Ramón Mira de Orduña
Associate Professor

Address, Phone, Fax

E-Mail: rm369@cornell.edu

2001 Ph.D. Massey University (NZ)
1997 M.S. Eberhard-Karls Universität Tübingen (FRG)
1993 B.A./B.S. Eberhard-Karls Universität Tübingen (FRG)

View Full CV (pdf)

Background

B.Sc. (Biology) Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen, Germany (1990 - 1992); M.Sc. (Biology with priorities Microbiology, Biochemistry, Plant Physiology) Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen, Germany (1992 - 1997); Scholar of the German DAAD and the Spanish Foreign Ministry at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain) in Biochermistry and Molecular Biology (1993 - 1994); Masterate Thesis at Universität Tübingen: "Growth and Physiology of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)" (1996-1997); Practical training at Boehringer Mannheim, Germany in the division "Biochemica" (1997); PhD thesis at Massey University, New Zealand: "Arginine Degradation by Malolactic Wine Lactic Acid Bacteria and its Oenological and Toxicological Implications" (1998-May 2001). Postdoctoral Fellow at the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute, Brock University, Canada (Nov 2001 - Oct 2002), Assistant Professor at the Department of Food Science, University of Guelph, Canada (Oct 2002 - 2007). Asoociate Professor of Enology, Department of Food Science and Technology, NYSAES, Cornell University (2007 - present).

Program Overview

My Primary goal is to continue and extend current research activities in the area of wine microbiology and to develop further research foci in the fermentation and food safety areas in order to compensate for potential research funding shortfalls from the absence of federal grant opportunities for wine research.

Specific research projects will continue to evolve around compounds that interact with bacterial and yeast metabolism and are relevant for wine quality and human health alike, such as acetaldehyde and amino acids. Beyond wine microbiology we are interested in microbial iron acquisition and the application of iron removal strategies on food safety and human pathogenesis.

In order to achieve these research goals, rapidly establishing the necessary research infrastructure and attracting qualified personnel will be essential. One MSc candidate has been attracted and we are currently searching an appropriate Post Doctoral Fellow.

With regards to teaching, I have current teaching responsibilities for several modules within FD SC 430 (Understanding Wine and Beer) and will prepare the FD SC 340 (Winemaking Technology) for the Fall term. We will also be working towards creating as independent undergrauate major for Viticulture & Enology at Cornell University.

Teaching

• FD SC 340 Microbiology and Technology of Winemaking (Login for enrolled students)
• FD SC 430 Understanding Wine and Beer (co-instructor)
• FST600 Seminar Series: Working Files

Recent publications

• Jussier, D., Dubé Morneau, A., Mira de Orduña, R. 2006 Effect of simultaneous inoculation with yeast and bacteria on fermentation kinetics and key wine parameters of cool-climate chardonnay. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. (72): 221-227 Abstract
• Osborne, J. P., Dubé Morneau, A. and Mira de Orduña, R. 2006 Degradation of free and sulphur dioxide bound acetaldehyde by malolactic lactic acid bacteria in white wine. J. Appl. Microbiol. (101): 474-479 Abstract
• Terrade, N. and Mira de Orduña, R. 2006 Impact of Winemaking Practices on Arginine and Citrulline Metabolism during and after Malolactic Fermentation. J. Appl. Microbiol. (101): 406-411 Abstract
• R. Mira de Orduña 2001. Quantitative determination of L-arginine by enzymatic end-point analysis. J. Agric. Food Chem. (49): 549-55 Abstract
• Mira de Orduña, R., Patchett, M. L., Liu, S.-Q. and Pilone, G. J. 2001 Growth and arginine metabolism of wine lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus buchneri and Oenococcus oeni at different pH values and arginine concentrations. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. (67): 1657-1662 Abstract
• Mira de Orduña, R. and U. Theobald 2000: Intracellular glucose 6-phosphate content in Streptomyces coelicolor upon environmental changes in a defined medium. J.Biotechnol. 77 (2-3):209-218. Abstract
• Mira de Orduña, R., S. Q. Liu, M. L. Patchett, and G. J. Pilone 2000: Ethyl carbamate precursor citrulline formation from arginine degradation by malolactic wine lactic acid bacteria. FEMS Microbiol.Lett. 183 (1):31-35. Abstract
• Mira de Orduña, R., S. Q. Liu, M. L. Patchett, and G. J. Pilone 2000. Kinetics of the arginine metabolism of malolactic wine lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus buchneri CUC-3 and Oenococcus oeni Lo111. J. Appl. Microbiol. (89): 547-552 Abstract
• Osborne, J. P., R. Mira de Orduña, S.-Q. Liu, and G. J. Pilone. 2000. Acetaldehyde metabolism by wine lactic acid bacteria. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. (191): 51-55 Abstract