Dissertation Research: Evolutionary costs and benefits of a newly discovered symbiosis between the social amoeba Dictyostelium, and bacteria

微生物影响人类日常生活的许多方面，从健康到农业。 尽管有如此大的影响力，但对微生物生态学及其相互作用的理解仍处于早期阶段。 该项目将通过研究一种微生物，真核社会变形虫Dictyosteelium discoideum及其与细菌的原始农业联系，促进对微生物相互作用的理解。 大约三分之一的野生收集的Dictyosteoblasts克隆具有有益的共生行为的农业，以促进未来的增长，和Dictyosteoblasts和细菌之间的变量共生关系的研究可以推进生态学和微生物相互作用的进化的理解。 该项目将应用实验进化的工具和一套细胞和分子分析来研究这种新发现的社会阿米巴和细菌之间的新共生关系，以阐明合作生活方式的起源和维持。该项目还将促进研究和教育的融合，以培养本科生。两名女本科生将接受实地收集和细胞及分子技术方面的指导和培训，并将制定实质性研究项目。 本科研究助理将参加一个双周研讨会，讨论实验室中解决的研究问题及其与科学和社会的相关性。 此外，PI将提供一个新生研讨会，以吸引学生对生物研究的兴趣和理解。

Microbes affect many aspects of daily human life, from health to agriculture. Despite such large influence, understanding of the ecology of microbes and their interactions is still in the early stages. This project will advance understanding of microbial interactions through study of one microbe, the eukaryotic social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum, and its primitive agricultural association with bacteria. About one third of wild-collected Dictyostelium clones have the beneficial symbiotic behaviour of farming to facilitate future growth, and study of the variable symbiosis between Dictyostelium and bacteria can advance understanding of the ecology and evolution of microbial interactions. This project will apply the tools of experimental evolution and a suite of cellular and molecular analyses to this newly discovered novel symbiosis between a social amoeba and bacteria to elucidate the origins and maintenance of cooperative lifestyles. The project also will foster integration of research and education to train undergraduates. Two female undergrads will be mentored and trained in field collection and cellular and molecular techniques and will develop substantive research projects. Undergraduate research assistants will participate in a bi-weekly seminar about the research questions addressed in the lab and their relevance to science and society. Additionally, the PIs will offer a freshman seminar to engage students' interest in and understanding of biological research.