Assembling the viral tree of life

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。近年来，病毒在控制和塑造所有生态系统方面发挥着重要作用。 然而，对于在所有环境中发现的病毒的多样性和类型只有有限的了解。 据估计，只有不到0.01%到0.1%的病毒被发现。 赠款的目标是开始通过开发和实施发现和描述以前未知病毒的工具来克服这一缺陷。 本项目将开发环境样品的高通量DNA测序技术，以完成总体研究目标。 这项研究通过扩大我们对地球上生物多样性维度的了解，以及恢复法案资助高风险，高回报研究以及创造和保留科学劳动力就业机会的目标，达到了NSF DEB的目标。该项目更广泛的意义和科学重要性是培养下一代病毒学科学家，同时为理解地球上生命的多样性和功能做出重大贡献。 该项目将培养本科生和研究生以及生命科学前沿的博士后学者。 我们完全可以预期，通过这次培训，这些人将成为美国科学奋进的重要贡献者。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).In recent years it has become evident that viruses play a major role in controlling and shaping all ecosystems. However, there is only a limited knowledge of the diversity and types of viruses that are found in all environments. It is estimated that less than 0.01 to 0.1 % of viruses have been discovered. The goal of the grant is to begin to overcome this deficiency by the development and implementation of tools to discover and characterize previously unknown viruses. This project will develop high throughput DNA sequencing technology of environmental samples to accomplish the overall research goals. This research meets NSF DEB goals by expanding our knowledge about the dimensions of biodiversity on the planet, and the goals of the Recovery Act to fund high risk, high return research and create and retain jobs in the scientific workforce. The broader significance and scientific importance of this project is to train the next generation of scientists in virology, while significantly contributing to the understanding of the diversity and function of life on earth. This project will train undergraduate and graduate students as well as postdoctoral scholars at the cutting edge of the life sciences. It is fully anticipated that as a result of this training these individuals will become significant future contributors to the US scientific endeavor.