EAGER: Assessing Functional Diversity of Algal Communities at the Single Cell Level with a Compact Multi-function Microfluidic Cytometer

光合微藻是水生系统中主要的主要食物生产者，藻类群体培养在生产油基燃料和从大气中去除二氧化碳方面具有强大的潜力。然而，食物/油的藻类产量波动很大，其原因尚不清楚，因为目前无法获得自然条件下单个藻类细胞的信息。这种需求在这里通过一种新技术（一种定制的、多功能的、超紧凑的细胞仪）来解决，这种技术能够同时评估单个藻类细胞利用太阳能进行光合作用的效率和它们的油含量。鉴于微生物对人类健康、能源需求和生态系统可持续性的至关重要性？在缺乏确定微生物功能多样性特征的技术的情况下？这项研究解决了一个迫切的需求。具体来说，这项研究将(i)首先用实验室培养的藻类确认细胞仪的性能，（ii）增加进一步的监测参数，以区分混合自然群落中的单个藻类细胞，以及（iii）评估科罗拉多州湖泊中这些群落中藻类的功能多样性。这项研究的结果有望更好地预测有毒藻华和整个食物链中微生物油含量变化的影响，以及识别生物燃料生产中具有优越性能的藻类。这个高度多元化的合作研究团队包括生态学家、生物物理学家和光生物学家，因此不仅提供了新技术和生态专业知识的必要交集，而且为学生提供了跨学科的教育机会，特别是对具有数学、物理或工程背景的学生进行生物学（藻类生理学和生态学）培训。

Photosynthetic microalgae are dominant primary food producers in aquatic systems, and algal mass culture has a strong potential to produce oil-based fuel and to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. However, algal production of foods/oils fluctuates strongly, and the reasons for this are unknown since information on individual algal cells under natural conditions is currently inaccessible. This need is addressed here with novel technology (a custom-designed, multifunction, ultra-compact cytometer) able to simultaneously assess the efficiency with which individual algal cells utilize solar energy for photosynthesis and their oil content. In light of the critical importance of microbes for human health, energy needs, and ecosystem sustainability ? and in the absence of established technology for the characterization of microbial functional diversity ? this research addresses an urgent need. Specifically, this research will (i) first confirm proper cytometer performance with laboratory-grown algal cultures, (ii) add further monitoring parameters needed to differentiate individual algal cells in mixed natural communities, and (iii) assess the functional diversity of algae in these communities in Colorado lakes. The results of this study are expected to allow a better prediction of toxic algal blooms and repercussions of changes in microbial oil content throughout food chains as well as identification of algae with superior properties for biofuels production. This highly diverse collaborative team of researchers includes an ecologist, a biophysicist, and photobiologists, thus providing not only the necessary intersection of novel technology and ecological expertise, but also providing an interdisciplinary educational opportunity for students, especially for training in biology (algal physiology and ecology) of students with a background in math, physics, or engineering.