SGR: Pathogenic bacteria may emerge with warming arctic tundra: A concern for human health

部落学院和大学计划（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。扩大这些机构的研究能力增加了学生在STEM领域追求具有挑战性和回报的职业的机会，支持可能与当地相关的领域的研究，并鼓励教师超越传统课堂寻求智力和专业发展。这个由Ilisagvik学院提交的为期两年的研究项目直接符合这些目标。在之前的一项研究的基础上，根据北极苔原土壤中存在的类型和丰度全面评估细菌种类，该研究让本科生和中学生参与教师主导的研究，其中土壤样本将被收集，基因测序和量化，以识别和盘点致病性细菌种类。所产生的数据将为跟踪气候变化的后果提供关键信息，因为苔原融化释放出潜在的致病菌。除了该研究支持的与公共卫生相关的更广泛影响外，通过让学生参与与其社区相关的现实世界研究并激发学生对STEM学位和职业的兴趣，还实现了额外的影响。这项研究已经进行了5年多，涉及Ilisagvik学院的教职员工和学生研究人员，该项目将对微生物物种进行全面评估，通过独立和独立的培养、DNA提取、DNA测序和分析，测量阿拉斯加Utqiaġvik北极冻原土壤中三层细菌物种的组成和丰度。该研究的重点是寻找与公共卫生相关的致病物种，包括模拟分枝杆菌。使用冰芯钻，土壤样本将于2022 - 2024年1月、2月、3月、4月、9月和10月从位于Utqiaġvik， AK的Barrow环境观测站收集。研究人员将进行基因测序，并测量样品中存在的活性转录细菌种类的丰度。这项工作对推进北极气候研究具有重要的知识价值，因为它为跟踪和分析冻土带融化释放的病原体的潜在后果所需的数据体做出了贡献。此外，通过指导学生进行直接影响他们的基于地点的研究，该项目鼓励学生追求STEM教育途径和职业。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值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 research capacity at these institutions increases the opportunities for students to pursue challenging, rewarding careers in STEM fields, supports research studies in areas that may be locally relevant and encourages faculty members to look beyond the traditional classroom for intellectual and professional growth. This two-year research project submitted by Ilisagvik College aligns directly with these goals. Building on a previous study to comprehensively assess bacterial species by type and abundance present in the soil of the arctic tundra, the study engages undergraduate and secondary school students in faculty-led research in which soil samples will be collected, genetically sequenced, and quantified, to identify and inventory pathogenic species of bacteria. Data generated will contribute to crucial information for tracking the ramifications of changes in climate as potentially pathogenic bacteria are released due to tundra thawing. Along with the broader impacts the study supports related to public health, additional impacts are realized through involving students in real-world research relevant to their communities and stimulating student interest in STEM degrees and careers.Continuing research that has been ongoing for 5+ years and involving Ilisagvik College faculty and student researchers, this project will engage in a comprehensive assessment of microbial species, measuring the composition and abundance of bacterial species that are present in three layers of arctic tundra soil in Utqiaġvik, Alaska through dependent and independent culturing, DNA extraction, DNA sequencing, and analysis. The study focuses on looking for pathogenic species relevant to public health including Mycobacterium simulans. Using an ice-core drill, soil samples will be collected in January, February, March, April, September, and October 2022 – 2024 from the Barrow Environmental Observatory located in Utqiaġvik, AK. Researchers will engage in gene sequencing and measuring the abundance of actively transcribing bacterial species that are present in the samples. This work holds significant intellectual value to advance arctic climate research in its contribution to the body of data required to track and analyze the potential ramifications of pathogens released due to tundra thaw. Additionally, by mentoring students in conducting place-based research that affects them directly, the project encourages students to pursue STEM educational pathways and careers.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.