PurSUiT: Untangling a clade of inter-dependent apicomplexans and their bacterial endosymbionts.

追求：解开相互依赖的顶端复合体及其细菌内共生体的进化枝。

• 批准号: 2231583
• 负责人: Christopher Lane
• 金额: $ 126.93万
• 依托单位: University of Rhode Island
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-03-01 至 2027-02-28
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2231583&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: PurSUiT; Untangling; clade; inter; dependent

Symbiosis has repeatedly given rise to evolutionary innovation across the tree of life. Apicomplexans, including the causative agent of malaria, are the deadliest protozoan parasites on the planet. However, one lineage of apicomplexans (the genus Nephromyces), have evolved a symbiotic relationship with bacterial endosymbionts that has not only enabled an escape from a parasitic lifestyle, but caused a large radiation of species. This project aims to both characterize the diversity of these species and understand the interactions between host and symbiont that turned a parasite into a harmless inhabitant. This work will benefit society by advancing understanding of the diversity and contribution of eukaryotic microorganisms to the biosphere, with results that will be disseminated through peer-reviewed literature and presentations for scientific and lay audiences. The research will also be communicated to a broader audience through a workshop for professional scientific journalists. In addition, research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students will train the next generation of integrative systematic biologists.This PurSUiT project will untangle the various biological entities that make up the Nephromyces community, across six species of tunicate hosts. Next-generation DNA sequencing will be used to determine the diversity of the community, then employ single cell isolation techniques to capture, image and describe individual Nephromyces species and their bacterial endosymbionts. Using fluorescent in situ hybridization labels, the different life stages of each species will be collected and photo-documented for the full life history. At least ten Nephromyces species from each of the six tunicate species will be formally named, as well as their bacterial endosymbionts to the extent possible under the evolving prokaryotic Code of Nomenclature. From existing genomic data, cutting edge techniques will be employed to determine whether genes have been laterally transferred from endosymbiont to host.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.

共生反复引起了整个生命树的进化创新。 Apicomplexans，包括疟疾的病原体，是地球上最致命的原生动物寄生虫。然而，一种apicomplexans（肾病属）的谱系与细菌内共生体的共生关系发展了，这不仅使寄生的生活方式逃脱了，而且导致了很大的物种。该项目的目的是既表征这些物种的多样性，又了解寄主和共生体之间的相互作用，这些相互作用将寄生虫变成了无害的居民。这项工作将通过促进对真核微生物对生物圈的多样性和贡献的理解，从而使社会受益，并通过同行评审的文献以及科学和外行观众的演讲来传播结果。这项研究还将通过专业科学记者的研讨会传达给更广泛的受众。此外，本科生和研究生的研究机会将培训下一代综合系统生物学家。这项追求项目将解开构成尼彭科罗斯社区的各种生物学实体，跨六种调皮宿主。下一代的DNA测序将用于确定社区的多样性，然后采用单个细胞分离技术来捕获，形象和描述单个肾病及其细菌性内共生体。使用荧光原位杂交标签，将收集每个物种的不同寿命阶段，并为完整的生活史记录。在不断发展的命名术的原核生物守则下，将至少将六种纵纹物种中每种物种的十种肾病及其细菌内共生植物及其细菌内共生物种进行正式命名。从现有的基因组数据中，将采用最先进的技术来确定是否已将基因从内共生体转移到宿主。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并被认为是通过基金会的智力优点和更广泛影响的审查标准通过评估来获得支持的。