MO: Diversity and Ecology of Archael Viruses from Yellowstone Thermal Environments

该项目的总体目标是在黄石温泉中发现新的病毒，并了解它们在决定它们存在的微生物群落的组成和功能方面所起的作用。这项研究的具体目标是为我们对病毒多样性、生态学和进化的理解做出重大贡献。具体目标是：(i)显著扩展对病毒多样性的认识；（ii）阐明病毒运动对病毒和微生物群落结构和动力学的机制和影响。这些目标将通过对黄石国家公园发现的高温（80°C）酸性（pH4.0）温泉相关的总病毒群落进行时间采样和分析来实现。病毒运动的影响和运动的机制将分别通过阻断在温泉内的迁移和直接采样空气柱的病毒进行实验研究。这个项目更广泛的意义和科学重要性在于了解病毒如何以及在多大程度上影响地球的生态系统。这项研究的目的是开始克服我们对病毒多样性和功能的无知，这是由于与它们的细胞宿主相比，它们受到的关注有限。这项研究的更广泛的影响包括，但远远超出了博士后和研究生，本科生和高中生的培训。这些更广泛的影响包括制定一项促进黄石热环境的动态外展计划，包括但不限于：(i)通过制定科学课程，针对全国K-12学生和教师的外展计划；实地教师培训班；（iii）参与各种社区外展计划，包括社区系列讲座；成年人参加实地经验；(v)参加ParKids，这是一项针对黄石门户社区儿童的为期3天的热生物学学习体验；以及（vi）分发有关黄石公园热生物学和我们的研究的国内和国际电影纪录片、广播和通俗报刊文章。

The overall goal of this project is to discover novel viruses in Yellowstone hot springs, and learn what role they play in determining composition and function of the microbial communities in which they exist. The specific objective of the research is to significantly contribute to our understanding of virus diversity, ecology, and evolution. The specific aims are to (i) significantly expand knowledge of virus diversity and (ii) elucidate the mechanism(s) and impacts of virus movement on virus and microbial community structure and dynamics. These aims will be accomplished by temporal sampling and analysis of total virus communities associated with high temperature (80°C) acidic (pH4.0) hot springs found in Yellowstone National Park. The effects of virus movement and the mechanism of movement will be investigated experimentally by blocking migration within a hot spring and by directly sampling the air column for viruses, respectively.The broader significance and scientific importance of this project is to understand how and to what extent viruses influence Earth's ecosystems. This research is aimed at beginning to overcome our ignorance of virus diversity and function in nature due to the limited attention that they have received as compared to their cellular hosts. The broader impacts of this research include, but extend well beyond the training of postdocs and graduate, undergraduate and high school students. These broader impacts encompass development of a dynamic outreach program promoting Yellowstone's thermal environments, including but not limited to, (i) an outreach program that targets K-12 learners and teachers nationally through the development of science curriculum; (ii) a field-based teacher training class; (iii) participation in a variety of community outreach programs including a community lecture series; (iv) participation in field experiences for adults; (v) participation in ParKids, a 3-day thermal biology based learning experience for kids in Yellowstone Gateway communities; and (vi) distribution of national and international film documentaries, radio and popular press articles concerning Yellowstone's thermal biology and our research.