A Taxonomic Revision and Phylogenetic Investigation of Five Groups of Species in the Genus Vorticella (Protista, Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea)

Vorticella属中的纤毛虫原生生物是广泛存在的，众所周知的水生微生物，但单个种类的识别是困难的，并且对它们的进化知之甚少。 美国和中国的合作者将利用各种各样的新信息（特别是基因序列）来梳理五组涡孢属物种的分类和进化关系，开始解决这个问题。 活动将包括：（1）从北美、中国和欧洲收集许多新的样本;（2）使用显微摄影和现代成像技术来记录和描述信息丰富的细胞结构和生命周期阶段;（3）对各种基因进行测序;（4）使用全方位的信息（结构、发育和遗传）来破译进化关系。其结果将是更可靠地鉴定涡藻属物种，使它们更容易用作水质和水传播毒素的生物指示剂，这是它们对社会的最大价值。 基于网络的识别密钥和信息库将有助于这种使用。 收集的信息将为重新分类近200个物种的整个属奠定基础，并在Vorticella所属的更大生物群中产生更多的进化知识。 最后，这将是对微生物的地理分布和物种多样性的重大调查，这是一个仍处于起步阶段的调查领域。 研究将在NC进行。中央大学，这是主要是非洲裔美国人，多样化的研究工作和培训本科生从一个代表性不足的少数民族的职业生涯在生物研究。

Ciliated protists in the genus Vorticella are widespread, well-known, aquatic micro-organisms, but identification of individual kinds is difficult and little is known about their evolution. American and Chinese collaborators will use a wide variety of new information (especially gene sequences) to sort out classification and evolutionary relationships of five groups of Vorticella species to begin solving this problem. Activities will include: (1) collecting many new samples from North America, China, and Europe; (2) using photomicrography and modern imaging techniques to document and describe informative cellular structures and life cycle stages; (3) sequencing a variety of genes; and (4) using a full range of information (structural, developmental, and genetic) to decipher evolutionary relationships. The result will be more reliable identification of Vorticella species that will make them easier to use as bioindicators of water quality and waterborne toxins, their greatest value to society. A web-based identification key and information bank will aid this kind of use. Information gathered will lay a foundation for reclassifying the entire genus of nearly 200 species and yield greater knowledge of evolution in the larger group of organisms to which Vorticella belongs. Finally, this will be a major investigation of geographic distribution and species diversity of micro-organisms, an area of inquiry still in its infancy. Research will be done at N.C. Central University, which is predominantly African-American, diversifying its research effort and training undergraduates from an under-represented minority for careers in biological research.