Elucidating Microbial Electron Transport Mechanisms For Optimizing Biocatalyzed Processes

该奖项由2009年《美国复苏和再投资法案》(公法111-5)资助。0933145 Orianna BretschgerIntelligence Merge研究表明，微生物燃料电池(MFC)系统可用作培养工具，分离执行细胞外电子转移(EET)到电极表面的微生物生物膜。首席调查员(PI)将使用接种了废水样本的MFC系统来分离进行EET的不同系统发育的生物膜。这些生物膜将通过应用元基因组和元转录分析来表征，以探索与MFC操作变化相关的多样性和基因表达。这些数据将用于：1)识别与EET相关的基因；2)阐明微生物群落中的EET途径；3)制定控制群落动态以稳定系统运行的策略；4)创建新的遗传标记，可用于在系统运行期间对EET进行现场监测。此外，所获得的与EET相关的基因家族知识可应用于EET过程控制的其他生物技术应用，如生物传感器和发酵技术。这些数据还可以用于生物信息学工作，以确定在依赖EET反应的生物技术应用中可以作为理想生物催化剂的候选生物。广泛影响该项目通过以下方式促进更广泛的影响：1)提供博士后研究、出版机会和在科学会议上发表报告的机会；2)促进分子生物学、电化学、基因组测序和后转录分析领域的跨学科本科生研究；3)利用开发的生物电化学系统作为社区推广计划的示范工具，包括圣地亚哥科学节和当地高中演讲机会。除了研究机会，博士后研究员还将参与资助的撰写，并就职业发展和其他机构内的合作研究机会进行指导。本科生实习生将被纳入出版物开发过程，并被邀请在JCVI小组会议和研讨会上介绍他们的研究。这项研究预计将在影响较大的期刊上发表大量同行评议的出版物，这将有助于新的PI、博士后研究员和本科生的专业发展。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).0933145Orianna BretschgerIntellectual merit Research has shown that Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) systems can be used as cultivation tools to isolate microbial biofilms that perform Extracellular Electron Transfer (EET) to electrode surfaces. The Principal Investigators (PIs) will use MFC systems inoculated with wastewater samples to isolate phylogenetically diverse biofilms that perform EET. These biofilms will be characterized by applying metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses to explore diversity and gene expression associated with changes in MFC operation. These data will be used to: 1) identify genes associated with EET; 2) elucidate EET pathway in the microbial community; 3) devise strategies for controlling community dynamics for stable systems operation; 4) create new genetic markers that can be used to monitor EET in-situ during system operation. Furthermore, the knowledge gained about gene families associated with EET can be applied to other biotechnology applications that are controlled by EET processes, such as biosensors and fermentation technology. These data can also be employed in a bioinformatics effort to identify candidate organisms that could serve as ideal biocatalysts in biotechnology applications reliant on EET reactions.Broader impactsThis project contributes to a broader impact by: 1) providing opportunities for postdoctoral research, publication opportunities, and presentations at scientific meetings; 2) facilitating interdisciplinary undergraduate research in the areas of molecular biology, electrochemistry, genome sequencing and metatranscriptomic analyses; and 3) utilizing the developed bioelectrochemical systems as demonstration tools for community outreach programs including the San Diego Science Festival and local high school speaking opportunities. In addition to research opportunities, post-doctoral fellows will also be involved with grant writing, and mentored about career development and collaborative research opportunities within other institutions. Undergraduate interns will be integrated into the publication development process and invited to present their research during JCVI group meetings and seminars. This research is expected to produce numerous peer-reviewed publications in high impact journals, which will contribute to the professional development of the new PI, post-doctoral fellows and undergraduate interns.