Collaborative Research: MTM1: Microbial Genomic, Transcriptomic, and Survival Response to Common Built Environment Lighting

世界上绝大多数人至少90%的时间是在室内度过的。在室内，这些人暴露在人造光和自然光的组合中，一直持续到夜间。除了我们自己的光照，室内微生物，如细菌和真菌，也暴露在自然光和人造光的不同组合中。目前，人们对光照对微生物世界的影响知之甚少。这项研究的目的是研究不同光照对微生物世界的影响。通过更好地了解建筑照明对微生物的影响，研究人员可以更好地了解如何在建筑环境中控制微生物的活动、生存和功能。这项研究给社会带来的其他好处来自于K-12教师的科学经验，教他们如何通过经验学习来进行科学。这一努力将通过将教师的科学培训纳入课堂来加强STEM教育。这项研究项目的目标是了解建筑环境中微生物对建筑照明条件做出反应的潜在机制。这将通过使用活性定量聚合酶链式反应、高分辨率基因组测序和转录分析来评估光对微生物群落的影响来实现。隔离在微观世界中的无菌培养物将暴露在模拟建筑环境中典型室内照明、反射、空间、温度和湿度条件的条件下。不同的光曝光量包括有无光，以及办公室环境中典型的白天光周期。在对无菌培养物进行表征之后，由无菌培养物组成的模拟微生物群落将暴露在相同的光照条件下，从而能够辨别光对生存和通过竞争诱导的群落的转录输出的影响。微生物生存和转录表达的高分辨率动态将从单个物种的功能进行评估，以揭示与建筑环境中与光照相关的微生物组成物种和群落的共生、生存和死亡机制的信息。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The vast majority of individuals in the world spend at least 90% of their time indoors. While indoors, these individuals are exposed to a combination of artificial and natural light extending into the nighttime hours. In addition to our own light exposure, indoor microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi, are also exposed to differing combinations of natural and artificial light. At present, the consequences of light exposure on the microbial world are poorly understood. The goal of this research is to examine the consequences of varying light exposure on the microbial world. By creating a better understanding of the impact building illumination has on microorganisms, researchers can better understand how it might be possible to control their activity, survival, and functions within the built environment. Additional benefits to society resulting from this research result from science experiences for K-12 teachers to teach them how science is performed through experiential learning. This effort will enhance STEM education through incorporation of teacher’s science training in the classroom. Further benefits result disseminating results through public talks and social media outreach focused on children and young adults.The goal of this research project is to understand the mechanisms underlying microbial responses to architectural lighting conditions within the built environment. This will be achieved by assessing the impact of light on microbial communities using viability quantitative polymerase chain reaction, high resolution genome sequencing, and transcriptomic analysis. Axenic cultures isolated in microcosms will be exposed to conditions simulating typical indoor lighting, reflectance, spatial, temperature, and humidity conditions in the built environment. Varying light exposure include presence/absence of light, as well as diurnal light cycles typical in office environments. Following characterization of the axenic cultures, mock microbial communities composed of the axenic cultures will be exposed to the same lighting conditions, permitting discernment of light-associated impacts in survival and transcriptional output from those communities induced through competition. High-resolution dynamics of microbial survival and transcriptional expression will be assessed from individual species function to reveal information on the mechanisms of symbiosis, survival, and demise of microbial component species and communities associated with light in the built environment.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.