Metagenomic Exploration of Virus-host Interactions in Deep-sea Hydrothermal Vent Environments

深海热液喷口环境中病毒与宿主相互作用的宏基因组探索

• 批准号: 0731916
• 负责人: K. Wommack
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Delaware
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2007-12-15 至 2012-11-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0731916&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Metagenomic; Exploration; Virus; host; Interactions

In the late 1970s, hydrothermal vents, characterized by caustic chemistry, hot temperatures, and high pressure, were discovered as oases of life in the deep sea. Here, ancient and unusual microbes, capable of extracting energy from volcanic rather than solar energy, were found to be the basis of this archean ecosystem. In the late 1980's, direct examination of water samples revealed that viruses were extraordinarily abundant within the global ocean. Subsequent research now indicates that viruses are the most abundant life form on Earth, estimated to number 10 to the 31st power (1 followed by 31 zeros) individuals. And, only in the past year, it was discovered that DNA viruses comprise the largest pool of uncharacterized genetic diversity in the biosphere. The central objective of this research program is to explore the abundant, but largely unknown, assemblages of viruses within the hostile environments of deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Because viruses can significantly alter the biological characteristics of their microbial hosts, in some cases changing benign bacteria into pathogens, it is possible that viruses at the deep-sea vents are intimately involved in assisting microbial life cope with the challenging conditions of deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Data from this research will expand on-going efforts to describe the full extent of genetic diversity on Earth. DNA sequence data from this project will reveal thousands of new genes and protein groups and possibly entirely new viral clades (families) existing at the vents. Outreach and education efforts during the project will include all levels of science education. The team will use an internet-based interactive education program designed to involve thousands of elementary and middle school students in the daily scientific progress of the oceanographic field expedition to the vents. Short course workshops conducted in San Diego and in Delaware will train young scientists in the use of microbial DNA sequence data for environmental science. Finally, PhD students and postdoctoral fellows will be trained for the interdisciplinary world of environmental microbiology.

在1970年代后期，以苛性化学，炎热温度和高压为特征的水热通风孔被发现为深海生命的绿洲。 在这里，发现能够从火山而不是太阳能中提取能量的古代和不寻常的微生物是该大帝生态系统的基础。 在1980年代后期，对水样品的直接检查表明，在全球海洋中，病毒非常丰富。 随后的研究现在表明，病毒是地球上最丰富的生命形式，估计为第31次力量（1后31个零）。 而且，仅在过去的一年中，还发现DNA病毒构成了生物圈中最大的未表征遗传多样性池。 该研究计划的核心目的是探索在深海水热通风孔敌对环境中病毒的丰富但未知的组合。 由于病毒可以显着改变其微生物宿主的生物学特征，因此在某些情况下，将良性细菌转化为病原体，因此深海通风孔的病毒可能密切参与帮助微生物寿命应对深海热液的挑战性条件。这项研究的数据将扩大持续的努力，以描述地球上遗传多样性的全部范围。 来自该项目的DNA序列数据将揭示数千个新基因和蛋白质群，可能是通风孔存在的全新病毒进化枝（家族）。 该项目期间的外展和教育工作将包括所有级别的科学教育。 该团队将使用一个基于互联网的互动教育计划，旨在让成千上万的小学和中学生参与海洋实地考察到通风口的日常科学进步。 在圣地亚哥和特拉华州举办的简短课程研讨会将培训年轻科学家使用微生物DNA序列数据进行环境科学。最后，博士生和博士后研究员将接受环境微生物学跨学科世界的培训。