Aurélien Saghaï

I study archaea and bacteria involved in various nitrogen transformations (i.e. nitrification, denitrification and nitrate ammonification [DNRA]) in agricultural soils and in the crop microbiome. Understanding the ecology and evolution of these microorganisms, in particular how they interact with crops, is central to the design of agricultural practices that increase nitrogen use efficiency and contribute to mitigate both climate change and environmental pollution. 

In my research I use a a multifaceted approach combining comparative (meta)genomics, greenhouse experiments, field surveys and phylogenetics.

I was appointed associate professor (docent) in October 2024.

I am course leader for the bachelor course Molecular and Microbial Ecology (BI1438).

Funded grant applications:

• The many faces of nitrate ammonifying bacteria – Unraveling their role in nitrogen retention and loss, and nitrous oxide emissions in terrestrial ecosystems. Swedish Research Council VR. PI S. Hallin, SLU (2024-2027)
• Harnessing plant traits to retain nitrogen in the rhizosphere. Swedish Research Council Formas. PI A. Saghaï (2022-2025).

I received a bachelor degree in Molecular Biology (2011) and a master degree in Microbiology (2013) from the University Paris-Sud (now Paris-Saclay). In December 2016 I completed my PhD on the phylogenetic and functional diversity of microbial mats in different environments under the supervision of Dr. Purificación López-García (Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Microbes Group, Paris-Saclay University). I joined the Soil Microbiology Group led by Pr. Sara Hallin at the Dept. of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology at SLU in 2017 as a post-doc to give a more applied perspective to my research. After my post-doc, I worked as a researcher in this group between March 2021 and October 2024.

PhD students

Laura J Müller (co-supervisor; 2021-): Ecotoxicity of pesticides ​on nitrifiers in soil ​under a climate change scenario​.

Master students

Elin Almén (main supervisor; 2021)

Frida Lindvall (main supervisor; 2022): Controls of the partitioning of nitrate between DNRA and denitrifiers.

The full list of peer-reviewed publications can be found here.

Saghaï A, Hallin S (2024). Diversity and ecology of NrfA-dependent ammonifying microorganisms. Trends Microbiol, 32: 602-613.

Saghaï A, Pold G, Jones CM, Hallin S (2023). Phyloecology of nitrate ammonifiers and their importance relative to denitrifiers in global terrestrial biomes. Nat Commun 14, 8249 (2023).

Hallin S, Saghaï A (2023). Can nitrate-reducing ammonifiers increase nitrogen retention in soil and support ammonium-based cropping systems?  J Sustain Agric Environ. 2023; 2: 541–545.

Saghaï A, Almén E, Hallin S, Glinwood R (2023). Seed treatment with plant-defense elicitors decreases the abundance of ammonia oxidizers associated with winter wheat roots. Soil Biol Biochem 180:109016.

Saghaï A,  Banjeree S,  Degrune F,  Edlinger A,  García‐Palacios P,  Garland G, Heijden MGA,  Herzog H,  Maestre FT,  Pescador DS, Philippot L,  Rillig MC, Romdhane S,  Hallin S (2022). Diversity of archaea and niche preferences among putative ammonia‐oxidizing Nitrososphaeria dominating across European arable soils. Environ Microbiol, 24: 341-356.

Saghaï A, Wittorf L, Philippot L, Hallin S (2022). Loss in soil microbial diversity constrains microbiome selection and alters the abundance of N-cycling guilds in barley rhizosphere. Applied Soil Ecology 169: 104224.

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