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

研究细菌群落中鞭毛的结构和功能

• 批准号: 1120832
• 负责人: Douglas Weibel
• 金额: $ 46.77万
• 依托单位: University of Wisconsin-Madison
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-08-15 至 2015-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1120832&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Studying; Structure; Function; Flagella; Emergent

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.

细菌不是孤立的有机体。在它们的原生栖息地，细菌在与表面接触时形成庞大、密集且往往多样的群落。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一步。然而，人们对鞭毛在群落生长发育过程中的作用了解甚少。一些观察结果表明鞭毛在协调细胞运动中起着重要的作用，这对多细胞结构的行为和生理至关重要。该项目研究了鞭毛在三种模式细菌群落发展中的作用，并将为理解许多单个细胞的行为协调如何产生多细胞行为建立一个框架。更广泛的影响该项目将对各个年龄段的人产生科学影响，包括一名研究生和一名博士后，他们将有机会指导本科生研究助理；2)与工程方面的合作者密切合作；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)参加面向K-8学生及其家庭的科学推广活动。该项目包括邀请当地教师作为暑期实习生在实验室开展针对特定年龄的微生物相关活动，这些活动将整合到麦迪逊大都会学区的课堂和课后项目中。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。这项研究将丰富博士后、研究生和本科生、K-8教师、K-8学生及其家庭的科学教育。