NSF East Asia and Pacific Summer Institute (EAPSI) for FY 2013 in Japan

这项行动资助罗格斯大学的克里斯蒂安·菲利普·拉伯于2013年夏天在日本筑波大学进行一个生物学研究项目。项目名称为“西北太平洋赫胥黎浮游植物球粒石病毒的存在和活性感染”。主持的科学家是Yoshihiro Shiraiwa。赫克斯莱浮游植物Emiliania huxleyi是一种球粒石藻，在海洋的大多数地区都有发现，它以在北大西洋产生大量夏季水华而闻名，这种水华经常被一种称为球粒石病毒（EhV）的双链DNA病毒终止，“短路”碳运输到更高的食物网水平，并影响碳的生物地球化学循环。这种宿主-病毒相互作用在太平洋尚未被记录在案。本项目使用一套基于核酸和脂质的分子工具来探测日本西海岸外太平洋水域的球粒石病毒的存在、多样性和活性。这包括在赫胥黎大肠杆菌和EhV中检测进化上相似的鞘脂生物合成基因，以及病毒鞘脂糖（vGSLs），这是在自然组合中检测EhV存在和活性的可靠的基于脂质的标志物。核酸工具也被用于调查沉积物记录中超高压的历史存在和保存。实验室实验也在进行，以观察培养的赫胥黎大肠杆菌和EhV与病毒浓缩液和自然组合的球石团的相互作用。该方法解决了西太平洋地区是否存在超高压病毒，病毒感染期间触发的vGSL生物合成途径是否与北大西洋超高压病毒相似，感染进展的自然条件是否足够，以及区域沉积物中超高压病毒感染的历史保存等问题。EAPSI奖学金的广泛影响包括为研究员提供美国以外的第一手研究经验；介绍该地区的科学、科学政策和科学基础设施；以及对社会、文化和语言的了解。这些活动符合美国国家科学基金会的目标，即在其科学家、工程师和教育工作者的职业生涯早期培养国际合作，从而确保美国科学劳动力具有全球意识。此外，该结果将增加我们对超高压分布的了解，为多样性、生态学和生物地球化学研究提供平台。拉伯还将与罗格斯大学海洋与海岸科学研究所的COSEE NOW合作，将这项研究和经验翻译并传播给公众。

This action funds Christien Philip Laber of Rutgers University to conduct a research project in Biology during the summer of 2013 at the University of Tsukuba in Tsukuba, Japan. The project title is "Coccolithovirus Presence and Active Infection of the Phytoplankton Emiliania Huxleyi in the Northwest Pacific Ocean." The host scientist is Yoshihiro Shiraiwa.The phytoplankton Emiliania huxleyi is a coccolithophore found in most regions of the ocean and is known for producing large summer bloom populations in the North Atlantic frequently terminated by a double stranded DNA virus called coccolithovirus (EhV), "short circuiting" carbon transport to higher food web levels and influencing the biogeochemical cycling of carbon. This host-virus interaction has not yet been documented in the Pacific Ocean. This project uses a set of nucleic acid and lipid based molecular tools to probe Pacific waters for the presence, diversity, and activity of coccolithovirus off the west coast of Japan. This includes the detection of evolutionarily similar sphingolipid biosynthesis genes in E. huxleyi and EhV as well as viral glycosphingolipids (vGSLs), which are reliable lipid based markers for EhV presence and activity in natural assemblage. Nucleic acid tools are used to investigate the historical presence and preservation of EhV in the sediment record as well. Laboratory experiments are also being conducted to observe the interaction of cultured E. huxleyi and EhV with viral concentrates and coccolithophores of natural assemblage. This approach addresses whether EhVs are prominent in the western Pacific, if the vGSL biosynthetic pathways triggered during viral infection are similar to those used by North Atlantic EhV, if natural conditions are sufficient for infection to progress, and the historical preservation of EhV infection in regional sediment. Broader impacts of an EAPSI fellowship include providing the Fellow a first-hand research experience outside the U.S.; an introduction to the science, science policy, and scientific infrastructure of the respective location; and an orientation to the society, culture and language. These activities meet the NSF goal to educate for international collaborations early in the career of its scientists, engineers, and educators, thus ensuring a globally aware U.S. scientific workforce. Furthermore, the results will increase our understanding of EhV distribution, which will provide a platform for diversity, ecological, and biogeochemical studies. Laber will also work with COSEE NOW at the Institute of Marine and Coastal Science at Rutgers to translate and broadcast the study and experience to the public.