Studying the Structure and Function of Flagella in the Emergent Properties of Bacterial Communities

细菌不是孤独的生物体。在它们的原生栖息地，细菌在与表面接触时形成大的，密集的，并且通常是多样的群落。许多细菌利用鞭毛在液体中游动并附着在表面，这是建立群落的重要步骤。然而，很少有人了解鞭毛在群落生长和发育过程中的作用。一些观察结果表明，鞭毛在协调细胞运动中起着重要作用，这对多细胞结构的行为和生理至关重要。该项目研究鞭毛在三种模式细菌群落发育中的作用，并将开发一个框架，以了解许多单个细胞的行为协调如何产生多细胞行为。更广泛的影响该项目将在一系列年龄组中产生科学影响，包括一名研究生和博士后研究员，他们将有机会：1）指导本科生研究助理; 2）与工程合作者密切合作; 3）参加科学会议; 4）与当地K-8教师合作设计和开发科学推广项目; 5）参加K-8学生及其家庭的科学推广活动。该项目包括在实验室接待当地教师作为暑期实习生，以开发与年龄相关的微生物相关的活动，这些活动将融入麦迪逊大都会学区的课堂和课后项目。这些活动还将用于在当地图书馆和麦迪逊儿童博物馆举行的为期一天的家庭活动。因此，这项研究将丰富博士后研究员，研究生和本科生，K-8教师，K-8学生及其家庭的科学教育。

Intellectual MeritBacteria are not solitary organisms. In their native habitats, bacteria form large, dense, and often diverse communities in contact with surfaces. Many bacteria use flagella to swim through fluids and to attach to surfaces, which is an important step in establishing communities. However, very little is understood about the role of flagella during the growth and development of communities. Several observations suggest that flagella play an important role in coordinating the movement of cells, which is crucial for the behavior and physiology of multi-cellular structures. This project studies the role of flagella in community development in three model bacteria and will develop a framework for understanding how the coordination of behavior of many individual cells produces multi-cellular behavior.Broader ImpactsThis project will have a scientific impact across a range of age groups, including one graduate student and postdoctoral fellow who will have opportunities for: 1) mentoring undergraduate research assistants; 2) working closely with a collaborator in engineering; 3) participating in scientific conferences; 4) collaborating on the design and development of science outreach projects with local K-8 teachers; and 5) participating in science outreach events for K-8 students and their families. This project includes hosting local teachers as summer interns in the lab for the development of age-specific microbe-related activities that will be integrated into classrooms and after-school programs in the Madison Metropolitan School District. These activities will also be used for one-day family events at local libraries and the Childrens' Museum in Madison. This research will thus enrich the science education of postdoctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students, K-8 teachers, and K-8 students and their families.