Antioxidants, 11 (8) 1557, 1-18. doi: 10.3390/antiox11081557
Hosmer, Jennifer, Nasreen, Marufa, Dhouib, Rabeb, Essilfie, Ama-Tawiah, Schirra, Horst Joachim, Henningham, Anna, Fantino, Emmanuelle, Sly, Peter, McEwan, Alastair G. and Kappler, Ulrike (2022). Access to highly specialized growth substrates and production of epithelial immunomodulatory metabolites determine survival of Haemophilus influenzae in human airway epithelial cells. PLoS Pathogens, 18 (1) e1010209, e1010209. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010209
Chua, Sheena M. H., Wizrah, Maha S. I., Luo, Zhenyao, Lim, Bryan Y. J., Kappler, Ulrike, Kobe, Bostjan and Fraser, James A. (2021). Structural features of Cryptococcus neoformans bifunctional GAR/AIR synthetase may present novel antifungal drug targets. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 297 (4) 101091. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101091
Kappler, Ulrike (2021). Metals, Microbes, and Minerals: The Biogeochemical Side of Life. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 221 111488, 111488. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2021.111488
Dhouib, Rabeb, Nasreen, Marufa, Othman, Dk Seti Maimonah Pg, Ellis, Daniel, Lee, Simon, Essilfie, Ama-Tawiah, Hansbro, Philip M., McEwan, Alastair G. and Kappler, Ulrike (2021). The DmsABC sulfoxide reductase supports virulence in non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae. Frontiers in Microbiology, 12 686833, 686833. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.686833
Borlinghaus, Jan, Foerster Née Reiter, Jana, Kappler, Ulrike, Antelmann, Haike, Noll, Ulrike, Gruhlke, Martin C.H. and Slusarenko, Alan J. (2021). Allicin, the odor of freshly crushed garlic: a review of recent progress in understanding allicin's effects on cells. Molecules, 26 (6) 1505, 1-22. doi: 10.3390/molecules26061505
Nasreen, Marufa, Fletcher, Aidan, Hosmer, Jennifer, Zhong, Qifeng, Essilfie, Ama-Tawiah, McEwan, Alastair G. and Kappler, Ulrike (2021). The alternative sigma factor RpoE2 Is involved in the stress response to hypochlorite and in vivo survival of Haemophilus influenzae. Frontiers in Microbiology, 12 637213, 637213. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.637213
Struwe, Michel A., Kalimuthu, Palraj, Luo, Zhenyao, Zhong, Qifeng, Ellis, Daniel, Yang, Jing, Khadanand, K.C., Harmer, Jeffrey R., Kirk, Martin L., McEwan, Alastair G., Clement, Bernd, Bernhardt, Paul V., Kobe, Bostjan and Kappler, Ulrike (2021). Active site architecture reveals coordination sphere flexibility and specificity determinants in a group of closely related molybdoenzymes. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 296 100672, 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100672
Kappler, Ulrike (2021). Science meets Parliament 2021. Microbiology Australia, 42 (2), 100-100. doi: 10.1071/ma21028
Zhong, Qifeng, Kobe, Bostjan and Kappler, Ulrike (2020). Molybdenum enzymes and how they support virulence in pathogenic bacteria. Frontiers in Microbiology, 11 615860, 1-23. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.615860
Nasreen, Marufa, Dhouib, Rabeb, Hosmer, Jennifer, Wijesinghe, Hewa Godage Sithija, Fletcher, Aidan, Mahawar, Manish, Essilfie, Ama-Tawiah, Blackall, Patrick J., McEwan, Alastair G. and Kappler, Ulrike (2020). Peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase from Haemophilus influenzae is required for protection against HOCl and affects the host response to infection. ACS Infectious Diseases, 6 (7), 1928-1939. doi: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00242
López-López, Nahikari, Euba, Begoña, Hill, Julian, Dhouib, Rabeb, Caballero, Lucı A, Leiva, José, Hosmer, Jennifer, Cuesta, Sergio, Ramos-Vivas, José, Díez-Martínez, Roberto, Schirra, Horst Joachim, Blank, Lars M., Kappler, Ulrike and Garmendia, Junkal (2020). Haemophilus influenzae glucose catabolism leading to production of the immunometabolite acetate has a key contribution to the host airway-pathogen interplay. ACS Infectious Diseases, 6 (3), 406-421. doi: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.9b00359
Kappler, Ulrike, Nasreen, Marufa and McEwan, Alastair (2019). New insights into the molecular physiology of sulfoxide reduction in bacteria. Advances in Microbial Physiology, 75, 1-51. doi: 10.1016/bs.ampbs.2019.05.001
Tan, Yi Jie Chelsea, Zhao, Chengzhi, Nasreen, Marufa, O'Rourke, Leo, Dhouib, Rabeb, Roberts, Leah, Wan, Ying, Beatson, Scott A. and Kappler, Ulrike (2019). Control of bacterial sulfite detoxification by conserved and species-specific regulatory circuits. Frontiers in Microbiology, 10 (MAY) 960, 960. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00960
Muda, Noor Marian, Nasreen, Marufa, Dhouib, Rabeb, Hosmer, Jennifer, Hill, Julian, Mahawar, Manish, Schirra, Horst Joachim, McEwan, Alastair G. and Kappler, Ulrike (2019). Metabolic analyses reveal common adaptations in two invasive Haemophilus influenzae strains. Pathogens and Disease, 77 (2) ftz015. doi: 10.1093/femspd/ftz015
Kummari, Lalith K., Butler, Mark S., Furlong, Emily, Blundell, Ross, Nouwens, Amanda, Silva, Alberto B., Kappler, Ulrike, Fraser, James A., Kobe, Bostjan, Cooper, Matthew A. and Robertson, Avril A.B. (2018). Antifungal benzo[b]thiophene 1,1-dioxide IMPDH inhibitors exhibit pan-assay interference (PAINS) profiles. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, 26 (20), 5408-5419. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2018.09.004
Hsiao, Ju-Chun, McGrath, Aaron P., Kielmann, Linda, Kalimuthu, Palraj, Darain, Farzana, Bernhardt, Paul V., Harmer, Jeffrey, Lee, Mihwa, Meyers, Kimberley, Maher, Megan J. and Kappler, Ulrike (2018). The central active site arginine in sulfite oxidizing enzymes alters kinetic properties by controlling electron transfer and redox interactions. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Bioenergetics, 1859 (1), 19-27. doi: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2017.10.001
Kalimuthu, Palraj, Hsiao, Ju-Chun, Nair, Remya Purushothaman, Kappler, Ulrike and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2017). Bioelectrocatalysis of sulfite dehydrogenase from Sinorhizobium meliloti with its physiological cytochrome electron partner. ChemElectroChem, 4 (12), 3163-3170. doi: 10.1002/celc.201700838
Chitty, Jessica L., Blake, Kirsten L., Blundell, Ross D., Koh, Y. Q. Andre E., Thompson, Merinda, Robertson, Avril A. B., Butler, Mark S., Cooper, Matthew A., Kappler, Ulrike, Williams, Simon J., Kobe, Bostjan and Fraser, James A. (2017). Cryptococcus neoformans ADS lyase is an enzyme essential for virulence whose crystal structure reveals features exploitable in antifungal drug design. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 292 (28), 11829-11839. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M117.787994
Kappler, Ulrike, Rowland, Susan L. and Pedwell, Rhianna K. (2017). A unique large-scale undergraduate research experience in molecular systems biology for non-mathematics majors. Biochemistry and Molecular Biolody Education, 45 (3), 235-248. doi: 10.1002/bmb.21033
Li, Xuan, Kappler, Ulrike, Jiang, Guangming and Bond, Philip L. (2017). The ecology of acidophilic microorganisms in the corroding concrete sewer environment. Frontiers in Microbiology, 8 (APR) 683, 683. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00683
Ang, Wee Kiong, Mahbob, Maisarah, Dhouib, Rabeb and Kappler, Ulrike (2017). Sulfur compound oxidation and carbon co-assimilation in the haloalkaliphilic sulfur oxidizers Thioalkalivibrio versutus and Thioalkalimicrobium aerophilum. Research in Microbiology, 168 (3), 255-265. doi: 10.1016/j.resmic.2016.12.004
Kappler, Ulrike, Dhouib, Rabeb, Nair, Remya Purushothaman and McEwan, Alastair G. (2017). Draft genome sequences of three nontypeable strains of Haemophilus influenzae, C188, R535, and 1200, isolated from different types of disease. Genome Announcements, 5 (12) e00035-17, e00035-17. doi: 10.1128/genomeA.00035-17
Chitty, Jessica L., Tatzenko, Tayla L. , Williams, Simon J., Koh, Y. Q. Andre E., Corfield, Elizabeth C., Butler, Mark S., Robertson, Avril A. B., Cooper, Matthew A., Kappler, Ulrike, Kobe, Bostjan and Fraser, James A. (2017). GMP synthase is required for virulence factor production and infection by cryptococcus neoformans. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 292 (7), 3049-3059. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M116.767533
Dhouib, Rabeb, Othman, Dk. Seti Maimonah Pg, Lin, Victor, Lai, Xuanjie J., Wijesinghe, Hewa G. S., Essilfie, Ama-Tawiah, Davis, Amanda, Nasreen, Marufa, Bernhardt, Paul V., Hansbro, Philip M., McEwan, Alastair G. and Kappler, Ulrike (2016). A novel, molybdenum-containing methionine sulfoxide reductase supports survival of Haemophilus influenzae in an in vivo model of infection. Frontiers in Microbiology, 7 (NOV) 1743, 1743. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.01743
Blundell, Ross D., Williams, Simon J., Arras, Samantha D. M., Chitty, Jessica L., Blake, Kirsten L., Ericsson, Daniel J., Tibrewal, Nidhi, Rohr, Jurgen, Koh, Y. Q. Andre, Kappler, Ulrike, Robertson, Avril A. B., Butler, Mark S., Cooper, Matthew A., Kobe, Bostjan and Fraser, James A. (2016). Disruption of de novo adenosine triphosphate (ATP) biosynthesis abolishes virulence in Cryptococcus neoformans. ACS Infectious Diseases, 2 (9), 651-663. doi: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.6b00121
Kappler, Ulrike, Davenport, Karen, Beatson, Scott, Lapidus, Alla, Pan, Chongle, Han, Cliff, Montero-Calasanz, Maria del Carmen, Land, Miriam, Hauser, Loren, Rohde, Manfred, Goeker, Markus, Ivanova, Natalia, Woyke, Tanja, Klenk, Hans-Peter and Kyrpides, Nikos C. (2016). Complete genome sequence of the haloalkaliphilic, obligately chemolithoautotrophic thiosulfate and sulfide-oxidizing γ-proteobacterium Thioalkalimicrobium cyclicum type strain ALM 1 (DSM 14477T). Standards in Genomic Sciences, 11 (38) 38, 1-12. doi: 10.1186/s40793-016-0162-x
Kilmartin, James R., Bernhardt, Paul V., Dhouib, Rabeb, Hanson, Graeme R., Riley, Mark J. and Kappler, Ulrike (2016). Effects of mutations in active site heme ligands on the spectroscopic and catalytic properties of SoxAX cytochromes. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 162, 309-318. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2016.04.015
McGrath, Aaron P., Laming, Elise L., Casas Garcia, G. Patricia, Kvansakul, Marc, Guss, J. Mitchell, Trewhella, Jill, Calmes, Benoit, Bernhardt, Paul V.,, Hanson, Graeme R.,, Kappler, Ulrike and Maher, Megan J. (2015). Structural basis of interprotein electron transfer in bacterial sulfite oxidation. eLife, 4 (e09066) e09066, 1-26. doi: 10.7554/eLife.09066
Dhouib, Rabeb, Othman, Dk S. M. Pg, Essilfie, Ama-Tawiah, Hansbro, Phil M., Hanson, Jeffrey O., McEwan, Alastair G. and Kappler, Ulrike (2015). Maturation of molybdoenzymes and its influence on the pathogenesis of non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae. Frontiers in Microbiology, 6 (1219) 1219, 1-11. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01219
Chen, Kuan I., Challinor, Victoria L., Kielmann, Linda, Sharpe, Philip C., De Voss, James J., Kappler, Ulrike, McEwan, Alastair G. and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2014). Electrochemically mediated enantioselective reduction of chiral sulfoxides. Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, 20 (2), 395-402. doi: 10.1007/s00775-014-1215-5
Safni, Irda, Cleenwerk, Ilse, De Vos, Paul, Fegan, Mark, Sly, Lindsay and Kappler, Ulrike (2014). Polyphasic taxonomic revision of the Ralstonia solanacearum species complex: proposal to emend the descriptions of R. solanacearum and R. syzygii and reclassify current R. syzygii strains as Ralstonia syzygii subsp. syzygii , R. solanacearum phylotype IV. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 64 (9), 3087-3103. doi: 10.1099/ijs.0.066712-0
Kappler, Ulrike and Enemark, John H. (2014). Sulfite-oxidizing enzymes. Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, 20 (2), 253-264. doi: 10.1007/s00775-014-1197-3
Kalimuthu, Palraj, Kappler, Ulrike and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2014). Catalytic voltammetry of the molybdoenzyme sulfite dehydrogenase from sinorhizobium meliloti. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 118 (25), 7091-7099. doi: 10.1021/jp503963z
Othman, Dk Seti Maimonah Pg, Schirra, Horst, McEwan, Alastair G. and Kappler, Ulrike (2014). Metabolic versatility in Haemophilus influenzae: a metabolomic and genomic analysis. Frontiers in Microbiology, 5 (MAR) 69, 69.1-69.10. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00069
Kalimuthu, Palraj, Heath, Matthew D., Santini, Joanne M., Kappler, Ulrike and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2014). Electrochemically driven catalysis of Rhizobium sp. NT-26 arsenite oxidase with its native electron acceptor cytochrome C552. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1837 (1), 112-120. doi: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2013.07.010
Kappler, Ulrike and Nouwens, Amanda S. (2013). Metabolic adaptation and trophic strategies of soil bacteria--C1- metabolism and sulfur chemolithotrophy in Starkeya novella. Frontiers in Microbiology, 4 (304), 1-12. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2013.00304
Warelow, Thomas P., Oke, Muse, Schoepp-Cothenet, Barbara, Dahl, Jan U., Bruselat, Nicole, Sivalingam, Ganesh N., Leimkühler, Silke, Thalassinos, Konstantinos, Kappler, Ulrike, Naismith, James H. and Santini, Joanne M. (2013). The respiratory arsenite oxidase: structure and the role of residues surrounding the Rieske cluster. PLoS ONE, 8 (8) e72535, e72535. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0072535
Atack, John M., Srikhanta, Yogitha N., Djoko, Karrera Y., Welch, Jessica P., Hasri, Norain H. M., Steichen, Christopher T., Vanden Hoven, Rachel N., Grimmond, Sean M., Othman, Dk Seti Maimonah Pg, Kappler, Ulrike, Apicella, Michael A., Jennings, Michael P., Edwards, Jennifer L. and McEwan, Alastair G. (2013). Characterisation of an ntrX mutant of Neisseria gonorrhoeae reveals a response regulator that controls expression of respiratory enzymes in oxidase-positive proteobacteria. Journal of Bacteriology, 195 (11), 2632-2641. doi: 10.1128/JB.02062-12
Kappler, Ulrike and Maher, Megan J. (2013). The bacterial SoxAX cytochromes. Cellular and Molecular Life Science, 70 (6), 977-992. doi: 10.1007/s00018-012-1098-y
Kappler, Ulrike and Nouwens, Amanda S. (2013). The molybdoproteome of Starkeya novella - insights into the diversity and functions of molybdenum containing proteins in response to changing growth conditions. Metallomics, 5 (4), 325-334. doi: 10.1039/C2MT20230A
Morrow, Carl A., Valkov, Eugene, Stamp, Anna, Chow, Eve W. L., Lee, I. Russel, Wronski, Ania, Williams, Simon J., Hill, Justine M., Djordjevic, Julianne T., Kappler, Ulrke, Kobe, Bostjan and Fraser, James A. (2012). De novo GTP biosynthesis is critical for virulence of the fungal pathogen cryptococcus neoformans. PLoS Pathogens, 8 (10) e1002957, e1002957. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002957
Kappler, Ulrike, Davenport, Karen, Beatson, Scott, Lucas, Susan, Lapidus, Alla, Copeland, Alex, Berry, Kerrie W., Del Rio, Tijana Glavina, Hammon, Nancy, Dalin, Eileen, Tice, Hope, Pitluck, Sam, Richardson, Paul, Bruce, David, Goodwin, Lynne A., Han, Cliff, Tapia, Roxanne, Detter, John C., Chang, Yun-juan, Jeffries, Cynthia D., Land, Miriam, Hauser, Loren, Kyrpides, Nikos C., Goeker, Markus, Ivanova, Natalia, Klenk, Hans-Peter and Woyke, Tanja (2012). Complete genome sequence of the facultatively chemolithoautotrophic and methylotrophic alpha Proteobacterium Starkeya novella type strain (ATCC 8093(T)). Standards in Genomic Sciences, 7 (1), 44-58. doi: 10.4056/sigs.3006378
Laming, Elise M., McGrath, Aaron P., Guss, J. Mitchell, Kappler, Ulrike and Maher, Megan J. (2012). The X-ray crystal structure of a pseudoazurin from Sinorhizobium meliloti. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 115, 148-154. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2012.04.005
Kilmartin, James R., Maher, Megan J., Krusong, Kuakarun, Noble, Christopher J., Hanson, Graeme R., Bernhardt, Paul V., Riley, Mark J. and Kappler, Ulrike (2011). Insights into structure and function of the active site of SoxAX cytochromes. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 286 (28), 24872-24881. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110.212183
Low, Louie, Kilmartin, James Ryan, Bernhardt, Paul V. and Kappler, Ulrike (2011). How are "atypical" sulfite deydrogenases linked to cell metabolism? Interactions between the SorT sulfite dehydrogenase and small redox proteins. Frontiers in Microbiology, 2 (MAR), 58-1-58-10. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2011.00058
Rapson, TD, Kappler, U, Hanson, GR and Bernhardt, PV (2011). Short circuiting a sulfite oxidising enzyme with direct electrochemistry: Active site substitutions and their effect on catalysis and electron transfer. Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta-bioenergetics, 1807 (1), 108-118. doi: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2010.09.005
Kappler, Ulrike (2011). Bacterial sulfite-oxidizing enzymes. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Bioenergetics, 1807 (1), 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2010.09.004
Kalimuthu, Palraj, Tkac, Jan, Kappler, Ulrike, Davis, Jason J. and Bernhardt, Paul V, (2010). Highly Sensitive and Stable Electrochemical Sulfite Biosensor Incorporating a Bacterial Sulfite Dehydrogenase. Analytical Chemistry, 82 (17), 7374-7379. doi: 10.1021/ac101493y
Rapson, Trevor D., Astashkin, Andrei V., Johnson-Winters, Kayunta, Bernhardt, Paul V., Kappler, Ulrike, Raitsimring, Arnold M. and Enemark, John H. (2010). Pulsed EPR investigations of the Mo(V) centers of the R55Q and R55M variants of sulfite dehydrogenase from Starkeya novella. Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, 15 (4), 505-514. doi: 10.1007/s00775-009-0619-0
Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Kappler, Ulrike, McEwan, Alastair G. and Sly, Lindsay I. (2009). Probing the archaeal diversity of a mixed thermophilic bioleaching culture by TGGE and FISH. Systematic and Applied Microbiology, 32 (7), 501-513. doi: 10.1016/j.syapm.2009.06.001
Wilson, Jeremy and Kappler, Ulrike (2009). Sulfite oxidation in Sinorhizobium meliloti. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1787 (12), 1516-1525. doi: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2009.07.005
Astashkin, Andrei V., Klein, Eric L., Ganyushin, Dmitry, Johnson-Winters, Kayunta, Neese, Frank, Kappler, Ulrike and Enemark, John H. (2009). Exchangeable oxygens in the vicinity of the molybdenum center of the high-pH form of sulfite oxidase and sulfite dehydrogenase. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 11 (31), 6733-6742. doi: 10.1039/b907029j
Emesh, Safia, Rapson, Trevor D., Rajapakshe, Asha, Kappler, Ulrike, Bernhardt, Paul V., Tollin, Gordon and Enemark, John H. (2009). Intramolecular electron transfer in sulfite-oxidizing enzymes: Elucidating the role of a conserved active site arginine. Biochemistry, 48 (10), 2156-2163. doi: 10.1021/bi801553q
Bailey, Susan, Rapson, Trevor, Johnson-Winters, Kayunta, Atashkin, Andrei V., Enemark, John H. and Kappler, Ulrike (2009). Molecular basis for enzymatic sulfite oxidation: How three conserved active site residues shape enzyme activity. The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 284 (4), 2053-2063. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M807718200
Kappler, U., Bernhardt, P.V., Kilmartin, J., Riley, M.J., Teschner, J., McKenzie, K.J. and Hanson, G.R. (2008). SoxAX cytochromes, a new type of heme copper protein involved in bacterial energy generation from sulfur compounds. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 283 (32), 22206-22214. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M800315200
Rapson, Trevor D., Kappler, Ulrike and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2008). Direct catalytic electrochemistry of sulfite dehydrogenase: Mechanistic insights and contrasts with related Mo enzymes. Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta-bioenergetics, 1777 (10), 1319-1325. doi: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2008.06.005
Badrick, Alison C., Hamilton, Amanda J., Bernhardt, Paul V., Jones, Christopher E., Kappler, Ulrike, Jennings, Michael P. and McEwan, Alastair G. (2007). PrrC, a Sco homologue from Rhodobacter sphaeroides, possesses thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase activity. FEBS Letters, 581 (24), 4663-4667. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2007.08.058
Mikkelsen, D., Kappler, U., Webb, R. I., Rasch, R., McEwan, A. G. and Sly, L. I. (2007). Visualisation of pyrite leaching by selected thermophilic archaea: nature of microorganism-ore interactions during bioleaching. Hydrometallurgy, 88 (1-4), 143-153. doi: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2007.02.013
Santini, J. M., Kappler, U., Ward, S. A., Honeychurch, M. J., vanden Hoven, R. N. and Bernhardt, P. V. (2007). The NT-26 cytochrome c552 and its role in arsenite oxidation. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1767 (2), 189-196. doi: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2007.01.009
Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Kappler, Ulrike, McEwan, Alastair G. and Sly, Lindsay I. (2006). Archaeal diversity in two thermophilic chalcopyrite bioleaching reactors. Environmental Microbiology, 8 (11), 2050-2055. doi: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2005.01115.x
Bertling, K., Hurse, T. J., Kappler, U. and Rakic, A. D. (2006). Lasers - An effective artificial source of radiation for the cultivation of anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 94 (2), 337-345. doi: 10.1002/bit.20881
Enemark, JH, Astashkin, AV, Feng, CJ, Kappler, U, Raitsimring, AM, Neese, F, Bultman, E and Cooney, JJA (2006). Pulsed EPR investigations of the molybdenum centers of sulfite oxidizing enzymes and related model compounds. Abstracts of Papers of The American Chemical Society, 231
Doonan, C. J., Kappler, U. and George, G. N. (2006). Structure of the active site of sulfite dehydrogenase from Starkeya novella. Inorganic Chemistry, 45 (18), 7488-7492. doi: 10.1021/ic0607944
Kappler, U., Bailey, S., Feng, C., Honeychurch, M. J., Hanson, G. R., Bernhardt, P. V., Tollin, G. and Enemark, J. H. (2006). Kinetic and structural evidence for the importance of Tyr236 for the integrity of the Mo active site in a bacterial sulfite dehydrogenase. Biochemistry, 45 (32), 9696-9705. doi: 10.1021/bi060058b
Kappler, Ulrike, Hanson, Graeme R., Jones, Alun and McEwan, Alastair G. (2005). A recombinant diheme SoxAX cytochrome - Implications for the relationship between EPR signals and modified heme-ligands. Febs Letters, 579 (11), 2491-2498. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2005.03.060
McCrindle, S. L., Kappler, U. and McEwan, A. G. (2005). Microbial dimethylsulfoxide and trimethylamine-N-oxide respiration. Advances In Microbial Physiology, Vol 50, 50, 147-198. doi: 10.1016/S0065-2911(05)50004-3
Raitsimring, A. M.., Kappler, U., Feng, C. J., Astashkin, A. V. and Enemark, J. H. (2005). Pulsed EPR studies of a bacterial sulfite-oxidizing enzyme with pH-invariant hyperfine interactions from exchangeable protons. Inorganic Chemistry, 44 (21), 7283-7285. doi: 10.1021/ic0509534
Kappler, U., Sly, L. I. and McEwan, A. G. (2005). Respiratory gene clusters of Metallosphaera sedula - differential expression and transcriptional organization. Microbiology-sgm, 151 (Part 1), 35-43. doi: 10.1099/mic.0.27515-0
Kappler, U. and Bailey, S. (2005). Molecular basis of intramolecular electron transfer in sulfite-oxidizing enzymes is revealed by high resolution structure of a heterodimeric complex of the catalytic molybdopterin subunit and a c-type cytochrome subunit. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 280 (26), 24999-25007. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M503237200
Kappler, U. and Bailey, S. (2004). Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of sulfite dehydrogenase from Stargeya novella. Acta Crystallographica Section D: Biological Crystallography, 60 (11), 2070-2072. doi: 10.1107/S0907444904022395
Kappler, U., Aguey-Zinsou, K. F., Hanson, G. R., Bernhardt, P. V. and McEwan, A. G. (2004). Cytochrome c(551) from Starkeya novella - Characterization, spectroscopic properties, and phylogeny of a diheme protein of the SoxAX family. The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 279 (8), 6252-6260. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M310644200
Feng, Changjian, Kappler, Ulrike, Tollin, Gordon and Enemark, John H. (2003). Intramolecular electron transfer in a bacterial sulfite dehydrogenase. Journal of The American Chemical Society, 125 (48), 14696-14697. doi: 10.1021/ja038197t
Aguey-Zinsou, Kondo-Francois, Bernhardt, Paul. V., Kappler, Ulrike and McEwan, Alastair G. (2003). Direct electrochemistry of a bacterial sulfite dehydrogenase. Journal of The American Chemical Society, 125 (2), 530-535. doi: 10.1021/ja028293e
Kappler, U. and McEwan, A. G. (2002). A system for the heterologous expression of complex redox proteins in Rhodobacter capsulatus: characterisation of recombinant sulphite : cytochrome c oxidoreductase from Starkeya novella. Febs Letters, 529 (2-3), 208-214. doi: 10.1016/S0014-5793(02)03344-6
Kappler, U., Huston, W. M. and McEwan, A. G. (2002). Control of dimethylsulfoxide reductase expression in Rhodobacter capsulatus: the role of carbon metabolites and the response regulators DorR and RegA. Microbiology-sgm, 148 (2), 605-614. doi: 10.1099/00221287-148-2-605
Kappler, U. and Dahl, C. (2001). Enzymology and molecular biology of prokaryotic sulfite oxidation. Fems Microbiology Letters, 203 (1), 1-9. doi: 10.1016/S0378-1097(01)00304-4
Sperling, Detlef, Kappler, Ulrike, Truper, Hans G. and Dahl, Christiane (2001). Dissimilatory ATP sulfurylase from Archaeoglobus fulgidus. Methods in Enzymology, 331, 419-427. doi: 10.1016/s0076-6879(01)31073-x
Kappler, U., Friedrich, C. G., Truper, H. G. and Dahl, C. (2001). Evidence for two pathways of thiosulfate oxidation in Starkeya novella (formerly Thiobacillus novellus). Archives of Microbiology, 175 (2), 102-111. doi: 10.1007/s002030000241
Kappler, U, Bennett, B, Rethmeier, J, Schwarz, G, Deutzmann, R, McEwan, AG and Dahl, C (2000). Sulfite : Cytochrome c oxidoreductase from Thiobacillus novellus - Purification, characterization, and molecular biology of a heterodimeric member of the sulfite oxidase family. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 275 (18), 13202-13212. doi: 10.1074/jbc.275.18.13202
Sperling, Detlef, Kappler, Ulrike, Wynen, Astrid, Dahl, Christiane and Trüper, Hans G. (1998). Dissimilatory ATP sulfurylase from the hyperthermophilic sulfate reducer Archaeoglobus fulgidus belongs to the group of homo-oligomeric ATP sulfurylases. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 162 (2), 257-264. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1998.tb13007.x

Conference Papers

Garmendia Garcia, Juncal, Lopez-Lopez, Nahikari, Euba, Begona, Almagro, Goizeder, Marti, Sara, Ramos-Vivas, Jose, Pozueta-Romero, Javier, Barbier, Marlette, Diez-Martinez, Roberto and Kappler, Ulrike (2019). Glucose catabolism by respiration assisted fermentation leading to acetate production has a key contribution to chronic patient airway infection by Haemophilus influenzae. European-Respiratory-Society (ERS) International Congress, Madrid, Spain, 28 September -2 October 2019. Lausanne, Switzerland: European Respiratory Society. doi: 10.1183/13993003.congress-2019.PA5437
Safni, I., Fegan, M., Sly, L. and Kappler, U. (2018). Genetic diversity analyses in Ralstonia syzygii species. International Congress of Plant Pathology (ICPP), Boston MA, United States, July 29 - August 3 2018. St Paul, MN, United States: American Phytopathological Society.
Rowland, Susan, Lawrie, G., Wang, J., Zimbardi, K., Myatt, P., Pedwell, R., West, J., Veenstra, A., Kappler, U., Milward, L., LeBard, R., Howitt, S. and Worthy, P. (2015). ALURE: The Apprenticeship-Style Large-Scale Undergraduate Research Experience Project. HERDSA 2015: Learning for Life and Work in a Complex World, Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, 6-9 July 2015.
Kappler, Ulrike (2011). Regulation of bacterial sulfite oxidation. 2011 Molybdenum and Tungsten Enzymes Conference, Alberta, Canada, 3 - 6 August 2011.
Othman, Dk Seti Maimonah Pg, McEwan, Alastair G. and Kappler, Ulrike (2011). Is anaerobic respiration central to the ability of Haemophilus influenzae to colonize the human host?. BacPath 11: Molecular Analysis of Bacterial Pathogens, Wyong, New South Wales, 25 - 28 September 2011.
Kappler, Ulrike, Tan, Chelsea, Ganskow, Stefanie and Broadbent, Sarah (2011). A novel role for ECF-type sigma factors - Regulation of bacterial sulfite oxidation. ASM 2011 Hobart: Microbiology on the Edge, Hobart, Australia, 4-8 July 2011. South Melbourne, Vic., Australia: The Australian Society for Microbiology.
Bernhardt, P. V., Hanson, G. R., Kappler, Ulrike, Kilmartin, J. R., Low, L., Maher, M.M, Rapson, T.D. and Riley, M.J. (2010). Metalloproteins and their role in sulfur oxidation processes. Boden Research Conference 2010, Canberra, Australia, 28 November – 1 December 2010. ACT, Australia: Australian Academy of Science.
Kappler, U., Kilmartin, J., Riley, M., Noble, C. J. and Hanson, G. R. (2008). Spectroscopic Studies of SoxAX Reveal Insights into the Catalytic Mechanism of SoxAX. 6th Asia Pacific EPR/ESR Society Symposium, Cairns, Queensland, Australia, 13-18 July 2008.
Bailey, S. and Kappler, U. (2008). Bacterial sulfite-oxidizing enzymes - insights into the molecular and structural basis of enzymatic sulfite oxidation. VAAM (German Microbiology Society) Meeting, Frankfurt, Germany, Spring, 2008.
Bertling, Karl, Hurse, Timothy J., Kappler, Ulrike and Rakic, Aleksandar D. (2005). Cultivation of Photosynthetic Bacteria Using Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers. IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering) LEOS (Lasers and Electro-Optics Society) 2005 Annual Meeting, Sydney, Australia, 23 - 27 October, 2005. Piscataway, NJ, USA: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (IEEE). doi: 10.1109/LEOS.2005.1547931
Kappler, U., Hanson, G. R. and Jones, A. (2005). A recombinant diheme SoxAX cytochrome - implications for the relationship between EPR signals and modified heme-ligands. 2nd Joint Congress of German Society for Hygiene & Microbioloy, Gottingen, 25-28 Sept, 2005.
Kappler, U. and Bailey, S. (2005). Molecular mechanism of intramolecular electron transfer in sulfite-oxidizing enzymes us revealed by the high resolution structure of a heterodimeric bacterial sulfite dehydrogenase. 2nd Joint Congress of German Society for Hygiene & Microbioloy, Gottingen, 25-28 Sept, 2005.
Kappler, U. and Bailey, S. (2005). Structural and kinetic properties of a wild-type bacterial sulfite dehydrogenase and a Y236F active site mutant of this enzyme. Molybdenum & Tungsten Enzymes Conference, London, 10-15 July, 2005.
Mikkelsen, D., Kappler, U., McEwan, A. and Sly, L. (2004). Development of molecular methods for monitoring thermophilic chalcopyrite bioleaching cultures. Australian Society for Microbiology (ASM) Annual Scientific Meeting & Exhibition, Sydney, Australia, 26th Sep – 1st Oct 2004.
Kappler, U., Aguey, F.K., Hanson, G. R., Bernhardt, P. V. and McEwan, A. G. (2004). Cytochrome c551 from Starkeya novella - characterization, spectroscopic properties and phylogeny of a diheme protein of the SoxAX family. VAAM (Germany Microbiology Society) Meeting, Braunschweig, 28-31 March, 2004.
Kappler, U., Sly, L. I. and McEwan, A. G. (2004). Respiratory gene clusters of Metallosphaera sedula. VAAM (German Microbiology Society) Meeting, Braunschweig, 28-31 March, 2004.
Aguey, F.K., Bernhardt, P. V., Kappler, U. and McEwan, A. G. (2003). Probing molecular properties: Direct electrochemistry of sulfite dehydrogenase from Starkeya novella. Biospektrum, Berlin, 23-26 March, 2003.
Kappler, U. and McEwan, A. G. (2003). The Rhodobacter capsulatus dor promoter: A useful tool for the heterologous expression of redox proteins. Biospektrum, Berlin, 23-26 March, 2003.
Kappler, U. (2003). Bacterial sulfite oxidase. Gordon Res Conf on Molybdenum & Tungsten Enzymes, Meriden, New Hampshire, 29 June - 4 July, 2003.