About
Laura Steindler is an Associate Professor of Marine Microbiology at the University of Haifa. She completed her Ph.D. at Tel Aviv University and conducted postdoctoral research in the laboratories of Prof. S. Giovannoni at Oregon State University and Prof. V. Venturi at ICGEB Trieste. Since establishing her laboratory at the University of Haifa in 2012, her research has focused on the molecular ecology of marine microorganisms, with emphasis on sponge–microbe symbioses, host–microbe metabolic interactions, and the physiological adaptations of dominant oceanic bacteria such as the SAR11 clade. Her group integrates genomics, transcriptomics, physiology, and biogeochemistry to uncover the mechanisms shaping microbial function in oligotrophic marine environments and within animal hosts. Prof. Steindler has led multiple nationally and internationally funded research projects, published widely in leading journals, and supervised numerous graduate students in marine microbiology and symbiosis research.
Publications
- Diel transcriptional dynamics of a marine sponge and its microbiome in a natural environment, Ramírez, G. A., Bar-Shalom, R., Perez, T., Epchtien, R. E., Furlan, A., Romeo, R., Gavagnin, M., Garber, A. I., Lalzar, M. & Steindler, L., Dec 2026, In: Animal Microbiome. 8, 1, 12.
- Unexpected microbial rhodopsin dynamics in sync with phytoplankton blooms, Gómez-Consarnau, L., Hassanzadeh, B., Villarreal, E., Cuevas-Cruz, M., Arístegui, J., Logares, R., Latorre, F., Lago-Lestón, A., Steindler, L. & Sañudo-Wilhelmy, S. A., Dec 2026, In: Nature Communications. 17, 1, 790.
- The chromosomal genome sequence of the marine sponge Diacarnus erythraeanus Kelly-Borges & Vacelet, 1995, and its associated microbial metagenome sequences, Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory Team, Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations, Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics Team, EBI Aquatic Symbiosis Genomics Data Portal Team & Aquatic Symbiosis Genomics Project Leadership, 2026, In: Wellcome Open Research. 10, 466.
- Comparative genomics analyses of Actinobacteriota identify Golgi phosphoprotein 3 (GPP34) as a widespread ancient protein family associated with sponge symbiosis, Ferreira, C., Burgsdorf, I., Perez, T., Ramírez, G., Lalzar, M., Huchon, D. & Steindler, L., Dec 2025, In: Microbiome. 13, 1, 4.
- Cyanophage Infections in a Sponge Intracellular Cyanobacterial Symbiont, Peretz, T., Cattan-Tsaushu, E., Conti, C., Rosental, B., Steindler, L. & Avrani, S., Jul 2025, In: Environmental Microbiology. 27, 7, e70155.
- The chromosomal genome sequence of the stone sponge Petrosia ficiformis (Poiret, 1789) and its associated microbial metagenome sequences, Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory Team, Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations, Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics Team, EBI Aquatic Symbiosis Genomics Data Portal Team & Aquatic Symbiosis Genomics Project Leadership, 2025, In: Wellcome Open Research. 10, 450.
- Bacterial aerobic methane cycling by the marine sponge-associated microbiome, Ramírez, G. A., Bar-Shalom, R., Furlan, A., Romeo, R., Gavagnin, M., Calabrese, G., Garber, A. I. & Steindler, L., Dec 2023, In: Microbiome. 11, 1, 49.
- Rhodopsin-mediated nutrient uptake by cultivated photoheterotrophic Verrucomicrobiota, Bar-Shalom, R., Rozenberg, A., Lahyani, M., Hassanzadeh, B., Sahoo, G., Haber, M., Burgsdorf, I., Tang, X., Squatrito, V., Gomez-Consarnau, L., Béjà, O. & Steindler, L., Jul 2023, In: ISME Journal. 17, 7, p. 1063-1073 11 p.
- Functional characterization and taxonomic classification of novel gammaproteobacterial diversity in sponges, Nguyen, V. H., Wemheuer, B., Song, W., Bennett, H., Palladino, G., Burgsdorf, I., Sizikov, S., Steindler, L., Webster, N. S. & Thomas, T., Apr 2023, In: Systematic and Applied Microbiology. 46, 2, 126401.
- Spatiotemporal Variation of Microbial Communities in the Ultra-Oligotrophic Eastern Mediterranean Sea, Haber, M., Roth Rosenberg, D., Lalzar, M., Burgsdorf, I., Saurav, K., Lionheart, R., Lehahn, Y., Aharonovich, D., Gómez-Consarnau, L., Sher, D., Krom, M. D. & Steindler, L., 7 Apr 2022, In: Frontiers in Microbiology. 13, p. 867694 867694.
- Petrosia ficiformis (Poiret, 1789): an excellent model for holobiont and biotechnological studies, Cerrano, C., Giovine, M. & Steindler, L., Apr 2022, In: Current Opinion in Biotechnology. 74, p. 61-65 5 p.
- Lineage-specific energy and carbon metabolism of sponge symbionts and contributions to the host carbon pool, Burgsdorf, I., Sizikov, S., Squatrito, V., Britstein, M., Slaby, B. M., Cerrano, C., Handley, K. M. & Steindler, L., Apr 2022, In: ISME Journal. 16, 4, p. 1163-1175 13 p.
- Correction: Lineage-specific energy and carbon metabolism of sponge symbionts and contributions to the host carbon pool, Burgsdorf, I., Sizikov, S., Squatrito, V., Britstein, M., Slaby, B. M., Cerrano, C., Handley, K. M. & Steindler, L., Apr 2022, In: ISME Journal. 16, 4, p. 1204 1 p.
- Contribution of Maternal and Paternal Transmission to Bacterial Colonization in Nematostella vectensis, Baldassarre, L., Levy, S., Bar-Shalom, R., Steindler, L., Lotan, T. & Fraune, S., 11 Oct 2021, In: Frontiers in Microbiology. 12, 726795.
- Particle-associated and free-living bacterial communities in an oligotrophic sea are affected by different environmental factors, Roth Rosenberg, D., Haber, M., Goldford, J., Lalzar, M., Aharonovich, D., Al-Ashhab, A., Lehahn, Y., Segrè, D., Steindler, L. & Sher, D., Aug 2021, In: Environmental Microbiology. 23, 8, p. 4295-4308 14 p.
- Microbial rhodopsins are increasingly favoured over chlorophyll in High Nutrient Low Chlorophyll waters, Hassanzadeh, B., Thomson, B., Deans, F., Wenley, J., Lockwood, S., Currie, K., Morales, S. E., Steindler, L., Sañudo-Wilhelmy, S. A., Baltar, F. & Gómez-Consarnau, L., Jun 2021, In: Environmental Microbiology Reports. 13, 3, p. 401-406 6 p.
- Draft genome sequence of terrestrial streptomyces sp strain vitnk9, isolated from vellore, tamil nadu, india, exhibiting antagonistic activity against fish pathogens, Saha, S., Ishaque, N. M., Burgsdorf, I., MacHo, M., Ewe, D., Steindler, L., Hrouzek, P., Kannabiran, K. & Saurav, K., 7 Jan 2021, In: Microbiology Resource Announcements. 10, 1, e01282-20.
- Sponge microbiome stability during environmental acquisition of highly specific photosymbionts, Britstein, M., Cerrano, C., Burgsdorf, I., Zoccarato, L., Kenny, N. J., Riesgo, A., Lalzar, M. & Steindler, L., 1 Aug 2020, In: Environmental Microbiology. 22, 8, p. 3593-3607 15 p.
- Isolation, genomic and metabolomic characterization of Streptomyces tendae VITAKN with quorum sensing inhibitory activity from Southern India, Ishaque, N. M., Burgsdorf, I., Malit, J. J. L., Saha, S., Teta, R., Ewe, D., Kannabiran, K., Hrouzek, P., Steindler, L., Costantino, V. & Saurav, K., Jan 2020, In: Microorganisms. 8, 1, 121.
- Identification of quorum sensing activators and inhibitors in the marine sponge sarcotragus spinosulus, Saurav, K., Borbone, N., Burgsdorf, I., Teta, R., Caso, A., Bar-Shalom, R., Esposito, G., Britstein, M., Steindler, L. & Costantino, V., 2020, In: Marine Drugs. 18, 2, 18020127.
- Life at home and on the roam: Genomic adaptions reflect the dual lifestyle of an intracellular, facultative symbiont, Burgsdorf, I., Handley, K. M., Bar-Shalom, R., Erwin, P. M. & Steindler, L., Jul 2019, In: mSystems. 4, 4, e00057-19.
- Pesticide-mediated trophic cascade and an ecological trap for mosquitoes, Duchet, C., Moraru, G. M., Spencer, M., Saurav, K., Bertrand, C., Fayolle, S., Gershberg Hayoon, A., Shapir, R., Steindler, L. & Blaustein, L., Apr 2018, In: Ecosphere. 9, 4, e02179.
- Identification and chemical characterization of N-acyl-homoserine lactone quorum sensing signals across sponge species and time, Britstein, M., Saurav, K., Teta, R., Sala, G. D., Bar-Shalom, R., Stoppelli, N., Zoccarato, L., Costantino, V. & Steindler, L., Feb 2018, In: FEMS Microbiology Ecology. 94, 2, fix182.
- Surface properties of SAR11 bacteria facilitate grazing avoidance, Dadon-Pilosof, A., Conley, K. R., Jacobi, Y., Haber, M., Lombard, F., Sutherland, K. R., Steindler, L., Tikochinski, Y., Richter, M., Glöckner, F. O., Suzuki, M. T., West, N. J., Genin, A. & Yahel, G., 1 Dec 2017, In: Nature Microbiology. 2, 12, p. 1608-1615 8 p.
- Plakofuranolactone as a quorum quenching agent from the Indonesian sponge plakortis cf. lita, Costantino, V., Sala, G. D., Saurav, K., Teta, R., Bar-Shalom, R., Mangoni, A. & Steindler, L., 28 Feb 2017, In: Marine Drugs. 15, 3, 59.
- Diversity, structure and convergent evolution of the global sponge microbiome, Thomas, T., Moitinho-Silva, L., Lurgi, M., Björk, J. R., Easson, C., Astudillo-García, C., Olson, J. B., Erwin, P. M., López-Legentil, S., Luter, H., Chaves-Fonnegra, A., Costa, R., Schupp, P. J., Steindler, L., Erpenbeck, D., Gilbert, J., Knight, R., Ackermann, G., Victor Lopez, J. & Taylor, M. W. & 4 others, , 16 Jun 2016, In: Nature Communications. 7, 11870.
- Isolation of Marine Paracoccus sp. Ss63 from the Sponge Sarcotragus sp. and Characterization of its Quorum-Sensing Chemical-Signaling Molecules by LC-MS/MS Analysis, Saurav, K., Burgsdorf, I., Teta, R., Esposito, G., Bar-Shalom, R., Costantino, V. & Steindler, L., 1 May 2016, In: Israel Journal of Chemistry. 56, 5, p. 330-340 11 p.
- In search of alternative antibiotic drugs: Quorum-quenching activity in sponges and their bacterial isolates, Saurav, K., Bar-Shalom, R., Haber, M., Burgsdorf, I., Oliviero, G., Costantino, V., Morgenstern, D. & Steindler, L., 5 Apr 2016, In: Frontiers in Microbiology. 7, APR, 416.
- A new N-Acyl homoserine lactone synthase in an uncultured symbiont of the red sea sponge Theonella swinhoei, Britstein, M., Devescovi, G., Handley, K. M., Malik, A., Haber, M., Saurav, K., Teta, R., Costantino, V., Burgsdorf, I., Gilbert, J. A., Sher, N., Venturi, V. & Steindler, L., 2016, In: Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 82, 4, p. 1274-1285 12 p.
- Lifestyle evolution in cyanobacterial symbionts of sponges, Burgsdorf, I., Slaby, B. M., Handley, K. M., Haber, M., Blom, J., Marshall, C. W., Gilbert, J. A., Hentschel, U. & Steindler, L., 2 Jun 2015, In: mBio. 6, 3, e00391-15.
- Pyrosequencing analysis of aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic bacterial community structure in the oligotrophic western Pacific Ocean, Zheng, Q., Liu, Y., Steindler, L. & Jiao, N., 1 Apr 2015, In: FEMS Microbiology Letters. 362, 8, fnv034.
- Biogeography rather than association with cyanobacteria structures symbiotic microbial communities in the marine sponge Petrosia ficiformis, Burgsdorf, I., Erwin, P. M., López-Legentil, S., Cerrano, C., Haber, M., Frenk, S. & Steindler, L., 2014, In: Frontiers in Microbiology. 5, OCT, 529.
- Nutrient requirements for growth of the extreme oligotroph 'Candidatus Pelagibacter ubique' HTCC1062 on a defined medium, Carini, P., Steindler, L., Beszteri, S. & Giovannoni, S. J., Mar 2013, In: ISME Journal. 7, 3, p. 592-602 11 p.
- One carbon metabolism in SAR11 pelagic marine bacteria, Sun, J., Steindler, L., Thrash, J. C., Halsey, K. H., Smith, D. P., Carter, A. E., Landry, Z. C. & Giovannoni, S. J., 23 Aug 2011, In: PLOS ONE. 6, 8, e23973.
- Energy starved candidatus pelagibacter ubique substitutes light-mediated ATP production for endogenous carbon respiration, Steindler, L., Schwalbach, M. S., Smith, D. P., Chan, F. & Giovannoni, S. J., 2011, In: PLOS ONE. 6, 5, e19725.
- The presence of the glycolysis operon in SAR11 genomes is positively correlated with ocean productivity, Schwalbach, M. S., Tripp, H. J., Steindler, L., Smith, D. P. & Giovannoni, S. J., Feb 2010, In: Environmental Microbiology. 12, 2, p. 490-500 11 p.
- The transcriptional activator rfiA is quorum-sensing regulated by cotranscription with the luxI homolog pcol and is essential for plant virulence in Pseudomonas corrugata, Licciardello, G., Bertani, I., Steindler, L., Bella, P., Venturi, V. & Catara, V., Dec 2009, In: Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions. 22, 12, p. 1514-1522 9 p.
- LasI/R and RhlI/R quorum sensing in a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa beneficial to plants, Steindler, L., Bertani, I., De Sordi, L., Schwager, S., Eberl, L. & Venturi, V., Aug 2009, In: Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 75, 15, p. 5131-5140 10 p.
- A simple model for the early events of quorum sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Modeling bacterial swarming as the movement of an "activation zone", Netotea, S., Bertani, I., Steindler, L., Kerényi, Á., Venturi, V. & Pongor, S., 12 Feb 2009, In: Biology Direct. 4, 6.
- The presence, type and role of N-acyl homoserine lactone quorum sensing in fluorescent Pseudomonas originally isolated from rice rhizospheres are unpredictable, Steindler, L., Bertani, I., De Sordi, L., Bigirimana, J. & Venturi, V., Nov 2008, In: FEMS Microbiology Letters. 288, 1, p. 102-111 10 p.
- A versatile plasmid biosensor useful to identify quorum sensing LuxR-family orphans in bacterial strains, Steindler, L., Devescovi, G., Subramoni, S. & Venturi, V., Jun 2008, In: Journal of Microbiological Methods. 73, 3, p. 273-275 3 p.
- Pseudomonas corrugata contains a conserved N-acyl homoserine lactone quorum sensing system; its role in tomato pathogenicity and tobacco hypersensitivity response, Licciardello, G., Bertani, I., Steindler, L., Bella, P., Venturi, V. & Catara, V., Aug 2007, In: FEMS Microbiology Ecology. 61, 2, p. 222-234 13 p.
- Oryza sativa rice plants contain molecules that activate different quorum-sensing N-acyl homoserine lactone biosensors and are sensitive to the specific AiiA lactonase, Degrassi, G., Devescovi, G., Solis, R., Steindler, L. & Venturi, V., Apr 2007, In: FEMS Microbiology Letters. 269, 2, p. 213-220 8 p.
- Chemical warfare on coral reefs: Sponge metabolites differentially affect coral symbiosis in situ, Pawlik, J. R., Steindler, L., Henkel, T. P., Beer, S. & Ilan, M., Mar 2007, In: Limnology and Oceanography. 52, 2, p. 907-911 5 p.
- Detection of quorum-sensing N-acyl homoserine lactone signal molecules by bacterial biosensors, Steindler, L. & Venturi, V., Jan 2007, In: FEMS Microbiology Letters. 266, 1, p. 1-9 9 p.
- Transmission, plasticity and the molecular identification of cyanobacterial symbionts in the Red Sea sponge Diacarnus erythraenus, Oren, M., Steindler, L. & Ilan, M., Nov 2005, In: Marine Biology. 148, 1, p. 35-41 7 p.
- 16S rRNA phylogeny of sponge-associated cyanobacteria, Steindler, L., Huchon, D., Avni, A. & Ilan, M., Jul 2005, In: Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 71, 7, p. 4127-4131 5 p.
- Endolithic algae photoacclimate to increased irradiance during coral bleaching, Fine, M., Steindler, L. & Loya, Y., 2004, In: Marine and Freshwater Research. 55, 1, p. 115-121 7 p.
- Photosymbiosis in intertidal and subtidal tropical sponges, Steindler, L., Beer, S. & Ilan, M., 2002, In: Symbiosis. 33, 3, p. 263-273 11 p.
- Photoadaptation of zooxanthellae in the sponge Cliona vastifica from the Red Sea, as measured in situ, Steindler, L., Beer, S., Peretzman-Shemer, A., Nyberg, C. & Ilan, M., 2001, In: Marine Biology. 138, 3, p. 511-515 5 p.
Education
PhD - Tel Aviv University - Department of Plant Sciences - 2001-2005; MSc in Ecology - Tel Aviv University - 1998-2000; BSc in Biology - Tel Aviv University - 1995-1998
Academic Background
Post-doc at Oregon State University (USA) - Lab of Stephen Giovannoni - 2008-2011; Post-doc at ICGEB, Trieste, Italy - Lab of Prof. Vittorio Venturi
Research Areas
Our lab focuses on two main themes of marine microbiology. One relates to the adaptation of free-living heterotrophic bacteria to oligotrophic conditions, and the utilization of light energy to compensate for carbon starvation. The other focus is on adaptations of marine bacteria to live in symbiosis with invertebrate hosts, and more specifically with marine sponges.