FUNCTIONAL GENOMICS OF UNCULTIVATED SOIL BACTERIA

通过使用分子技术来评估微生物多样性，揭示了生物界的新前景。尽管有这一发现，整个部门水平的细菌群存在于难以培养的自然环境中，并且可能含有以前未发现的抗生素。本研究将对新分支酸杆菌的功能多样性进行研究，为抗生素的发现提供依据。利用来自该部门细菌的基因组克隆集合，将开发一种异源表达系统。基于G+C含量分离土壤基因组DNA， G+C含量富集的DNA片段和酸杆菌基因组富集的DNA片段将用于构建大范围宿主基因组文库。筛选这个富含酸杆菌的基因组文库，筛选出对重要人类病原体有活性的克隆，可能会分离出新的抗生素，从而确定其遗传决定因素和化学结构。

New vistas in the biological world have been revealed through the use of molecular techniques for assessing microbial diversity. Despite this revelation, whole division-level groups of bacteria exist in natural environments that are refractory to cultivation and potentially harbor previously undiscovered antibiotics. This study will access the functional diversity within the novel division Acidobacterium for the discovery of antibiotic agents. Using a collection of genomic clones derived from bacteria within this division, a heterologous expression system will be developed. By separating soil genomic DNA on the basis of G+C content, DNA fractions enriched for the presence of G+C content, DNA fractions enriched for the presence of Acidobacterium genomes will be used for genomic library construction in a broad host-range cosmid. Screening of this Acidobacterium-enriched genomic library for clones with activity against important human pathogens may result in the isolation of novel antibiotic agents, the genetic determinants and chemical structure of which will be determined.