NSF East Asia and Pacific Summer Institute (EAPSI) for FY 2013 in Japan

这一行动资助了罗格斯大学的克里斯汀·菲利普·劳伯于2013年夏天在日本筑波大学开展了一个生物学研究项目。该项目的标题是“球虫病毒在西北太平洋浮游植物埃米利亚尼亚的存在和主动感染”。主持会议的科学家是白川义弘。浮游植物Emily huxleyi是一种在海洋大部分地区发现的球石虫，以在北大西洋产生大量夏季水华而闻名，这种病毒经常被一种名为球虫病毒(EHV)的双链DNA病毒终止，使碳向更高的食物网水平的运输发生短路，并影响碳的生物地球化学循环。这种宿主与病毒的相互作用在太平洋还没有被记录在案。该项目使用一套基于核酸和脂类的分子工具来探测日本西海岸外太平洋水域球石病毒的存在、多样性和活动。这包括在E.huxleyi和EHV中检测到进化上相似的鞘脂生物合成基因以及病毒糖鞘脂(VGSL)，这是EHV在自然组合中存在和活性的可靠的基于脂质的标记。核酸工具也被用来调查沉积物记录中超高压的历史存在和保存情况。还在进行实验室实验，以观察培养的虎纹埃希氏菌和流行性出血热病毒与病毒浓缩物和自然组合的球虫体的相互作用。如果自然条件足以使感染进展，以及在区域沉积物中流行性出血热病毒感染的历史保存情况，这种方法解决了流行性出血热病毒在西太平洋是否突出、病毒感染期间触发的vGSL生物合成途径是否与北大西洋流行性出血热病毒所使用的生物合成途径相似的问题。EAPSI奖学金的更广泛影响包括为研究员提供美国以外的第一手研究经验；介绍各自所在地的科学、科学政策和科学基础设施；以及了解社会、文化和语言。这些活动符合NSF的目标，即在其科学家、工程师和教育工作者的职业生涯早期为国际合作进行教育，从而确保拥有一支具有全球意识的美国科学队伍。此外，这些结果将增加我们对超高病毒分布的了解，这将为多样性、生态学和生物地球化学研究提供平台。Laber还将与位于罗格斯的海洋和海岸科学研究所的COSEE Now合作，翻译并向公众传播这项研究和经验。

This action funds Christien Philip Laber of Rutgers University to conduct a research project in Biology during the summer of 2013 at the University of Tsukuba in Tsukuba, Japan. The project title is "Coccolithovirus Presence and Active Infection of the Phytoplankton Emiliania Huxleyi in the Northwest Pacific Ocean." The host scientist is Yoshihiro Shiraiwa.The phytoplankton Emiliania huxleyi is a coccolithophore found in most regions of the ocean and is known for producing large summer bloom populations in the North Atlantic frequently terminated by a double stranded DNA virus called coccolithovirus (EhV), "short circuiting" carbon transport to higher food web levels and influencing the biogeochemical cycling of carbon. This host-virus interaction has not yet been documented in the Pacific Ocean. This project uses a set of nucleic acid and lipid based molecular tools to probe Pacific waters for the presence, diversity, and activity of coccolithovirus off the west coast of Japan. This includes the detection of evolutionarily similar sphingolipid biosynthesis genes in E. huxleyi and EhV as well as viral glycosphingolipids (vGSLs), which are reliable lipid based markers for EhV presence and activity in natural assemblage. Nucleic acid tools are used to investigate the historical presence and preservation of EhV in the sediment record as well. Laboratory experiments are also being conducted to observe the interaction of cultured E. huxleyi and EhV with viral concentrates and coccolithophores of natural assemblage. This approach addresses whether EhVs are prominent in the western Pacific, if the vGSL biosynthetic pathways triggered during viral infection are similar to those used by North Atlantic EhV, if natural conditions are sufficient for infection to progress, and the historical preservation of EhV infection in regional sediment. Broader impacts of an EAPSI fellowship include providing the Fellow a first-hand research experience outside the U.S.; an introduction to the science, science policy, and scientific infrastructure of the respective location; and an orientation to the society, culture and language. These activities meet the NSF goal to educate for international collaborations early in the career of its scientists, engineers, and educators, thus ensuring a globally aware U.S. scientific workforce. Furthermore, the results will increase our understanding of EhV distribution, which will provide a platform for diversity, ecological, and biogeochemical studies. Laber will also work with COSEE NOW at the Institute of Marine and Coastal Science at Rutgers to translate and broadcast the study and experience to the public.