Resolving systematic uncertainty in Streptomyces by interpreting their evolution and biogeography through the prism of horizontal gene exchange

通过水平基因交换的棱镜解释链霉菌的进化和生物地理学，解决链霉菌的系统不确定性

• 批准号: 1050475
• 负责人: Daniel Buckley
• 金额: $ 69.5万
• 依托单位: Cornell University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-07-01 至 2016-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1050475&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Resolving; systematic; uncertainty; Streptomyces; interpreting

Ubiquitous in soils, streptomycetes are bacteria from which we derive more than half of all clinically useful bioactive compounds. However, we lack a coherent taxonomic framework to explain the ecological and evolutionary significance of antibiotic production in the genus. Horizontal gene exchange is hypothesized to be profound within certain bacterial lineages and is expected to explain taxonomic challenges in Streptomyces. This project will examine genetic diversity in the genus Streptomyces and the evolutionary forces that generate these patterns. The project is transformational in that it examines a new paradigm for understanding the evolutionary history of streptomycetes. This new paradigm should have a dramatic impact on our understanding of microbial evolution and the evolution of antibiotic production.Our limited knowledge of the evolutionary history of Streptomyces bacteria has impeded progress in understanding the evolution of antibiotics. Information on the biogeography and evolution of Streptomyces should promote development of rational sampling strategies for discovering diverse strains and novel bioactive compounds. This project includes a novel outreach effort for high school science teachers and students, allowing them to participate in our research efforts through sampling of their local soils. A postdoctoral researcher, a graduate student, and undergraduates will also receive training and mentorship in this project.

广泛存在于土壤中的链霉菌是一种细菌，我们从中获得了一半以上的临床有用的生物活性化合物。然而，我们缺乏一个连贯的分类框架来解释抗生素生产的生态和进化意义的属。水平基因交换被假设为在某些细菌谱系中是深刻的，并有望解释链霉菌中的分类学挑战。这个项目将研究链霉菌属的遗传多样性和产生这些模式的进化力量。该项目是变革性的，因为它研究了一个新的范式来理解链霉菌的进化历史。这种新的模式应该对我们理解微生物进化和抗生素生产的进化产生巨大的影响。我们对链霉菌细菌进化历史的有限知识阻碍了对抗生素进化的理解。链霉菌的地理学和进化的信息，应促进合理的采样策略，发现不同的菌株和新的生物活性化合物的发展。该项目包括一个新的外展努力，高中科学教师和学生，让他们参与我们的研究工作，通过采样他们当地的土壤。一名博士后研究员，一名研究生和本科生也将在这个项目中接受培训和指导。