The Thompson Lab focuses on marine microbiology, particularly coral reef microbiology, microbial diversity and taxonomy, genetics of pathogenesis, and host-microbe interactions. We aim to better understand the functioning of reef systems in a systemic level. One question of interest is to understand how toxins produced by different types of pathogens cause coral death and which environmental triggers act in the disease process. Projects on Atlantic Forest microbial diversity and characterization of bioethanol contaminants are also under way.