DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Isolating a Mechanism for Microbial-Host Local Adaptation

论文研究：分离微生物宿主局部适应机制

• 批准号: 1701788
• 负责人: Tony Wilson
• 金额: $ 2.03万
• 依托单位: CUNY Brooklyn College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2017-09-01 至 2019-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1701788&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; Isolating; Mechanism; Microbial

This project investigates how the external environment shapes the immune system. Seahorses provide an ideal model for studying host-microbe interactions for three reasons. The genetic structure of their immune system is simple. Also, their dispersal capability is limited, and their geographic distribution is broad. Previous research on the pot-bellied seahorse across its range in New Zealand and southeastern Australia found striking differences between the pattern of genetic diversity in those parts of the genome related to immune response versus those parts of the genome that are not under selection. This proposal aims to experimentally test field observations of host-microbe associations. It will address a key question in host-microbial co-evolutionary theory: Are host-microbe associations in natural populations a type of local adaptation for immunity? Marine environments provide an essential economic engine for food, transportation, commerce and recreation, but we still have a poor understanding of how human activities impact resident organisms and influence ecosystem health. The results of this research will be incorporated into the NSF-funded Authentic Research Experience in Microbiology program serving students at ten City University of New York campuses, and will inform marine conservation planning and management through the Ministry of Primary Industries, FishServe Commercial Fisheries Services, and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.Host-microbe interactions are an underappreciated driver of adaptation. This project will evaluate a potential mechanism of local adaptation at the major histocompatibility class II locus (MHII) by testing the fitness consequences of host-microbe associations in the marine species Hippocampus abdominalis (the pot-bellied seahorse). Previous research on wild H. abdominalis across its geographic range detected enhanced levels of MHII variability at the population level relative to neutral loci. Sequencing of the host gut microbiome indicates that the local environment (urban, agricultural, or pristine) has a significant effect on the microbial composition of hosts collected from these sites. Experimental populations of H. abdominalis will be exposed to microbes showing positive, negative, or neutral associations with hosts in natural populations, and effects of MHII genotype on growth, condition, immune response and survival will be measured. The research proposed here represents an exciting opportunity to explicitly test field observations of host-microbe associations and targets a key evolutionary concept, microbe-mediated local adaptation, using an experimental protocol reflecting natural pathways of microbial exposure

该项目研究了外部环境如何塑造免疫系统。海马为研究宿主 - 微叶相互作用提供了理想的模型，原因有三个。其免疫系统的遗传结构很简单。同样，它们的分散能力是有限的，其地理分布也很广。先前关于在新西兰和澳大利亚东南部范围内的锅腹海马的研究发现，与免疫反应相关的基因组的那些部分的遗传多样性模式与未经选择的基因组的那些部分有关。该提案旨在通过实验测试宿主微叶相关的现场观察。它将解决宿主微生物共同进化理论中的一个关键问题：自然种群中的宿主 - 微生物关联是一种局部适应免疫力吗？海洋环境为粮食，运输，商业和娱乐活动提供了必不可少的经济引擎，但是我们仍然对人类活动如何影响居民生物并影响生态系统健康的了解较差。这项研究的结果将纳入NSF资助的微生物学计划的真实研究经验中，为纽约十市大学校园的学生提供服务，并将通过初级工业部，Fishserve Commercial Fisheries Services和National Instutter of With Coressitute of Withseric and Mastioneric Research为海洋保护计划和管理提供信息。该项目将通过测试海洋腹部海马物种（锅孔孔霍尔斯）中宿主 - 微生物关联的适应性后果来评估主要组织相容性II类基因座（MHII）的潜在机制。先前关于腹螺旋藻在其地理范围内检测到的野生猪笼草的研究发现，相对于中性基因座，人群水平的MHII变异性水平提高。宿主肠道微生物组的测序表明，局部环境（城市，农业或原始环境）对从这些地点收集的宿主的微生物组成具有显着影响。腹部烟草的实验群体将暴露于微生物中，与自然种群中的宿主显示阳性，阴性或中性相关，并将测量MHII基因型对生长，状况，免疫反应和存活率的影响。此处提出的研究代表了一个令人兴奋的机会，可以使用反映微生物暴露的自然途径的实验协议，以微微生物介导的局部适应为关键的进化概念，即微生物介导的局部适应