Microbial Observatories: Viruses from Yellowstone Thermal Acidic Environments

Mark Young和David Mogk博士(蒙大拿州立大学-博兹曼分校)与Kenneth Stedman博士(波特兰州立大学)和Frank Roberto博士(DOE-INEEL爱达荷州瀑布分部)合作，获得了一笔赠款，用于从黄石国家公园的高温酸性环境中识别和表征新型病毒。这笔赠款的目标是从非常热(178华氏度)和酸性(PH 4)的环境中发现和分析以前未知的病毒，这些环境接近沸腾的电池酸，并随着时间的推移监测这些环境中的病毒种群。初步数据显示，这些环境中的病毒是独一无二的，与在更“正常”的环境中发现的病毒非常不同。将使用生化和分子工具的组合在实验室中培养这些病毒，并监测它们在黄石公园温泉中的存在。此外，还将对这些病毒生存的环境进行详细的化学分析。从该项目获得的所有培养物和DNA都将保存在蒙大拿州立大学热生物学研究所的嗜热培养库中，为未来的筛选提供生物材料本研究具有广泛的意义。对病毒的详细分析经常导致我们对生命生物化学的理解取得根本性突破(例如发现DNA作为遗传物质)。这项由这笔赠款支持的研究旨在确定极端环境中的病毒的特征，这可能会导致对高温下生命所需的生物适应的新的和基本的理解。目前，我们对生物如何在极端环境中生存以及它们如何适应独特的化学环境只有一个初步的了解。来自高温环境的病毒的发现和分析是理解这些不寻常的微生物群落如何运作的重要一步。此外，这些研究将为生命如何适应所有环境的变化提供更多的见解。这项研究还将确定病毒是否可以作为化学和生物变化的敏感生物传感器。最后，这些研究不仅将影响我们对地球上生命的理解，还可能为如何寻找外星生命提供新的见解。

A grant has been awarded to Drs. Mark Young and David Mogk (Montana State University-Bozeman) in collaboration with Drs. Kenneth Stedman (Portland State University) and Frank Roberto (DOE-INEEL Idaho Falls) to identify and characterize novel viruses from high temperature acidic environments present in Yellowstone National Park. The goals of this grant are to discover and analyze previously unknown viruses from very hot (178F) and acidic (pH 4) environments, conditions approaching boiling battery acid, and to monitor the virus populations in these environments over time. Preliminary data indicates that the viruses in these environments are unique and quite unlike viruses found in more "normal" environments. A combination of biochemical and molecular tools will be used to cultivate these viruses in the laboratory and to monitor their presence in Yellowstone's hot springs. In addition, detailed chemical analysis of these environments in which these viruses live will be performed. All cultures and DNA obtained from this project will be stored in the Montana State University Thermal Biology Institute thermophile culture collection, providing biological materials for future screeningThis research has broad implications. The detailed analysis of viruses has often led the way to fundamental breakthroughs in our understanding of the biochemistry of life (such as the discovery of DNA as the genetic material). The research supported by this grant to characterize viruses from extreme environments is likely to lead to new and fundamental understanding of biological adaptations required for life at high temperatures. Presently, we only have a rudimentary understanding of how organisms survive in extreme environments and how they have adapted to their unique chemical environments. The discovery and analysis of viruses from high temperature environments is an important step in the understanding how these unusual microbial communities operate. In addition, these studies will provide additional insights into how life adapts to changes in all environments. This research will also determine if viruses can act as sensitive biosensors of chemical and biological change. Finally, these studies will not only impact our understanding of life on earth but may also provide new insights in how to look for extraterrestrial life.