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

这项行动资助了2023财年的NSF生物学博士后研究奖学金，扩大了生物学中代表性不足的群体的参与。 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，并有助于细菌逃避捕食策略的进化。然而，管理自由生活的阿米巴和细菌之间的相互作用的机制知之甚少。这项研究将研究自由生活的阿米巴原虫如何与致病菌和良性细菌相互作用，以及这些相互作用如何塑造微生物群落。这项研究很重要，因为它将为微生物群落的工程设计和防止土壤和水生环境中的病原体生长提供必要的见解。该研究员将通过成立博士后同行指导小组来扩大生物学领域代表性不足的群体的参与，这将通过提供同行支持和专业发展的场所来鼓励来自科学领域代表性不足的群体的博士后研究人员的保留。这项研究将调查无处不在的自由生活阿米巴原虫Castellanii如何与各种细菌相互作用，以及对微生物群落的影响。具体假设包括：1）A. castellanii对不同的细菌有不同的捕食机制; castellanii对良性细菌的选择性比对致病细菌的选择性强; castellanii捕食; 4）A. castellanii用于放牧生物膜中的细菌的方法与用于放牧浮游细胞的方法不同。假设将使用转录组学，先进的显微镜和微流控芯片与活细胞显微镜进行研究。这项研究将提供有关捕食者-猎物理论以及环境系统中变形虫和细菌之间相互作用的重要知识。它还将为环境工程和公共卫生领域提供信息，这些领域需要更深入地了解微真核生物，以有效控制微生物群落并防止病原体增殖。该研究员将通过赞助科学家接受转录组数据集和活细胞显微镜分析方面的指导。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行指导小组，该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值进行评估，更广泛的影响审查标准。

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.