In this study, we will perform a fine-graded comparative analysis of transcription factor activities and functions in relation to beneficial fungal-associations with model plant hosts and measure how outcomes are altered by encounters with pathogenic fungi and selected root-associated bacteria. Improved knowledge of fungal gene regulation during confrontation with other microbes and in different plant hosts will help engineering more resilient fungal strains with enhanced root colonization and growth promotion capacities and provide fresh leads to plant-protection strategies. [Read More]

Microbes and their viruses are recently found to be profoundly impacting in virtually any ecosystem studied – from the oceans and soils to humans and bioreactors. While our knowledge of viral diversity is growing, we often observe genomes without knowing which host cell the virus infects. This proposal seeks to leverage ecosystem modeling and high-resolution time series datasets to scalably identify which viruses infect which hosts in experimental model systems and complex communities. Should it be successful, the new analytic will be powerful context for studying viruses in any ecosystem. [Read More]

This proposal seeks to create a global census of microbial genomes across 250 of the world’s rivers, from the Amazon to the Mississippi. Our goal is to create a Genome Resolved Open Watershed (GROW) database- which will be an open access resource to advance knowledge of aquatic microbiology for the entire scientific community. [Read More]

The MOSAiC drift experiment will provide sequence data to study for the first time how microbial communities change over a complete seasonal cycle in the Arctic Ocean in terms of their diversity and gene activity. These results will be instrumental to study climate processes they drive. [Read More]

Chytrids are basal fungi. Despite the chytrids major negative impact on algal phytoplankton productivity and as a major pest in microalgal biofuels production facilities, extremely little is known about the biology of these organisms. We expect that the genomic data provided from this CSP will shed light on the “blackbox” of unknown molecular events at various stages of infections in the inter-organismal chytrid/algal systems. This work is highly relevant to the DOE mission in the context of organic carbon cycling in aquatic plankton communities and due to the microalgae being feedstock for biofuels applications. [Read More]

Characterizing viruses in extreme environments may facilitate a better understanding of the role that viruses play in the dynamics and evolution of complex microbial communities. [Read More]