Deborah Carr

RESEARCH INTERESTS

My research interests involve the response of soil and sediment microbial communities to pollutants and environmental stressors and the impact of the microbial response to ecosystem parameters such as microbial diversity, nutrient cycling and organic carbon utilization. Other interests include the microbial community role in degradation of pollutants and restoration of soils and wetlands from urban brownfield site remediation toward ecosystem sustainability.

• Current projects include:
• Bioremediation strategies for produced water in drilling operations
• The effects of pharmaceuticals on soil communities when applied through waste water effluent, and general water reuse strategies.
• Natural attenuation by microbial processing, of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs), including estrogens and antibiotics.
• Response of the microbial community to PPCPs soils of high water contents.
• Natural attenuation and soil toxicity of crude oil in beach sands, diesel, and drilling fluids.
• Natural attenuation and soil toxicity of drilling fluids in arid soils.
• Shifts in microbial diversity and function as a result of perturbation by pollutants
• Degradation of natural fiber sorbents in remediation of petroleum spills.
• Molecular Techniques to detect virus and small particles resulting from membrane filter breaches using nanotube detection methods.
• In Situ remediation of metal species in sediments through redox changes and nano charged filtration systems.
• Nitrogen and carbon cycling in arid soils in response to climate stress

Current Collaborations include:

• Treatment technologies to optimize water reuse and minimize environmental consequences in unconventional production.
• Molecular characterization of the Sodium –Iodide Symporter in Xenopus laevis.
• Extraction, purification and molecular characterization Vitex agnus-castus on reproductive cycles avian and amphibian species.
• Effects of the anti-microbial triclosan on early development in amphibian species.

Selected Publications

Heintzman, L., Anderson, T.A., Carr, D.L. McIntyre, N.E; Local and landscape influences on PAH contamination in an urban playa stormwater system and bioaccumulation in odonates (Insecta: Odonata), Landscape and Urban Planning (in review).

Carr, D.L., Morse, A.N., Zak, J.C. and Anderson, T.A. (2011) Biological Degradation of Common Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in Soils with High Water Content. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 217(1) 127- 134, DOI: 10.1007/s11270-010-0573-z http://www.springerlink.com/content/w0k75118g9264121/fulltext.html

Carr, D.L., Morse, A.N., Zak, J.C. and Anderson, T.A. (2011) Microbially mediated degradation of common pharmaceuticals and personal care products in soil under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 216(1): 633 – 642, DOI: 10.1007/s11270-010-0558-y http://www.springerlink.com/content/873327g50736451h/fulltext.html

Carr, D.L., Carr J.A., Willis, R.E., and Pressley, T.A. A perchlorate sensitive iodide transporter in frogs. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 156:9-14, 2008.

Duran M.J., Pierre S.V., Carr, D.L., Pressley T.A. The isoform-specific region of the Na,K-ATPase catalytic subunit: role in enzyme kinetics and regulation by protein kinase C. Biochemistry, 43:16174-16183,2004.

Carr, D.L., Laharrague, F., Kahn, B., Pressley, T.A., and Carr, J.A. Molecular characterization of a putative sodium/iodide symporter in the South African clawed frog, X. laevis. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 986:711-712, 2003.

Pierre, S.V., Duran, M.J., Carr, D.L., and Pressley, T.A. Structure/function analysis of Na,K-ATPase alpha1 and alpha2 central isoform-specific regions reveals their involvement in regulation by protein kinase C. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 986:260-262, 2003

Duran, M.J., Pierre, S.V., Carr, D.L., and Pressley, T.A. Role of the isoform-specific region of the Na,K-ATPase catalytic subunit. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 986:258-259, 2003

Pierre, S.V., Duran, M.J., Carr, D.L., and Pressley, T.A. Structure/function analysis of Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase central isoform-specific region: Involvement in PKC regulation. Am. J. Physiol. 283: F1066–F1074, 2002

Petrosian, S.A., Carr, D.L., Guerrero, G., and Pressley, T.A. Mutagenesis disrupts post-translational processing of the Na,K-ATPase catalytic subunit. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 357:249-258, 1998.

Northup, D.E., Carr, D.L., Crocker, T.M., Hawkins, L.K., Cunningham, K.I., Leonard, P., and Welbourne, W.C.. Biological investigations in Lechuguilla Cave. NSS Bulletin, 56:54-63. 1994.

Watwood, M.E. and Carr D.L. Bioremediation design for a kerosene contaminated site in New Mexico: Results of laboratory feasibility study. in: Hinchee, R. E., Alleman, B. C., Hoeppel, R. E., and Miller, R. N. (eds) Hydrocarbon Bioremediation. Proceedings of the Annual Batelle Conference on In Situ and On-Site Bioreclamation. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton. pg. 424-430. 1994

Dahm, C.N., Carr, D.L., and Coleman, R.L. Anaerobic carbon cycling in stream ecosystems. Verh. Int. Ver. Limnol. 24:1600-1601, 1991.

Courses

• BIOL 1305 - Ecology and Environmental Problems
• BIOL 1113 - Environmental Problems Laboratory
• BIOL 6301 - Environmental Sustainability