RUI: Polyphasic Characterization and Phylogenetic Classification of the Problematic Form-Genus Leptolyngbya (Cyanobacteria)

一笔赠款已授予杰弗里·R博士。约翰卡罗尔大学的约翰森研究了一种有问题的蓝绿藻（蓝细菌），称为纤舌藻。 本属很难理解，因为它有很少的形态特征，但在各种各样的栖息地类型发生。 形态学上相似的形式已被发现实际上在它们的16S rRNA基因序列方面非常不同。 Johansen博士将使用多相方法来表征来自世界各地的60多株这种微生物，包括作为过去NSF支持项目的一部分而分离的大量沙漠土壤形式。 多相表征意味着将收集这些菌株的形态学、遗传学、生态学和生理学数据，从而可以修订属。 初步证据表明，该属中有许多新物种，甚至可能有值得创造新属的物种群。 与所有其他蓝藻分类学研究和大多数细菌学系统研究不同，该项目将测试三个现代物种概念对无性物种的适用性。 在为新分类群指定一套新类型的模式材料方面，将建立进一步的先例。 系统发生分析，确定分类群的进化关系，将以细菌特有的方式运行，在其他群体中不常见。 这项工作将有助于我们描述世界生物多样性的特征。 它可以作为一个例子，其他人希望使用现代系统的方法来描述新的蓝藻物种。 优良的系统学和分类学是必要的蓝藻生物技术，药理学和回收的目的的发展。

A grant has been awarded to Dr. Jeffrey R. Johansen of John Carroll University to study a problematic genus of blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) called Leptolyngbya. This genus is difficult to understand because it has very few morphological characters, but occurs in a wide variety of habitat types. Morphologically similar forms have been found to be actually very different in terms of their 16S rRNA gene sequence. Dr. Johansen will use a polyphasic approach to characterize over 60 strains of this microbe from collections all over the world, including an extensive collection of desert soil forms isolated as part of a past NSF-supported project. Polyphasic characterization means that morphological, genetic, ecological, and physiological data will be collected on these strains, so that the genus can be revised. Preliminary evidence indicates that there are many new species in the genus, and probably even groups of species that merit creation of new genera. Unlike all other cyanobacterial taxonomic studies and most bacteriological systematic studies, this project will test the applicability of three modern species concepts for asexual species. Further precedents will be set in designating a suite of new kinds of type materials for new taxa. Phylogenetic analyses, which determine evolutionary relationships of taxa, will be run in ways unique to bacteria and uncommon in other groups. This work will help us to characterize biodiversity in the world. It may serve as an example for others wishing to use modern systematic approaches to describe new cyanobacterial species. Excellent systematics and taxonomy are necessary for development of the cyanobacteria for biotechnological, pharmacological, and reclamation purposes.