Functional and Population Genomics of Ecologically Critical Eukaryotic Microbes

生态关键真核微生物的功能和群体基因组学

• 批准号: RGPIN-2015-05937
• 负责人: Corradi, Nicolas
• 金额: $ 2.77万
• 依托单位: University of Ottawa
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2016-01-01 至 2017-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=613836
• 关键词: Functional; Population; Genomics; Ecologically; Critical

Functional and Population Genomics of Ecologically Critical Eukaryotic Microbes The Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and Microsporidians are ubiquitous unicellular organisms that impact the function of global ecosystems. AMF are root symbionts of many plants, and their presence in the soils is typically linked with an increase in plant fitness and ecosystem biodiversity. Recent reports have suggested that not all AMF individuals (i.e. single spores) affect the fitness of plants in the same way: some make one plant grow better than others. Although the reasons for this variability in plant growth are presently unknown, there are many reasons to believe that they could have a genetic origin. The first objective of my proposed research will to tackle this unknown aspect of AMF biology by investigating the extent and nature of polymorphism that exists within and among individual spores of a model AMF; Rhizophagus irregularis. This will be done by combining cutting-edge DNA sequencing and bioinformatics techniques with innovative experimental designs targeted at AMF isolates that we currently grow in the lab. The Microsporidia is a phylum composed of intracellular parasites that are closely related to fungal lineages. These organisms can infect a wide range of animals, including humans, and many of their genomes have been sequenced in recent years. To date, this genome data has resulted in the discovery of genes potentially used by microsporidians to infect and abuse their hosts, but many of these results have never been experimentally validated. The second objective of my proposal will aim to reveal which microsporidian genes are specifically expressed following infection of the host cells. This will expose the proteins that are used by microsporidian parasites to exploit their hosts. We will also investigate the mechanisms involved in the creation of genomic diversity in microsporidia by exploring genome variation among members of the same species, and by studying the genome diversity of these parasites in their natural ecosystems. This is essential for understanding how pathogens create new genetic variation that could be used to invade new hosts or expand to different geographic areas.

生态关键真核微生物的功能和种群基因组学 丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)和微孢子虫是普遍存在的影响全球生态系统功能的单细胞生物。 AMF是许多植物的根共生体，它们在土壤中的存在通常与植物适应性和生态系统生物多样性的增加有关。最近的报告表明，并不是所有的AMF个体(即单孢子)都以同样的方式影响植物的适合性：一些人使一种植物比其他植物生长得更好。尽管植物生长的这种差异的原因目前还不清楚，但有很多理由相信它们可能有遗传起源。我提出的研究的第一个目标是通过调查AMF模型不规则根霉菌个体孢子内部和之间存在的多态程度和性质来解决AMF生物学的这一未知方面。这将通过将尖端DNA测序和生物信息学技术与针对我们目前在实验室培养的AMF菌株的创新实验设计相结合来实现。 微孢子虫是一个由与真菌谱系密切相关的胞内寄生虫组成的门。这些生物可以感染包括人类在内的各种动物，近年来对它们的许多基因组进行了测序。到目前为止，这些基因组数据已经导致发现了微孢子虫可能用来感染和虐待宿主的基因，但这些结果中的许多从未得到实验验证。我提议的第二个目标将旨在揭示哪些微孢子虫基因在宿主细胞感染后特异性表达。这将暴露微孢子虫用来利用宿主的蛋白质。我们还将通过探索同一物种成员之间的基因组差异，以及通过研究这些寄生虫在其自然生态系统中的基因组多样性，来研究微孢子虫创造基因组多样性的机制。 这对于理解病原体如何创造新的基因变异是至关重要的，这些变异可能被用来入侵新的宿主或扩展到不同的地理区域。