Prof. Raquel Peixoto

Principal Investigator

Full Professor of Marine Science

Location:

Building 2 (Ibn Al Haytham) West, Level 2, Room 2226

Social Profile:

Contact Information:

Phone: +966 (12) 808-2430

Research Interests

Professor Raquel Peixoto is a pioneering researcher who is playing a central role in establishing the field of coral probiotics, a transformative and rapidly growing area of study that has catalyzed broader research into probiotics for wildlife. Her groundbreaking experiments proved the concept and demonstrated that probiotics not only mitigate coral bleaching but also prevent coral mortality, establishing a solid foundation for their application in coral reef conservation and restoration efforts. Her work emphasizes the practical application and real-world impact of science, bridging the gap between research and action through innovative solutions for environmental challenges.  
 

She currently serves as Chair of the Marine Science Program at KAUST, President of the International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME), and Co-Chair of the Conservation Committee at the International Coral Reef Society (ICRS), where she also leads the International Coral Reef Society’s (ICRS) climate delegations to the UN COP conferences. She is also the co-chair and one of the founders of the Microbial Conservation Specialist Group SSC of the IUCN In addition to these leadership roles, she is a member of prominent scientific advisory boards. Through initiatives such as the Coral Probiotics Village, the development of scalable probiotic delivery systems, and groundbreaking field trials, her work has set a benchmark for the translation of microbial research into actionable solutions, influencing global policies and strategies for climate change resilience and biodiversity conservation.

Learn more about Prof Raquel Peixoto at:

https://www.kaust.edu.sa/html/onamission/raquel-peixoto-on-a-mission.html?utm_source=microsite&utm_medium=profile&utm_campaign=on_a_mission

 

 

Selected Publications

  • The coral microbiome in sickness, in health and in a changing world. Voolstra, C.R., Raina, JB., Dörr, M, Peixoto, R.S. Nature Revies Microbiology, 22, 460–475 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41579-024-01015-3
  • Harnessing the microbiome to prevent global biodiversity loss. Peixoto, R.S., Voolstra, C.R., Sweet, M. et al. Nature Microbiology  7, 1726–1735 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-022-01173-1
  • Extending the natural adaptive capacity of coral holobionts. Voolstra, C.R., Suggett, D.J., Peixoto, R.S. et al.  Nature Reviews Earth Environment (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-021-00214-3
  • Coral microbiome manipulation elicits metabolic and genetic restructuring to mitigate heat stress and evade mortality. Santoro, E.P., Borges, R., Espinoza, J.L….Voolstra, C.R., Peixoto, R.S. Science Advances 7, (2021).
  • Host under epigenetic control: A novel perspective on the interaction between microorganisms and corals. Barno, A. R., Villela, H. D. M., Aranda, M., Thomas, T. & Peixoto, R. S. Bioessays e2100068, (2021).
  • Coral Probiotics: Premise, promise, prospects. Peixoto, R.S.; Sweet, M.; Villela, H.D.M.; Cardoso, P.; Thomas, T.; Voolstra, C.; Hoj, L.; Bourne, D. Annual Review in Animal Bioscience (2021). 9:X-X, doi.org/10.1146/annurev-animal-090120-115444
  • Marine Probiotics: Increasing coral resilience to bleaching through microbiome manipulation. Magalhães-Rosado, P.; Leite, D.; Duarte, G.A.; Jospin, G.; Eisen, J.; Chaloub, R.M., Bourne, D., Peixoto, R.S. The ISME Journal ,(2019) doi: 10.1038/s41396-018-0323-6.   *EDITORS CHOICE – THE BEST OF THE ISME JOURNAL 2018 (first published online) and 2019’s most cited papers in Microbiology Springer Nature group.
  • Beneficial Microorganisms for corals (BMC): proposed mechanisms for coral health and resilience. Peixoto, R.S.; Rosado, P.M.; Leite, D.C.A.; Rosado, A.S.; Bourne, D.G. Frontiers in Microbiology 8:341. (2017) doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2017.00341.  *Top 3% more views - Frontiers in Microbiology.
  • Oil spills impact on coral reefs can be reduced by bioremediation using coral probiotic microbiota. Santos, H. F., Duarte, G.; Rachid, C.; Chaloub, R.; Calderon, E.; Bianchini, A.; Marangoni, L.; Nudi, A.; Carmo, F. L.; van Elsas, J. D.; Rosado, A. S.; Castro, C. B.; Peixoto, R. S. Scientific Reports 5: 18268, (2015).
  • Climate Change Affects Key Nitrogen Fixing Bacterial Populations on Coral Reefs. Santos, H. F.; Carmo, F. L.; Duarte, G; Dini Andreote, F.; Castro, C; Rosado, A. S.; Elsas, J. D. V.; Peixoto, R. S. The ISME Journal, 8: 2272-2279, (2014).

Education

  • ​Ph.D., Microbiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Institute for Microbiology, with partial completion at Julius Khün Institute, Germany, 2005
  • M.Sc., Biotechnology and Bioprocesses, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2001
  • B.Sc., Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Institute for Biology, Brazil, 1998

Professional Profile

  • ​2017-2020: Visiting Professor at the University of California, Davis, hosted by Prof. Jonathan Eisen
  • 2012-2020: Associate Professor at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • 2011-2012: Assistant Professor (tenure-track) at the University of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Scientific and Professional Membership

  • ​Head of the International Coral Reef Society (ICRS)’s UN CoP delegations (CoP 26, 27, 28, 29)
  • President of the International Society for Microbial Ecology
  • Co-Leader of the International Coral Reef Society (ICRS)’s delegation at Cop 26 (United Nations)
  • Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the G-20 Coral Research and Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP)
  • Specialty Chief Editor Frontiers in Marine Science – Coral Reef Research
  • Councilor International Coral Reef Society (ICRS)
  • Co-Chair of the Coral Conservation Committee of the International Coral Reef Society (ICRS)
  • Chair of the Marine Science Program/KAUST
  • International Coral Reef Society (ICRS)
  • International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME)
  • Research Associate at AquaRio (Rio de Janeiro Marine Aquarium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
  • Biosphere 2 Ocean (University of Arizona, USA) partner

Awards

  • Rachel Carson Award for microbiology, 2023
  • Frontiers Planet Prize, National Champion for Saudi Arabia, 2024
  • International Coral Reef Society (ICRS) fellow, 2022
  • Elected Member of the International Coral Reef Society Council 2021-2024
  • ​“Outstanding Women in Science” (category: Researchers) IMPPG/Brazil – Organized by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) 
  • The Great Barrier Reef Foundation/Tiffany & Co. – “Out of The Blue Box” Challenge –Winner of the People’s Choice Award – “Solution to save Coral Reefs” to increase coral resilience through the use of Coral Probiotics;
  • 2019’s most cited papers in Microbiology Springer Nature group The ISME Journal, Rosado, et al., 2019 (first published on 2018, online);
  • Editors’ Choice – The best of 2019 - FEMS Microbiology Ecology Lopez, J.V., Peixoto, R.S., Rosado, A.S., 2019;
  • Editors’ Choice – The best of 2018 – The ISME Journal, Rosado, et al., 2019 (first published on 2018, online);
  • Editors’ Choice – The best of 2019 – The ISME Journal, Rosado, et al., 2019 
  • The Springer Nature Ecology Stars: Influential journal articles in ecology- The ISME Journal, Rosado, et al., 2019 
  • The best PhD Thesis of 2005 – Raquel Peixoto - Brazilian Research Division (CAPES “Primeiro Prêmio Capes de Tese – Menção Honrosa)

KAUST Affiliations

  • Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE)

Research Interests Keywords

Microbial Ecology Environmental Microbiology Marine Probiotics Beneficial Microorganisms for Corals (BMCs) Resilience Coral Restoration Global Change Microbiology