Microbial Genome Sequencing: Gene Discovery and Mapping Tools for Ichthyophthirius: A Complementary DNA Resource

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In this project, an archive of full-length cDNAs representing the preponderance of genes expressed during the life cycle of the parasitic ciliate Ichthyophthirius multifiliis will be sequenced. Ichthyophthirius (known commonly as Ich) is a major pathogen of freshwater fish and has substantial impact on aquaculture in this country and abroad. At the same time, it represents an extremely interesting biological system with respect to its taxonomy and life style. Over the past 50 years, the ciliates have contributed enormously to our understanding of cellular and molecular biology. Despite this, a paucity of genomic sequence data exists for the phylum as a whole. High-throughput sequencing efforts are currently slated for 3 free-living species (namely, Tetrahymena thermophila, Paramecium tetraurelia and Oxytricha trifallax), and the work undertaken in this project should lend to a more complete understanding of ciliate biology and evolution. In addition, the project is expected to yield fundamental insights into the nature of virulence and parasitism in I. multifiliis leading ultimately to more effective treatments against disease. Finally, the project will be conducted entirely within an academic setting and will include the training of undergraduate students in a range of disciplines that spans bioinformatics, computational biology and molecular genetics.