CAREER: Ecology of Chlororespiring Bacterial Populations and Biochemical Studies of the Dehalogenating Enzyme Systems

职业：氯呼吸细菌种群生态学和脱卤酶系统的生化研究

• 批准号: 0090496
• 负责人: Frank Loeffler
• 金额: $ 52.59万
• 依托单位: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2001
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2001-03-01 至 2007-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0090496&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CAREER; Ecology; Chlororespiring; Bacterial; Populations

Most living beings we observe in nature breathe oxygen, a prerequisite for the existence of aerobic organisms, including humans. In many lake and river sediments or waterlogged soils oxygen is not available, yet many bacteria thrive in such oxygen-depleted (anaerobic) environments. Instead of oxygen, anaerobic bacteria use other compounds to drive respiration, compounds such as nitrate, sulfate, or, as recent discoveries have demonstrated, chlorinated chemicals. Respiration using chlorinated compounds destroys those chlorinated chemicals, and hence, diminishes toxicity to humans. This project will elucidate distribution, abundance, diversity, physiology, and ecological function of bacterial populations that respire with chlorinated compounds. The PI will characterize the enzymes involved, explore the diversity of dechlorinating enzyme systems in these bacteria, and explore the evolution of these systems. Samples from a variety of geographically distinct locations (including Antarctica, Siberian permafrost, the deep subsurface, hydrothermal vents, and hot springs) will be examined, and bacterial populations of interest will be studied in detail. State-of-the-art nucleic acid-based tools will be used and improved to detect, monitor, and quantify these organisms. Because man-made chlorinated compounds (e.g. pesticides, solvents, etc.) are major environmental pollutants, this project, aimed at understanding the basic biology and ecology of chlororespiring bacteria, can provide a basis for exploring how these specialized organisms can be exploited to assist in clean-up efforts at contaminated sites.This is a CAREER award, integrating research and educational activities. Undergraduate and graduate students will be involved in this research project. To improve minority participation and faculty interaction, a Visiting Student Researcher Development (VSRD) program with the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez will be initiated. In addition, high school teachers (and their students) will be given an opportunity to experience new technologies by participating in a summer program of scientific inquiry.

我们在自然界观察到的大多数生物都呼吸氧气，这是包括人类在内的需氧生物存在的先决条件。 在许多湖泊和河流沉积物或积水土壤中，氧气是不可用的，但许多细菌在这种缺氧（厌氧）环境中茁壮成长。 厌氧细菌不使用氧气，而是使用其他化合物来驱动呼吸，例如硝酸盐、硫酸盐或最近发现的氯化化学物质。 使用氯化化合物的呼吸会破坏这些氯化化学品，从而减少对人类的毒性。 本计画将探讨呼吸含氯化合物之细菌族群之分布、丰度、多样性、生理学及生态功能。 PI将表征所涉及的酶，探索这些细菌中脱氯酶系统的多样性，并探索这些系统的进化。 将对来自不同地理位置（包括南极洲、西伯利亚永久冻土、深层地下、热液喷口和温泉）的样本进行检查，并将详细研究感兴趣的细菌种群。 将使用和改进最先进的基于核酸的工具来检测、监测和量化这些生物体。 因为人造氯化物（如杀虫剂、溶剂等）是主要的环境污染物，本项目旨在了解氯呼吸细菌的基本生物学和生态学，为探索如何利用这些特殊生物来帮助清理污染场地提供基础。这是一个集研究和教育活动于一体的CAREER奖。 本科生和研究生将参与这项研究项目。为了提高少数民族的参与和教师的互动，访问学生研究员发展（VSRD）计划与波多黎各大学马亚圭斯将启动。 此外，高中教师（和他们的学生）将有机会通过参加科学探究的夏季计划来体验新技术。