Collaborative Research: Epsilonproteobacteria From Terrestrial Springs and Caves

ε-变形菌是变形菌门中最缺乏特征的分支，尽管一直关注病原体，螺杆菌和弯曲杆菌。这组细菌对环境的重要性，包括它们在碳、氮和硫循环中的作用，才刚刚开始受到重视。ε-变形菌存在于各种富含硫的环境中，如洞穴和深海热液喷口。拟议的研究将（1）基于从环境样品和纯培养物中检索到的DNA序列诊断分类学关系，（2）区分可能导致广泛的epsilonproteobacteria多样性的机制。除了发现生活在天然硫化物泉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物种多样性，多样性控制（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的重要问题。泉水与地下水有着密切的联系，容易受到负面人类活动的影响（例如，忽视、过度使用、开采）和有限的数据使人们无法完全了解许多地下水生态系统的稀有程度或受到的威胁。这项研究的结果将提供水资源管理人员更好地了解生态系统的多样性。这个跨学科的项目与路易斯安那州立大学地球微生物学研究计划的建立相吻合。将强调研究生和本科生的培训，并将通过两所大学的方案倡议鼓励少数群体的参与。

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.