RUI: Polyphasic Characterization and Phylogenetic Classification of the Problematic Form-Genus Leptolyngbya (Cyanobacteria)

约翰·卡罗尔大学（John Carroll University）的杰弗里·r·约翰森（Jeffrey R. Johansen）博士获得了一笔赠款，用于研究一种有问题的蓝绿藻（蓝藻）属，名为leppolyynbya。这个属是难以理解的，因为它有很少的形态特征，但发生在各种各样的生境类型。形态学上相似的形式被发现实际上在16S rRNA基因序列方面非常不同。约翰森博士将采用多相方法对来自世界各地的60多种微生物进行鉴定，其中包括从过去美国国家科学基金会支持的项目中分离出来的大量沙漠土壤形式。多相鉴定意味着将收集这些菌株的形态、遗传、生态和生理数据，以便对属进行修订。初步证据表明，该属中有许多新种，甚至可能有值得创造新属的物种群。与所有其他蓝藻分类学研究和大多数细菌学系统研究不同，该项目将测试三个现代物种概念对无性物种的适用性。在为新分类群指定一套新类型材料方面将进一步开创先例。决定分类群进化关系的系统发育分析将以细菌特有的方式进行，而在其他类群中并不常见。这项工作将帮助我们描绘世界生物多样性的特征。它可以作为一个例子，为其他人希望使用现代系统的方法来描述新的蓝藻物种。优秀的系统和分类是必要的蓝藻生物技术，药理学和回收目的的发展。

A grant has been awarded to Dr. Jeffrey R. Johansen of John Carroll University to study a problematic genus of blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) called Leptolyngbya. This genus is difficult to understand because it has very few morphological characters, but occurs in a wide variety of habitat types. Morphologically similar forms have been found to be actually very different in terms of their 16S rRNA gene sequence. Dr. Johansen will use a polyphasic approach to characterize over 60 strains of this microbe from collections all over the world, including an extensive collection of desert soil forms isolated as part of a past NSF-supported project. Polyphasic characterization means that morphological, genetic, ecological, and physiological data will be collected on these strains, so that the genus can be revised. Preliminary evidence indicates that there are many new species in the genus, and probably even groups of species that merit creation of new genera. Unlike all other cyanobacterial taxonomic studies and most bacteriological systematic studies, this project will test the applicability of three modern species concepts for asexual species. Further precedents will be set in designating a suite of new kinds of type materials for new taxa. Phylogenetic analyses, which determine evolutionary relationships of taxa, will be run in ways unique to bacteria and uncommon in other groups. This work will help us to characterize biodiversity in the world. It may serve as an example for others wishing to use modern systematic approaches to describe new cyanobacterial species. Excellent systematics and taxonomy are necessary for development of the cyanobacteria for biotechnological, pharmacological, and reclamation purposes.