Identification and Characterization of Novel Molecular Markers for the Proteobacteria (Beta and Gamma) and Firmicutes Phyla

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Microorganisms (i.e. bacteria) play a central role in all aspects of life including recycling of organic materials, nitrogen fixation, photosynthesis, waste decomposition, and in human health and diseases. Therefore, it is of much importance to clearly distinguish different groups of microbes and determine what unique properties they possess. Although the cultured "Bacteria" are presently divided into about 25 main groups, for most of these groups no unique molecular, biochemical or physiological characteristics are known. Hence, it is of much importance to identify characteristics that are unique to different groups of bacteria. Using genome sequences, my group has pioneered the discovery of two types of molecular markers (i) conserved inserts or deletions (indels) in protein sequences and (ii) whole proteins that are specific for different bacterial lineages. These markers in addition to providing highly specific means for identification of different groups of bacteria also provide valuable probes for genetic and biochemical studies. This proposal will extend our extensive earlier work in a number of important ways. Our main objectives are: