CAA: Microbial Community and Gene Expression Profiles Produced During Decay of Resistant Woods in Forest Soil: Generation of a Research Mentor

木材腐烂对于碳循环和维持健康的森林至关重要。然而，它是一种复杂的、知之甚少的、经济上昂贵的现象，不是由一种微生物引起的，而是由一个微生物群落引起的。 在土壤生态系统中，随着时间的推移，定居在耐腐和不耐腐树种上的生物群落的身份尚未得到揭示。 导致木材腐烂的主要微生物是一种叫做担子菌的真菌。这些真菌通过分泌一系列酶来分解木材的主要成分：纤维素，半纤维素和木质素。 为了更好地了解导致木材腐烂的微生物活动的动态，本研究旨在确定细菌，放线菌和木材腐烂真菌及其酶，这些酶是随着时间的推移在高腐烂土壤生态系统中不同木材物种最初腐烂的原因。 将通过克隆和16 s和ITS片段的DNA序列确定微生物鉴定，并通过末端限制性片段多态性（T-RFLP）随时间推移进行监测。将通过定量PCR测定基因表达谱。在这项研究结束时，预计将获得更好的微生物群落和参与木材腐烂的酶的特性，这将为揭示导致木材腐烂的复杂微生物相互作用的真实情况奠定基础。更广泛的影响一个教育推广部分将与这项研究的科学工作一起进行。 非裔美国本科生和高中生将被招募参加这项研究，并有机会在进行这一为期两年的项目“动手”的经验。预计这些学生将更好地欣赏和理解分子工具如何用于回答生物学问题，培养他们的专业表达能力，并为其他潜在的学生树立榜样。

Wood decay is essential for carbon recycling and maintaining a healthy forest. However, it is a complex, poorly understood and economically costly phenomenon caused not by one microorganism but by a community of microorganisms. The identity of the community of organisms that colonize and decay resistant and non-resistant wood species over time in a soil ecosystem has not been revealed. The predominant microorganisms responsible for wood decay are fungi called basidiomycetes. These fungi degrade wood by secreting a suite of enzymes that breakdown the principle components of wood: cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. To better understand the dynamics of the microbial activities that lead to wood decay, this research seeks to identify the bacteria, actinomycetes and wood decay fungi and their enzymes that are responsible for the initial decay of different wood species in a high decay soil ecosystem over time. Microbial identification will be determined by cloning and DNA sequences of the 16s and ITS fragments and monitored over time by terminal restriction fragment polymorphisms (T-RFLP). Gene expression profiles will be determined by quantitative PCR. At the conclusion of this study it is anticipated that a better characterization of the microbial community and the enzymes involved in wood decay will be obtained which will lay the foundation for revealing the true picture of the complex microbial interactions that are responsible for wood decay.Broader ImpactsAn educational outreach component will be conducted in conjunction with the scientific work of this research. African-American undergraduate and high school students will be recruited to participate in this research and given an opportunity for "hands on" experience in conducting this two year project. It is anticipated that these students will gain a better appreciation and understanding of how molecular tools can be used to answer biological questions, develop their professional presentation skills, and serve as role models to others potential students.