Genome Evolution in Large, Reproductively Diverse Bacteria in the Epulopiscium Family

类人猿属是已知最大的细菌之一，一些雪茄状的细胞长度超过0.6毫米。Epulopiscium spp.及其近亲是与刺尾鱼科中某些热带珊瑚鱼物种特异性相关的肠道共生体。它们是栖息在鱼体内的微生物群落中一个显著的和常见的组成部分，它们有助于消化它们的鱼宿主消耗的多糖。Angert实验室一直在使用类人猿B种作为细胞、发育和进化生物学研究的模型。这种生物一直是帮助我们更好地理解一个简单的细菌细胞是如何在其细胞结构和组织上做出微小变化，从而使其达到巨大尺寸的关键。目前的项目旨在进一步完善这一实验系统，通过完成b型猿猴的基因组序列，这些努力将为研究这些特殊细菌在细胞和发育生物学背景下的遗传潜力提供重要资源。基因表达在积极生长的巴蚕B型种群将被表征，以确定支持细胞生长和代谢所必需的基因。这将为改进这些细菌的实验室培养方法提供依据。更广泛的影响：该项目为博士后和本科生研究助理提供了重要的教育和培训机会。所有学员将获得分子生物学、微生物学、DNA序列分析和基本生物信息学工具应用方面的经验。通过研究报告，手稿和提案的准备，学员将发展他们的沟通技巧。根据项目的不同，个人将在生物信息学、进化生物学和基因组学方面获得更广泛的经验。这样的研究经历对青年科学家的发展是必不可少的。

Epulopiscium spp. are among the largest known bacteria with some cigar-shaped cells reaching lengths in excess of 0.6 mm. Epulopiscium spp. and their relatives are intestinal symbionts associated specifically with certain species of tropical reef fish in the surgeonfish family. They are a conspicuous and usual component of the community of microorganisms that inhabit the fish and they contribute to the digestion of polysaccharides consumed by their fish host. The Angert Lab has been using Epulopiscium sp. type B as a model for studies of cell, developmental and evolutionary biology. This organism has been key in providing a better understanding of how a simple bacterial cell can make small changes in its cellular structure and organization to allow it to reach its tremendous size. The current project seeks to improve this experimental system further by completing the genome sequence of Epulopiscium sp. type B. These efforts will yield an important resource for studying the genetic potential of these exceptional bacteria in the context of cell and developmental biology. Gene expression in actively growing populations of Epulopiscium sp. type B will be characterized to identify genes that are essential for supporting cell growth and metabolism. This profile will provide the basis for improving methods to grow these bacteria in laboratory culture.Broader impacts: This project provides significant educational and training opportunities for postdoctoral and undergraduate research assistants. All trainees will gain experience in molecular biology, microbiology, DNA sequence analysis, and the application of basic bioinformatics tools. Through research presentations, manuscript and proposal preparation, trainees will develop their communication skills. Depending on the project, an individual will gain more extensive experience in bioinformatics, evolutionary biology, and genomics. Such research experiences are essential for the development of a young scientist.