Jozef I. Nissimov

Jozef I. Nissimov

Biography

Dr. Jozef I. Nissimov is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Waterloo. Nissimov leads the Environmental Virology and Ecology Research Group, where his research examines ecological and co-evolutionary dynamics between aquatic microbial hosts (microalgae and cyanobacteria) and their viruses, and how these dynamics shape aquatic ecosystems.

Using a combination of laboratory experimentation and field studies, the Nissimov Lab employs cutting-edge methodologies and technologies, including next-generation sequencing, genome analysis, flow cam imaging, analytical flow cytometry, PAM-fluorometry and use of state-of-the-art photobioreactors and growth chambers for experimental modeling. His lab also investigates the largely unexplored potential of bioactive compounds produced by microalgae and cyanobacteria for the discovery of novel antimicrobials and has previously collaborated on the development of innovative sequencing and computational tools for studying respiratory and agricultural viruses in wastewater.

A major current focus in his lab is the study of harmful algal blooms in lakes and drinking‑water reservoirs, which are increasing due to climate change and eutrophication from agricultural runoff. By studying bloom‑forming species and their interactions with environmental viruses, including how viral infection influences toxin release, his work informs clean water management, legislation and mitigation strategies by revealing how microbial interactions shape bloom severity and decline.

Research Interests

  • Limnology

  • Marine biology

  • Biological oceanography

  • Algal blooms

  • Environmental microbiology

  • Microalgae

  • Cyanobacteria

  • Aquatic virology

  • Virus ecology

  • Discovery of antimicrobials

Education

  • 2018, Postdoctoral Fellow, Rutgers University, United States

  • 2013, PhD Biosciences, Plymouth Marine Laboratory & University of Nottingham, United Kingdom

  • 2009, MRes Marine Biology, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom

  • 2008, BSc Marine Biology (honours), University of Plymouth, United Kingdom

Awards

  • 2022, Exceptional Service as an Early Career Researcher Director, Canadian Society for Virology

  • 2021 – 2024, Norma J. Lang Early Career Research Fellowship, Phycological Society of America

Service

  • Associate Director of the Waterloo Centre for Microbial Research (WCMR)

  • Editorial Board Member, Viruses

  • International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV)- National Member/Rep. for Canada

  • International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV)- Algavirales Working Group Member

  • UW’s Science Faculty Council Member

  • UW’s Trust in Research Undertaking in Science and Technology Scholarly Network (TRuST), Working Group Member

  • UW’s Faculty Committee on Student Appeals (FCSA), Faculty Committee Member

  • UW’s Faculty of Science Foundation, Faculty Director (Biology)

  • Reviewer for PNAS, PlosOne, The ISME Journal, Environmental Microbiology, FEMS Microbiology, Research in Microbiology, Journal of Plankton Research, Virologica Sinica, Virus Genes, Genes, Deep Sea Research Part I, Frontiers in Marine Science, and Scientific Reports

Professional Associations

  • Phycological Society of America

  • The International Society for Viruses of Microorganisms (ISVM)

  • Canadian Society for Virology (CSV)

  • Canadian Society of Microbiology (CSM)

  • Phage Canada

Affiliations and Volunteer Work

  • Interdisciplinary Centre on Climate Change (IC3)

  • Waterloo Centre for Microbial Research (WCMR)

  • Water Institute

Teaching*

  • BIOL 241 - Introduction to Applied Microbiology
    • Taught in 2021, 2022, 2024
  • BIOL 442 - Virology
    • Taught in 2022, 2024, 2025
  • BIOL 450 - Marine Biology
    • Taught in 2025

* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.

Selected/Recent Publications

  • For the full list of Jozef Nissimov's publications, please see Google Scholar.

  • Meza-Padilla, I., Doxey, A.C. and Nissimov, J.I., 2025. Cyanobacteriochrome-like GAF folds in phages revealed via AlphaFold proteomic modelling. Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal, 27, pp. 4089-4095, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csbj.2025.09.020

  • Lee, V., Meza-Padilla, I. and Nissimov, J.I., 2025. Virus infection of a freshwater cyanobacterium contributes significantly to the release of toxins through cell lysis. Microorganisms, 13(3), p. 486. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13030486

  • Zheng, S., Lee, V., Meza‐Padilla, I. and Nissimov, J.I., 2024. Antiviral discovery in toxic cyanobacteria: Low hanging fruit in the age of pandemics. Journal of Phycology, 60(2), pp. 574-580. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpy.13425

  • Meza-Padilla, I., McConkey, B.J. and Nissimov, J.I., 2024. Structural models predict a significantly higher binding affinity between the NblA protein of cyanophage Ma-LMM01 and the phycocyanin of Microcystis aeruginosa NIES-298 compared to the host homolog. Virus Evolution, 10(1), p.veae082. https://doi.org/10.1093/ve/veae082

  • Lobb, B., Shapter, A., Doxey, A.C. and Nissimov, J.I., 2023. Functional profiling and evolutionary analysis of a marine microalgal virus pangenome. Viruses, 15(5), p.1116. https://doi.org/10.3390/v15051116

  • Nissimov, J.I., Vandzura, R., Johns, C.T., Natale, F., Haramaty, L. and Bidle, K.D., 2018. Dynamics of transparent exopolymer particle production and aggregation during viral infection of the coccolithophore, Emiliania huxleyi. Environmental Microbiology, 20(8), pp. 2880-2897. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.14261

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