Collaborative Research: Epsilonproteobacteria from Terrestrial Springs and Caves

变形杆菌是变形杆菌中特征最差的部门，尽管人们一直在关注病原体，螺杆菌和弯曲杆菌。这类细菌的环境重要性，包括它们在碳、氮和硫循环中的作用，才刚刚开始被认识到。变形杆菌广泛存在于各种富硫环境中，如洞穴和深海热液喷口。这项拟议的研究将(1)基于从环境样本和纯培养物中检索的DNA序列来诊断分类关系，以及(2)区分可能导致广泛的表蛋白细菌多样性的机制。除了发现生活在天然硫化泉水和洞穴中的代表性不足的微生物外，这项研究还将解决有关陆地地下水系统的物种多样性、多样性的控制(基于生态型)以及微生物与其栖息地之间潜在的生物地球化学相互作用等重要问题。泉水与地下水有密切的联系，容易受到负面的人为活动(如忽视、过度使用、开采)的影响，由于数据有限，无法完全了解许多地下水生态系统是多么稀有或受到威胁。这项研究的结果将使水资源管理者更好地了解生态系统的多样性。这一跨学科项目与路易斯安那州立大学地质微生物学研究计划的建立不谋而合。将强调研究生和本科生培训，并将通过两所大学的方案倡议鼓励少数群体参与。

The Epsilonproteobacteria are the most poorly characterized division within the Proteobacteria, despite ongoing attention given to the pathogens, Helicobacter and Campylobacter. The environmental importance of this group of bacteria, including their roles in the carbon, nitrogen and sulfur cycling is just beginning to be appreciated. Epsilonproteobacteria are found in a variety of sulfur-rich environments, such as caves and deep-sea hydrothermal vents. The proposed research will (1) diagnose taxonomic relationships based on DNA sequences retrieved from both environmental samples and from pure cultures, and (2) differentiate among the mechanisms that may have led to extensive epsilonproteobacterial diversity. Beyond discovery of underrepresented microbes living in natural sulfidic springs and caves, this research will address important questions regarding species diversity in terrestrial groundwater systems, controls of diversity (based on ecotype), and potential biogeochemical interactions between microbes and their habitats. Springs are intimate links to groundwater that are susceptible to negative anthropogenic activities (e.g., neglect, overuse, exploitation), and limited data have precluded a complete appreciation for how rare, or threatened, many groundwater ecosystems are. The results of this study will provide water resource managers with a better understanding of ecosystem diversity. This interdisciplinary project coincides with the establishment of the Geomicrobiology research program at LSU. Graduate and undergraduate training will be emphasized and minority participation will be encouraged through programmatic initiatives at both universities.