Studies in Marmara University Biology Department Plant Diseases and Microbiology Research Laboratory are carried out by department members; Prof.Dr. Meral Birbir, Asst. Prof. Dr. Zeki Severoğlu and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pınar Çağlayan. In our Microbiology Research Laboratory, microbial populations from different environments are investigated both with traditional methods and new generation sequencing analyses. Microorganisms such as non-halophilic bacteria, halotolerant bacteria, moderately halophilic bacteria, and extreme halophilic archaea in salty environments such as salted skin, wetted skin, salt, and salt are isolated and characterized by traditional and molecular methods. In addition, the resistance of these microorganisms to antibiotics, the examination of the damage they cause to the skin under scanning electron microscopy, and their control with different chemicals are also examined. In addition, Marmara University Faculty of Technology Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department Lecturer Prof.Dr. With the direct and alternating current system designed by Yaşar Birbir, the killing of microorganisms that may harm the leather industry with electric current is being investigated. Our team specializes in plant pathology, mycology, and ecology. My research interests are pathogens (infectious organisms), disease causes, disease cycle, the economic importance of plants, environmental conditions, plant disease resistance, plant disease management, and ecology. Collaborative international studies are carried out with scientists from countries such as America and Spain along with valuable scientists working at universities in Turkey. In order to serve our country in the Microbiology Research Laboratory, Master's and Doctorate Students are also welcomed by Prof.Dr. Meral Birbir, Asst. Prof. Dr. Zeki Severoğlu and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pınar Çağlayan. The students trained so far have found jobs in public schools, private schools, hospitals, universities, private companies, and universities abroad. They took part in TUBITAK projects. In addition, the faculty members of our Department have carried out various projects in cooperation with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and other municipalities and prepared expert technical reports on plant diseases.

Team:
Prof. Dr. Meral Birbir
Asst. Prof. Dr. Zeki Severoğlu
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pinar Caglayan
Can Akpolat (Ph.D. Student): Chemical Analysis of Salt Lake and Saltpans, Bacterial and Archaeal Diversity
Görkem Çolak (Ph.D.): Production of Attenuated Sheep-Goat Pox Viruses in Suspended Culture of Vero Cells
Kübra Kızılkaya (Master Student): Detection of Moderate Halophilic Bacteria in Salts Used in Leather Salting and Inactivation of These Bacteria by Electric Current
Şeyma Demirtaş (Master Student): Investigation of Salt Tolerant Bacteria in Food Salts
Ecem Saygan (Master Student): Investigation of Prokaryotic Community Profiles in Ayvalık Saltpan by 16S rRNA Amplicon Sequencing

Working Partners:
Prof. Dr. Ayşe Ogan (Marmara University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Chemistry)
Prof. Dr. Gülşen Altuğ (Istanbul University, Faculty of Aquatic Sciences, Department of Marine Biology)
Prof. Dr. Yaşar Birbir (Marmara University Faculty of Technology)
Prof. Dr. Antonio Ventosa (University of Seville, Spain)
Prof. Dr. Barış Çallı (Marmara University Engineering Faculty Environmental Engineering)
Prof. Dr. Bülent Mertoğlu (Marmara University Engineering Faculty Bioengineering)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Didem Berber (Maltepe University)
Dr. Richard Alan Goebel (180 Aqueduct Circle, West Lafayette, Indiana 47906, USA)
Dr. Daniel K.Y. Solaiman (Eastern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 600 E. Mermaid Lane, Wyndmoor, PA 19038, USA)
Dr. Richard D. Ashby (Eastern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 600 E. Mermaid Lane, Wyndmoor, PA 19038, USA)
Dr. Ana Beatriz Fernández (Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology-IMAB, Universidad Publica de Navarra, Multilva, Navarra, Spain)
Prof. Dr. Cristina-Sanchez Porro (Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Seville, Spain)
Prof. Dr. Rafael De La Haba (University of Seville, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Spain)