Microbial Genome Sequencing: Comparative Whole Genome Sequencing of Grain Weevil Endosymbionts

微生物基因组测序：谷象内共生体的比较全基因组测序

• 批准号: 0523818
• 负责人: Colin Dale
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Utah
• 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 2011-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0523818&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Microbial; Genome; Sequencing; Comparative; Whole

The major aim of this project is to determine the complete genome sequences of two closely related bacterial endosymbionts that live in obligate symbiosis with the grain weevils Sitophilus zeamais and Sitophilus oryzae. Although neither of these bacterial endosymbionts have been cultured in the laboratory, their DNA will be extracted directly from insect tissues and sequenced using automated, high-throughput procedures at the University of Utah Genome Center. The sequence data will be annotated, analyzed and made accessible to the public through the NCBI microbial genomes database. Comparative bioinformatic analyses will be performed on the complete endosymbiont genome sequences to understand the life histories and lifestyles of the weevil endosymbionts. In the context of the wide array of microbial life on our planet the weevil endosymbionts are important for a number of reasons. They have served as a model system in symbiosis research for over a century, with more than 100 scientific papers describing studies involving this system. Interaction between host and endosymbiont also will serve as a model for the study of degenerative evolutionary processes known to affect the genomes of both beneficial and harmful bacterial associates of animals and plants. Finally, the weevils themselves are major insect pests of stored grain products. Many billions of dollars are lost each year as a result of weevil infestation. The availability of the complete genome sequences of the weevil endosymbionts will provide an understanding of biological interplay between the weevil hosts and their bacterial partners. This should prove useful in the development of new pest control strategies. The current project offers numerous opportunities for the training of high-school students along with undergraduate and postgraduate university students in the fields of bioinformatics, genomics and evolution. Students will have opportunities to interact with scientists from a wide range of disciplines including biology, computer science and engineering.

该项目的主要目的是确定两种密切相关的细菌内共生体的完整基因组序列，这两种细菌内共生体与谷物象鼻虫玉米象和玉米象共生。 虽然这两种细菌内共生体都没有在实验室中培养过，但它们的DNA将直接从昆虫组织中提取，并在犹他州大学基因组中心使用自动化、高通量程序进行测序。 序列数据将被注释、分析，并通过NCBI微生物基因组数据库向公众开放。 将对完整的内共生体基因组序列进行比较生物信息学分析，以了解象鼻虫内共生体的生活史和生活方式。在我们这个星球上广泛存在微生物的背景下，象鼻虫内共生体是重要的，原因有很多。它们已经作为共生研究的模型系统超过世纪，有100多篇科学论文描述了涉及该系统的研究。 宿主和内共生体之间的相互作用也将作为研究已知影响动植物有益和有害细菌相关物基因组的退化进化过程的模型。 最后，象鼻虫本身是储粮产品的主要害虫。 象鼻虫的侵扰每年造成数十亿美元的损失。 象鼻虫内共生菌的完整基因组序列的可用性将提供象鼻虫宿主和它们的细菌伙伴之间的生物相互作用的理解。 这将有助于制定新的虫害防治战略。 目前的项目为高中生沿着大学本科生和研究生提供了生物信息学、基因组学和进化领域的培训机会。 学生将有机会与来自生物学，计算机科学和工程等广泛学科的科学家进行互动。