Kesen Ma

Dr. Kesen Ma is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Waterloo. His research focuses on physiology and enzymology of hyperthermophiles, a group of microorganisms growing at temperatures of boiling water. Metabolic processes involved in the conversion of biomass to biofuels and bioproducts at elevated temperatures are studied. Novel thermostable enzymes functioning in these processes are identified and characterized. His research provides further understanding of the mechanisms of protein thermostability, unusual metabolic pathways and biocatalysis at high temperatures, and also explores potential applications of these biocatalysts in pharmaceutical and other industrial processes.

Hyperthermophiles are a group of microorganisms isolated mainly from deep sea hydrothermal vents and capable of growing at temperatures of 90°C and above. The majority of hyperthermophiles are classified as Archaea that are considered as the most slowly evolving of all microorganisms. The metabolism at such high temperature (>100°C) raises many biochemical questions: how are biomolecules stabilized? are there new metabolic pathways and novel metabolites? do these pathways contain unusual enzymes with yet unknown catalytic mechanisms? what is the relationship between structure and function of biomolecules that evolved under extreme conditions? Answering these questions will provide valuable insight into high temperature biochemistry and protein engineering.

Novel enzymes are involved in alcohol fermentation at high temperatures, which include various alcohol dehydrogenases and others in new metabolic pathways. It is particularly interesting to characterize new types of acetaldehyde-producing enzymes from hyperthermophiles. This research will provide further information required for developing a more efficient system for alcohol fermentation at high temperatures, increasing renewable biofuel production that contributes to reducing impacts by consuming fossil fuels and supporting a more sustainable environment.

• Microbiology

• Biochemistry and enzymology

• Protein purification and analysis

• Microbial physiology

• Fermentation

• Molecular biology

• Hyperthermophiles

• Biochemistry and biophysics

• Bioinformatics, systematics and evolution

• Molecular genetics

• Renewable energy

• 1989, PhD Microbial Biochemistry, Philipps-Universitat Marburg, Germany

• 1984, MSc Microbiology, Academia Sinica, Taiwan

• 1982, BSc Microbiology, Wuhan University, China

• 1985, Research Fellow, Max-Planck Institute, Philipps-Universität Marburg

• 1982, Graduate Scholarship, Academia Sinica, Beijing

• 2026 – 2028, Member of Editorial Board of BioTech

• 2022, Member of the committee for program review of the Systems Design and Biomedical Engineering programs

• 2022 – 2025, Member of Departmental Safety Committee

• 2021 – 2024, Faculty Graduate Scholarship Committee

• 2019 – 2022, Associate editor of “Frontiers in microbiology – Microbial Physiology and Metabolism”

• 2018 – 2021, Member of Senate Honorary Degrees Committee

• 2018 – 2021, A Faculty-at-Large representative of the Senate

• 2016 – 2026, Undergraduate Advisor

• 2016 – 2017, Member of the Departmental Merit Committee

• 2006 – 2008, Chair of “Molecular Genetics and Cellular Microbiology” section of Canadian Society of Microbiologists (CSM)

• Editorial Review board members of Frontiers in extreme microbiology (August 2014 – 2016), Frontiers in microbial physiology and metabolism, (February 2014 – 2016), Microorganisms (Editorial Board Member) (2024 – 2026), Current Biotechnology (CBIOT) (2022 – 2023)

• Guest Editor of Biology (2021 – 2022, 2022 – 2024), Microorganisms (2023 – 2024)

• Canadian Society of Microbiologists

• American Society for Microbiology

• International Society for Extremophiles

• 2017 – 2026, Waterloo Centre for Microbial Research

• 2011 – 2026, Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology

• BIOL 239 - Genetics
  • Taught in 2025
• BIOL 240 - Fundamentals of Microbiology
  • Taught in 2022, 2023, 2024
• BIOL 241 - Introduction to Applied Microbiology
  • Taught in 2025
• BIOL 348L - Laboratory Methods in Microbiology
  • Taught in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
• BIOL 448 - Microbial Physiology and Biochemistry
  • Taught in 2021, 2022
• BIOL 618 - Advanced Microbial Physiology
  • Taught in 2022, 2024

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

• For the full list of Kesen Ma's publications, please see Google Scholar.

• • Tse, C. and Ma, K. (2026). Iron-containing alcohol dehydrogenase from hyperthermophiles. BioTech 2026, 15, 6:1-20. https://doi.org/10.3390/biotech15010006

• • Tse, C. and Ma, K. (2024). A Novel Alcohol Dehydrogenase in the Hyperthermophilic Crenarchaeon Hyperthermus butylicus. mLife. 2024; 3:317-325. https://doi.org/10.1002/mlf2.12126

• • Hao, L., Ayinla, Z., Ma, K. (2024). Molecular Characterization of the Iron-Containing Alcohol Dehydrogenase from the Extremely Thermophilic Bacterium Pseudothermotoga hypogea. Microorganisms 2024, 12, 311. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12020311

• • Alharbi, F.; Knura, T.; Siebers, B.; Ma, K. (2022). Thermostable and O2-Insensitive Pyruvate Decarboxylases from Thermoacidophilic Archaea Catalyzing the Production of Acetaldehyde. Biology 2022, 11, 1247. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11081247

• • Eram, M.S., and K. Ma. (2016). Pyruvate decarboxylase activity of the acetohydroxyacid synthase of Thermotoga maritima. Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports. (2016), pp. 394-399. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrep.2016.07.008

• Ma, K. 2013. Thermostable Alcohol Dehydrogenase Derived from Thermococcus guaymasensis. U.S. Patent 8,476,051, jurisdiction United States, patent type Utility, issued July 2, 2013 (valid until March 2031).

• Ma, K. 2010. Thermostable Alcohol Dehydrogenase Derived from Thermococcus guaymasensis. PCT International Patent Application WO/2010/034115, jurisdiction PCT (WO), patent type Patent Cooperation Treaty (PTA) application, filed 2010, entered national phase March 26, 2011.

• Ma, K. 2008. A Thermostable Biocatalyst for Production of Ethanol and Stereo‑Specific Compounds. U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/136,714, jurisdiction United States, patent type Provisional, filed 2008.