NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology: Free-Living Amoebae Predation Mechanisms and Fostering Inclusive Communities in Environmental Microbiology through Peer-Mentoring

该行动资助了美国国家科学基金会2023财年生物学博士后研究奖学金，扩大生物学中代表性不足群体的参与。自由生活的变形虫是单细胞微生物，以较小的微生物为食，包括细菌、真菌和病毒。自由生活的变形虫是土壤和水生生态系统中重要的捕食者，影响微生物群落并促进细菌逃避捕食策略的进化。然而，控制自由生活的变形虫和细菌之间相互作用的机制尚不清楚。本研究将探讨自由生活的变形虫如何与致病细菌和良性细菌相互作用，以及这些相互作用如何形成微生物群落。这项研究具有重要意义，因为它将为土壤和水生环境中微生物群落的工程设计和病原体的预防提供必要的见解。该研究员将通过组建博士后同伴指导小组来扩大生物学中代表性不足的群体的参与，该小组将通过提供同伴支持和专业发展的场所，鼓励来自代表性不足的科学群体的博士后研究人员的保留。本研究将探讨无所不在的自由生活阿米巴棘阿米巴如何与多种细菌相互作用，以及由此对微生物群落的影响。具体的假设包括：1)A. castellanii对不同的细菌有不同的捕食机制；2)A. castellanii优先捕食良性细菌而不是致病菌；3)A. castellanii的捕食不涉及趋化性；4)A. castellanii捕食生物膜中的细菌的机制与捕食浮游细胞的机制不同。假设将调查使用转录组学，先进的显微镜和微流控芯片与活细胞显微镜。该研究将为捕食者-猎物理论和环境系统中变形虫与细菌之间的相互作用提供重要的知识。它还将为环境工程和公共卫生领域提供信息，这些领域需要对微真核生物有更深入的了解，以有效地控制微生物群落和防止病原体增殖。该研究员将通过赞助科学家获得转录组数据集分析和活细胞显微镜的指导。该研究员还将通过在实验室指导本科生和研究生以及组建跨学科博士后同伴指导小组来扩大代表性不足的群体在生物学领域的参与，这将提供专业发展并增加归属感。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。

This action funds an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology for FY 2023, Broadening Participation of Groups Underrepresented in Biology. Free-living amoebae are single-celled microorganisms that feed on smaller microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Free-living amoebae are important predators in soil and aquatic ecosystems, influencing microbial communities and contributing to the evolution of bacterial strategies to evade predation. However, the mechanisms that govern interactions between free-living amoebae and bacteria are poorly understood. This research will investigate how free-living amoebae interact with pathogenic and benign bacteria, and how these interactions shape microbial communities. The research is important because it will provide insights essential for engineering of microbial communities and prevention of pathogen growth in soil and aquatic environments. The fellow will broaden participation of groups underrepresented in biology through the formation of a postdoctoral peer mentoring group, which will encourage the retention of postdoctoral researchers from underrepresented groups in science by providing a venue for peer support and professional development.This research will investigate how the ubiquitous free-living amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii interacts with diverse bacteria, and the resulting impacts on microbial communities. Specific hypotheses include the following: 1) A. castellanii utilizes distinct predation mechanisms for different bacteria, 2) A. castellanii preferentially grazes on benign bacteria versus pathogenic bacteria, 3) chemotaxis is not involved in A. castellanii predation, and 4) predation mechanisms employed by A. castellanii for grazing on bacteria in biofilms are distinct from those used for grazing on planktonic cells. Hypotheses will be investigated using transcriptomics, advanced microscopy, and microfluidic chips with live-cell microscopy. The research will provide vital knowledge regarding predator-prey theory and the interactions between amoebae and bacteria in environmental systems. It also will inform the fields of environmental engineering and public health, which require a deeper understanding of microeukaryotes to effectively control microbial communities and prevent pathogen proliferation. The fellow will receive mentoring in analysis of transcriptomic data sets and live-cell microscopy through the sponsoring scientists. The fellow will also work to broaden the participation of underrepresented groups in biology through mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students in the laboratory and the formation of an interdisciplinary postdoctoral peer mentoring group, which will provide professional development and increase a sense of belonging.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.