Joerg Graf
Research Professor, Pacific Biosciences Research Center, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology
Phone: (808) 956-5472
E-mail: joergg@hawaii.edu
Web: https://www.pbrc.hawaii.edu/index.php/staff-member/graf-joerg-researcher/
MY RESEARCH
Microbes are essential to life on Earth, playing a foundational role in sustaining ecosystems and promoting health. Our research explores how microbes support Hawaiian fishponds, enhance algal growth, and contribute to the well-being of humans and animals. We live in a microbial world—not only do these tiny organisms provide oxygen and nutrients, but they also influence the growth and development of algae, plants and animals.Historically, Hawaiian fishponds were abundant and vital sources of food. Although most have been lost, community-driven restoration efforts are revitalizing some of them. Our work focuses on understanding the microbial communities in these fishponds and how we might harness them to support ecological restoration. Algae, a key food source for fish raised in these ponds, rely on bacteria that promote their growth. By identifying these beneficial bacteria and constructing synthetic communities, we aim to uncover the mechanisms behind their interactions.Beyond ecosystems, microbes also play critical roles in animal development and disease resistance. To study these processes, we use the medicinal leech as a model organism to investigate digestive-tract symbioses. In another project, we analyze the human oral microbiome to evaluate its potential as a diagnostic marker for viral infections.Through a combination of next-generation sequencing, advanced microscopy, genetic analysis, and microbial culturing, our multidisciplinary approach uncovers the many ways in which microbes shape ecosystems and improve health.
C-MĀIKI SYNERGY
Our research supports the goals of C-MĀIKI by integrating microbiome science with ecological restoration, traditional knowledge, and human health. By investigating microbial communities in Hawaiian fishponds, we contribute to the revitalization of Indigenous aquaculture systems and deepen our understanding of how microbes support ecosystem function, particularly through their role in enhancing algal growth. This place-based research aligns with C-MĀIKI’s commitment to sustainable island systems. Through interdisciplinary approaches combining genomics, culturing, microscopy, and ecological insight, we aim to uncover microbial functions that advance both environmental resilience and human well-being.
IMPACT TO HAWAII
Our research benefits Hawai‘i by supporting the restoration and sustainability of traditional food systems and enhancing local understanding of the microbial forces that shape both environmental and human health. By studying the microbial communities that support algae and fish in Hawaiian fishponds (loko i‘a), we contribute to the revitalization of traditional aquaculture practices, aligning with community-led efforts to restore these culturally and ecologically significant systems. This work integrates cutting-edge microbiome science to strengthen food security and ecosystem resilience in the islands. Through collaborative, place-based research, we aim to mālama ʻāina (care for the land).