RUI: Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis and Biogeography of Spiroplasmas

RUI：螺原体的分子系统发育分析和生物地理学

• 批准号: 0451430
• 负责人: Laura Regassa
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Georgia Southern University Research and Service Foundation, Inc
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2005
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2005-03-01 至 2009-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0451430&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Molecular; Phylogenetic; Analysis; Biogeography

AbstractLaura RegassaDEB 0451430Spiroplasmas may be one of the most abundant groups of microbes on earth due to their association with a wide variety of insects. Traditional strain classification divided the genus Spiroplasma into 34 groups based on serology, and recent molecular analysis of 36 strains from North America and Europe suggests a strong correlation between the molecular phylogeny and the serological groups. The current project will expand upon this initial study to include more geographically diverse spiroplasma isolates. The results will address questions concerning geographical diversification, spiroplasma-host specificity, and the correlation between serological classification and molecular phylogeny. Specifically, the research will examine the molecular phylogenetic relationships of a geographically and serologically diverse sample set of novel spiroplasma isolates from tabanid flies. Tabanid-associated spiroplasmas were chosen because they are the most thoroughly studied group to date based on serology. The spiroplasma isolates for this study were obtained from tabanid flies in North America, Meso-America, South America and Australia; and were placed into 24 independent serogroups. Isolates from each serogroup will be subjected to molecular analysis and molecular phylogenetic relationships will be determined. Results from this study will move the spiroplasma field forward to greater reliance on DNA sequence data for strain classification and help to bridge the gap between traditional serology and molecular phylogeny. This has important implications for the spiroplasma field, because a correlation between serology and phylogeny would allow for tentative placement of hundreds of strains that have only been classified serologically. In addition, understanding the biodiversity and biogeography of spiroplasmas has important practical applications in agricultural production, as pathogenic species are responsible for citrus stubborn disease, corn stunt disease and honeybee mortality. Assignment of geographical ranges and distribution patterns for spiroplasmas may help with disease management strategies. Finally, this research provides numerous opportunities for the career development of undergraduate students, graduate students (M.S.), and the Principal Investigator. This project will broadly impact participation of underrepresented groups as over 80% of the Principal Investigator's undergraduate research students have been from underrepresented groups.

摘要Laura RegassaDEB 0451430螺原体可能是地球上最丰富的微生物群之一，因为它们与多种昆虫有关。 传统的菌株分类根据血清学将螺原体属分为 34 个类群，最近对来自北美和欧洲的 36 个菌株的分子分析表明，分子系统发育与血清学类群之间存在很强的相关性。 当前的项目将在这项初步研究的基础上进行扩展，以包括更多地理上多样化的螺原体分离株。 结果将解决有关地理多样性、螺原体宿主特异性以及血清学分类和分子系统发育之间的相关性的问题。 具体来说，该研究将检查来自塔班尼蝇的新型螺原体分离物的地理和血清学多样性样本集的分子系统发育关系。 选择与塔班尼相关的螺原体是因为它们是迄今为止基于血清学研究最彻底的群体。 本研究的螺原体分离株是从北美、中美洲、南美洲和澳大利亚的虻科蝇中获得的。并被分为24个独立的血清群。 来自每个血清群的分离株将进行分子分析并确定分子系统发育关系。这项研究的结果将推动螺原体领域更加依赖 DNA 序列数据进行菌株分类，并有助于弥合传统血清学和分子系统发育之间的差距。 这对螺原体领域具有重要意义，因为血清学和系统发育之间的相关性将允许对仅在血清学上进行分类的数百种菌株进行暂定放置。 此外，了解螺原体的生物多样性和生物地理学在农业生产中具有重要的实际应用，因为致病物种是导致柑橘顽固病、玉米矮化病和蜜蜂死亡的原因。 螺原体地理范围和分布模式的分配可能有助于疾病管理策略。 最后，这项研究为本科生、研究生（硕士）和首席研究员的职业发展提供了大量机会。 该项目将对代表性不足的群体的参与产生广泛影响，因为首席研究员的本科研究生中有 80% 以上来自代表性不足的群体。