Microbial Genome Sequencing: Genome of Epichloe Festucae, a Model Endophyte of Grasses

微生物基因组测序：草类内生菌模型 Epichloe Festucae 的基因组

• 批准号: 0523661
• 负责人: Christopher Schardl
• 金额: $ 77.11万
• 依托单位: University of Kentucky Research Foundation
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2005
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2005-10-01 至 2008-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0523661&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Microbial; Genome; Sequencing; Epichloe; Festucae

Fungi play numerous important roles in ecology, agriculture and medicine. Some decompose organic materials, others are pathogens, and others are mutualistic symbionts important for plant health or animal nutrition. The Epichloe species are symbionts (endophytes) of grass plants with both mutualistic and pathogenic states. They and the related endophytes enhance drought tolerance, insect resistance, and other fitness factors in many temperate grasses used as forage or turf, but some also produce toxins that can negatively affect grazing animals. The goal of this project is to sequence the genome of the model endophyte, Epichloe festucae, in order to discover genes involved in mutualistic and pathogenic interactions with host plants, as well as with grazing animals. The fungal genome will be fragmented and cloned into plasmids, approximately 150,000 of which will be sequenced from both ends of the inserted genomic DNA. Computer analysis will identify sequence overlaps, resulting in assembly into large scaffolds, and these assemblies will be subjected to other computer analyses to identify the genes. Discovered genes will suggest mechanisms of fungal benefits to host plants, the transition to pathogenesis, and toxin biosynthesis. The genome sequence of this model plant-symbiotic fungus will be a crucial resource to the broader scientific community for comprehensive genetic studies of plant protection, plant disease and toxin biosynthesis. Furthermore, this and related fungal endophytes have major economic impacts, both negative and positive, in U.S. agriculture. A negative impact is that some cause livestock toxicosis costing the beef industry $600 million annually, with additional impacts on other livestock and wildlife. The major positive impact is that these endophytes improve longevity and productivity of pasture, turf, and conservation grass stands. This project will help elucidate the mechanisms both of beneficial and detrimental endophyte effects, thus facilitating agricultural utilization of endophytes to maximize their overall benefits.

真菌在生态，农业和医学中扮演着许多重要角色。一些分解有机材料，另一些是病原体，而另一些是对植物健康或动物营养很重要的共生共生体。 Epichloe物种是具有共同和致病状态的草植物的共生物（内生植物）。它们和相关的内生菌在许多用作草料或草皮的温带草中增强了干旱耐受性，抗昆虫的耐药性和其他健身因素，但有些还会产生可能对放牧动物产生负面影响的毒素。该项目的目的是对模型内生菌Epichloe Festucae的基因组进行测序，以发现与宿主植物以及与放牧动物相互作用和致病性相互作用涉及的基因。真菌基因组将被碎裂并克隆到质粒中，其中约150,000个将从插入的基因组DNA的两端进行测序。计算机分析将识别序列重叠，从而导致组装成大型支架，并且这些组件将经过其他计算机分析以识别基因。发现的基因将提出对宿主植物的真菌益处的机制，向发病机理的过渡和毒素生物合成。该模型植物生物真菌的基因组序列将成为更广泛的科学界的重要资源，用于植物保护，植物性疾病和毒素生物合成的全面遗传研究。此外，在美国农业中，这种和相关的真菌内生菌具有负面影响，无论是负面的还是积极的。负面影响是，某些人每年造成牲畜毒性造成的牛肉毒素，每年耗资6亿美元，对其他牲畜和野生动植物产生其他影响。主要的积极影响是这些内生菌提高了牧场，草皮和保护草的寿命和生产力。该项目将有助于阐明有益的和有害的内生菌效应的机制，从而促进内生植物的农业利用，以最大程度地提高其整体益处。