PurSUiT: Untangling a clade of inter-dependent apicomplexans and their bacterial endosymbionts.

共生关系不断地在生命之树上引发进化创新。顶复体，包括疟疾的病原体，是地球上最致命的原生动物寄生虫。然而，顶复合体的一个谱系（肾真菌属）已经进化出与细菌内共生体的共生关系，这不仅使它们能够摆脱寄生的生活方式，而且造成了物种的大量辐射。该项目旨在描述这些物种的多样性，并了解宿主和共生体之间的相互作用，这些相互作用将寄生虫转变为无害的居民。这项工作将通过促进对真核微生物多样性和对生物圈的贡献的理解而造福社会，其结果将通过同行评议的文献和面向科学和非专业受众的报告传播。这项研究还将通过专业科学记者研讨会向更广泛的受众传播。此外，本科生和研究生的研究机会将培养下一代综合系统生物学家。这个追求项目将解开构成肾真菌群落的各种生物实体，跨越六种被囊宿主。下一代DNA测序将用于确定该群落的多样性，然后采用单细胞分离技术捕获、成像和描述单个肾真菌物种及其细菌内共生体。使用荧光原位杂交标记，每个物种的不同生命阶段将被收集和照片记录完整的生活史。从这六种被囊动物中，每一种中至少有十种肾真菌将被正式命名，以及它们的细菌内共生体将在可能的程度上根据不断发展的原核生物命名法被正式命名。根据现有的基因组数据，将采用尖端技术来确定基因是否已从内共生生物横向转移到宿主。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Symbiosis has repeatedly given rise to evolutionary innovation across the tree of life. Apicomplexans, including the causative agent of malaria, are the deadliest protozoan parasites on the planet. However, one lineage of apicomplexans (the genus Nephromyces), have evolved a symbiotic relationship with bacterial endosymbionts that has not only enabled an escape from a parasitic lifestyle, but caused a large radiation of species. This project aims to both characterize the diversity of these species and understand the interactions between host and symbiont that turned a parasite into a harmless inhabitant. This work will benefit society by advancing understanding of the diversity and contribution of eukaryotic microorganisms to the biosphere, with results that will be disseminated through peer-reviewed literature and presentations for scientific and lay audiences. The research will also be communicated to a broader audience through a workshop for professional scientific journalists. In addition, research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students will train the next generation of integrative systematic biologists.This PurSUiT project will untangle the various biological entities that make up the Nephromyces community, across six species of tunicate hosts. Next-generation DNA sequencing will be used to determine the diversity of the community, then employ single cell isolation techniques to capture, image and describe individual Nephromyces species and their bacterial endosymbionts. Using fluorescent in situ hybridization labels, the different life stages of each species will be collected and photo-documented for the full life history. At least ten Nephromyces species from each of the six tunicate species will be formally named, as well as their bacterial endosymbionts to the extent possible under the evolving prokaryotic Code of Nomenclature. From existing genomic data, cutting edge techniques will be employed to determine whether genes have been laterally transferred from endosymbiont to host.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.