Elucidating the Genetic Basis and Evolutionary Potential of Cross-stress Behavior in Escherichia coli

暴露在压力环境中的细菌，当它们暴露在第二个应激源中时，往往会得到更好的保护。这种行为也被称为交叉应激保护，人们对这种行为的理解是有限的，特别是当涉及到它的遗传基础时。这个项目将描述大肠杆菌中交叉应激行为的遗传基础和进化潜力。为了阐明细菌的进化潜力和交叉应激保护的出现，大肠杆菌将暴露在三种应激源下，并将识别在第一种应激下的进化赋予了在第二种应激下的适应优势(或劣势)的生物体。DNA测序将用于识别基因变化，其表型效应将通过逆转突变来验证。更广泛的影响：该项目将产生与我们对农业和生物技术部门微生物行为的理解相关的新知识。PI将通过加州大学戴维斯分校的生物技术计划接待和培训高中生，学习微生物进化和生物信息学。PI将在包括微生物进化和微生物应激反应主题的项目中为加州大学戴维斯分校IGEM团队提供建议。

Bacteria that are exposed to a stressful environment are often better protected when they are then exposed to a second stressor. Understanding of this behavior, which is also known as cross-stress protection, is limited especially when it comes to its genetic basis. This project will characterize the genetic basis and evolutionary potential of cross-stress behavior in the bacterium Escherichia coli. To elucidate the evolutionary potential of bacteria and the emergence of cross-stress protection, E. coli will be exposed to three stressors, and organisms will be identified in which evolution under a first stress has conferred a fitness advantage (or disadvantage) upon exposure to a second stress. DNA sequencing will be used to identify genetic changes whose phenotypic effects will be validated by reversing the mutations. Broader Impacts: The project will generate new knowledge relevant to our understanding of microbial behavior in the agricultural and biotechnology sectors. The PI will host and train high school students in microbial evolution and bioinformatics through the UC Davis Biotechnology program. The PI will advise the UC Davis IGEM team in projects that include topics in microbial evolution and microbial stress response.