Heterogeneity in bacterial quorum sensing during infection

项目总结 动物体内有细菌共生体，这些共生体表达出促进宿主健康的特定特征。主持人如何选择 对于具有这些特征的细菌来说，人们仍然知之甚少。一个特别有用的模型系统来检查主机- 微生物共生是夏威夷短尾鱿鱼和真枪乌贼之间建立的共生关系 生物发光细菌费氏弧菌。寄主在一个专门的栖息地内藏匿着金龟子。 光管风琴。作为生物发光的交换，宿主为细菌共生体提供营养物质 促进他们的成长。这项建议的总体目标是增加对鱿鱼如何选择 生物发光共生体。先前的研究表明，缺乏发光酶的突变株 荧光素酶能够定植于发光器官，但会减弱。缺乏对突变体的研究努力 能够抵抗氧化应激的关键因素将在定植实验中进行检验。一个屏幕，以 还将进行与产生氧化应激有关的营养输入系统的识别。 总之，这些结果将决定影响非发光菌株的生理变化，这将 增加对寄主如何选择功能共生体的理解。候选人将接受以下方面的培训 微生物学研究和职业发展机会，这将为候选人 从事微生物学研究。

PROJECT SUMMARY Animals harbor bacterial symbionts that express specific traits that promote host fitness. How hosts select for bacteria with those traits remains poorly understood. A particularly useful model system to examine host- microbe symbioses is the symbiosis established between the Hawaiian bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes and the bioluminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri. The host harbors population of V. fischeri within a specialized light organ. In exchange for bioluminescence, the host provides the bacterial symbionts with nutrients that promote their growth. The overall goal of this proposal is to increase understanding of how squid select for bioluminescent symbionts. Previous work has shown that mutants that lack the light-producing enzyme luciferase are able to colonize the light organ but become attenuated. Research efforts with mutants that lack key factors that enable resistance to oxidative stress will be examined in colonization experiments. A screen to identify systems of nutrient import that is linked to the generation of oxidative stress will also be performed. Together, these results will determine the physiological changes that affect nonluminous strains, which will increase understanding of how hosts select for functional symbionts. The candidate will receive training in microbiology research and opportunities for professional development, which will prepare the candidate for a career in microbiology research.