RUI: Microbial Processes Facilitating Xylophagy in a Loricariid

这个项目的重点是一个迷人的一组鱼-装甲鲶鱼，从属Panaque，其中包括成员能够生存和获得能源，通过吃木材。 吃木头或食木是一种罕见的饮食策略，通常涉及复杂的肠道微生物群落。 该项目的一个主要目标是确定存在于食木Panaque nigrolineatus胃肠道（GI）中的微生物群落，并研究用于纤维素分解和固氮的机制，使这种食木生活方式成为可能。 将进行一项长期的饮食实验，以比较饲喂草本饮食和仅饲喂木材饮食的鱼类中的微生物群落。 DNA测序和其他分子方法将允许在鱼受到不同的饮食制度的微生物群落的描述，此外，比较微生物群落在鱼胃肠道的不同区域，精确定位纤维素分解涉及的关键领域。 还将通过分离参与这一重要全球过程的基因，以及培养与Panaque胃肠道相关的固氮微生物来检查固氮。 该项目的更广泛的科学意义包括提高我们对纤维素分解和固氮基因多样性的认识，以及食木鱼类中微生物群落的重要性。 纤维素是生物圈中最丰富的碳聚合物，然而，很少有降解途径的特点。 由于纤维素是全球碳循环中的重要化合物，也是生物质燃料生产的潜在来源，因此更好地了解其在环境中的降解至关重要。 此外，新途径的发现可能对生物燃料生产和全球碳和氮循环产生重要影响。 教育影响包括在本研究项目期间对研究生和本科生的培训。 计划与巴尔的摩市一所小学开展一项外联活动，为3-8年级的儿童提供动手机会，目的是促进科学成为这些儿童的职业选择。

This project focuses on a fascinating group of fish - armored catfish, from the genus Panaque, which include members that are capable of surviving and obtaining energy by eating wood. Wood eating, or xylophagy, is a rare dietary strategy and often involves a complex intestinal tract microbial community. A major goal of this project is to identify the microbial communities present in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of the wood eating Panaque nigrolineatus and examine the mechanisms used for cellulose decomposition and nitrogen fixation that enable this xylophagous lifestyle. A long-term dietary experiment will be performed to compare the microbial communities in fish fed an herbaceous diet to those fed a wood-only diet. DNA sequencing and other molecular methods will allow the description of microbial communities in fish subjected to different dietary regimes and furthermore, compare microbial communities in different regions of the fish GI tract, pinpointing key areas involved in cellulose breakdown. Nitrogen fixation will also be examined by isolating genes involved in this vital global process, and by culturing nitrogen fixing microorganisms associated with the Panaque GI tract. Broader scientific implications of this project include enhancing our knowledge of cellulolytic and nitrogen fixation gene diversity and the importance of the microbial community within xylophagous fish. Cellulose is the most abundant carbon polymer in the biosphere, yet, few degradation pathways have been characterized. As cellulose is an important compound in the global carbon cycle and a potential source for biomass fuel generation, gaining a better better understanding of its degradation in the environment is critical. Furthermore, discovery of novel pathways may have critical implications for biofuel production and the global carbon and nitrogen cycles. Educational impacts include the training of graduate and undergraduate students during this research project. An outreach activity with a Baltimore City elementary school is planned, enabling a hands-on opportunity for children in grades 3-8 with the goal of promoting science as a career choice for these children.