Genomic and Evolutionary Responses of Bat Populations to White Nose Syndrome

部落学院和大学方案(TCUP)的一个目标是提高为国家土著学生服务的特定高等教育机构的科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)教学和研究能力。扩大这些机构的STEM课程设置增加了学生在STEM领域追求具有挑战性和回报的职业的机会，提供了在可能具有文化意义的领域进行研究性学习的机会，并鼓励社区和世代对科学和数学教育的欣赏。这项名为“蝙蝠种群对白鼻子综合症的基因组和进化反应”的项目直接符合这一目标。该项目由联合部落技术学院(UTTC)的教员领导，调查了暴露在白鼻子综合症(WNS)中对北达科他州和大平原蝙蝠遗传变异的影响。蝙蝠在生态系统中扮演着关键角色，它们的种群在全球范围内受到了WNS的不利影响。这项研究旨在为保护这一重要而独特的物种提供重要信息。除了进行具有社会意义的研究外，该项目还增强了学院的研究能力，并让少数族裔本科生参与研究和培训机会，以增加他们对实地和实验室研究方法的熟悉。此外，研究结果将被整合到UTTC的本科生STEM课程中。该项目将通过三个相互关联的关键目标对寄主对WNS的反应的理解产生重大影响：1)完成系统发育分析，以区分整个北部大平原的亚种关系和划分；2)比较感染和未感染组织的转录组范围的变化；3)进行全基因组扫描，以确定幸存者和非幸存者之间的等位基因频率差异，并揭示暴露于WNS的种群中潜在的选择压力。产生的数据将被用来测试WNS改变表达的基因和自然选择的基因之间是否存在重叠。预计参与WNS生理和免疫反应的基因子集也将显示出选择的证据，幸存者与非幸存者相比，保护性等位基因的出现频率更高。该项目将为在UTTC实施长期、可持续的基因组和进化生物学研究计划奠定基础。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。

A goal of the Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP) is to increase the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) instructional and research capacities of specific institutions of higher education that serve the Nation's Indigenous students. Expanding the STEM curricular offerings at these institutions increases the opportunities for their students to pursue challenging, rewarding careers in STEM fields, provides for research studies in areas that may be culturally significant, and encourages a community and generational appreciation for science and mathematics education. This project, titled “Genomic and Evolutionary Responses of Bat Populations to White Nose Syndrome” directly aligns with that goal. Conducted by faculty at United Tribes Technical College (UTTC), the project investigates the effects of exposure to White Nose Syndrome (WNS) on the genetic variation of bats in North Dakota and the Great Plains. Bats play key roles in ecosystems and their populations have been adversely affected by WNS globally. This study aims to generate important information for preserving this important and unique species. In addition to conducting socially significant research, the project enhances the college’s research capacity and engages minority undergraduate students in research and training opportunities that increase their familiarity with field and laboratory research methods. Further, findings from the study will be integrated into undergraduate STEM courses at UTTC. The project will significantly impact the understanding of the host’s response to WNS through three key and interconnected objectives to 1) complete a phylogenetic analysis to distinguish subspecies relationships and delineation across the Northern Great Plains; 2) compare transcriptome-wide changes in infected vs. non-infected tissue in Myotis lucifugus; and 3) conduct a genome-wide scan to identify allele frequency differences between survivors and non-survivors and reveal potential selection pressure in populations exposed to WNS. Data generated will be used to test whether there is overlap between genes whose expression is altered by WNS and genes subject to natural selection. It is expected a subset of genes involved in physiological and immunological responses to WNS will also exhibit evidence of selection, with protective alleles found at a higher frequency in survivors versus non-survivors. This project will lay the foundation to implement a long-term, sustainable genomic and evolutionary biology research program at UTTC.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.