Excellence in Research: Metaomics-based characterization of the mutually beneficial interkingdom “cross-talk” between algae and bacteria- it takes two to tango

卓越的研究：基于元组学的藻类和细菌之间互利的界间“串扰”表征 - 需要两个人才能探戈

• 批准号: 2200615
• 负责人: Ashvini Chauhan
• 金额: $ 49.98万
• 依托单位: Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2022-08-01 至 2025-07-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2200615&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Excellence; Research; Metaomics; based; characterization

Algae are typically considered nuisance organisms in the environment because some species can cause harmful algal blooms and/or red tides leading to beach closures and disruption of leisurely and fishing activities. However, some algal species, when grown under specific conditions, can solve a major global societal problem; namely, some algal species can aid in the cleaning of human-generated wastewater. Recent research using a newly isolated microalgae (Scenedesmus sp. strain AC-2) and bacterial strain (Pseudomonas sp. strain AC-1) has shown that the organisms form mutually beneficial partnerships resulting in faster clean-up of wastewater. The goal of this project is to better understand bacterial-algal symbiotic partnerships and to use this information to enhance the clean up of larger amounts of wastewater. This project will also offer minority students innovative research and mentoring opportunities. A growing body of literature now refers algae as nature’s green gold because algal cells possess an unparallel ability to produce a wide variety of bio-based value-added products, such as biofuels (biodiesel, bioelectricity, biomethane and jet fuels), nutraceuticals/ pharmaceuticals (carotenoids, ß-Carotene, omega 3 polyunsaturated unsaturated fats (PUFA) and astaxanthin) and other products (cosmetics, bioplastics, starches proteins, oils and fertilizers). Most studies conducted to date have relied on the use of a single microalgal strain to obtain bioproducts, but recent findings indicate that symbiotic associations between bacterial species (Pseudomonas sp. strain AC-1) and microalgae (Scenedesmus sp. strain AC-2) can significantly enhance remediation of untreated wastewater concurrent to higher production of algal crude oil and potentially other value-added products. Therefore, the overarching hypothesis of this project is that a consortium of symbiotic bacteria and algal cells, when grown together, will result in mutually beneficial positive impacts, such as faster growth and higher yields of bio-based products. Conversely, algal and bacterial isolates, when grown separately, will disrupt the mutually beneficial symbiotic processes and manifest in a loss of positive impacts (e.g., wastewater nutrient depletion and crude oil yields). To address the overarching hypothesis, this project will do the following: 1) evaluate the interkingdom “cross-talk” between the newly isolated bacterial-algal symbionts using innovative experiments that rely on isotopically-labelled cells to trace shifts in cellular proteomes and metabolomes that correlate to mutually beneficial impacts; 2) utilize customized co-culture devices to experimentally validate the symbiotic networks identified between bacteria and algae; 3) apply bioinformatics and statistical analyses to characterize “cross-talk” between pathways; 4) train the next generation of minority students using the above cutting-edge research. This project will significantly enhance research and student training activities, and build upon the proven track record of innovative research-based education and training of underrepresented students in STEM disciplines. The proposed work will interface and leverage from ongoing NSF and other funded projects such as the NOAA-funded Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems (CCME); these projects continue to provide innovative research-based pedagogy and student training, particularly to underrepresented African American minority students. Obtaining a comprehensive and deeper understanding of the molecular underpinnings of bacterial-algal associations and mutually beneficial positive impacts will provide transformative findings for stimulating the algal-based green economy and advance sustainable developmental goals for society.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.

藻类通常被认为是环境中的滋扰生物，因为一些物种会造成有害的藻类水华和/或红潮，导致海滩关闭和闲暇和捕鱼活动中断。然而，一些藻类物种在特定条件下生长，可以解决一个重大的全球社会问题；即，一些藻类物种可以帮助清洁人类产生的废水。利用一种新分离的微藻(Scenedesmus sp.菌株AC-2)和细菌菌株(假单胞菌菌株AC-1)表明，这些生物形成了互惠的伙伴关系，从而更快地清理废水。该项目的目标是更好地了解细菌-藻类共生伙伴关系，并利用这些信息加强对更大数量废水的清理。该项目还将为少数族裔学生提供创新的研究和指导机会。现在越来越多的文献将藻类称为自然的绿色黄金，因为藻类细胞拥有无与伦比的能力来生产各种基于生物的附加值产品，如生物燃料(生物柴油、生物电力、生物甲烷和喷气燃料)、营养食品/药品(类胡萝卜素、β-胡萝卜素、omega 3多不饱和脂肪(PUFA)和虾青素)和其他产品(化妆品、生物塑料、淀粉、蛋白质、油和化肥)。到目前为止进行的大多数研究都依赖于使用单一的微藻菌株来获得生物制品，但最近的发现表明，细菌物种(假单胞菌)之间的共生关系。菌株AC-1)和微藻(Scenedesmus sp.菌株AC-2)在提高藻类原油和潜在其他附加值产品产量的同时，可以显著加强对未经处理废水的修复。因此，该项目的主要假设是，当共生细菌和藻类细胞共同生长时，将产生互惠互利的积极影响，如更快的生长和更高的生物产品产量。相反，藻类和细菌分离株分开生长时，将扰乱互惠共生过程，并表现为失去积极影响(例如，废水养分枯竭和原油产量)。为了解决这一重要假说，该项目将做以下工作：1)利用创新的实验来评估新分离的细菌和藻类共生体之间的“串扰”，这些实验依赖于同位素标记的细胞来追踪与互惠影响相关的细胞蛋白质组和代谢物的变化；2)利用定制的共培养设备来实验验证细菌和藻类之间的共生网络；3)应用生物信息学和统计分析来表征途径之间的“串扰”；4)利用上述前沿研究培训下一代少数族裔学生。该项目将极大地加强研究和学生培训活动，并建立在对STEM学科中代表性不足的学生进行创新的以研究为基础的教育和培训方面业已证明的记录的基础上。拟议的工作将与正在进行的NSF和其他资助项目(如NOAA资助的沿海和海洋生态系统中心(CCME))相结合并加以利用；这些项目继续提供创新的以研究为基础的教学和学生培训，特别是对代表性不足的非裔美国少数族裔学生。全面和深入地了解细菌-藻类联合的分子基础和互惠互利的积极影响，将为刺激以藻类为基础的绿色经济和推进社会的可持续发展目标提供变革性的发现。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。