Award Abstract #0333273
Microbial Genome Sequencing: Sequencing and Annotation of the Bdellovibrio Strain W Genome

NSF Org:	EF Emerging Frontiers
Initial Amendment Date:	September 15, 2003
Latest Amendment Date:	September 15, 2003
Award Number:	0333273
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Patrick P. Dennis EF Emerging Frontiers BIO Directorate for Biological Sciences
Start Date:	September 15, 2003
Expires:	August 31, 2006 (Estimated)
Awarded Amount to Date:	$281000
Investigator(s):	John Iandolo john-iandolo@ouhsc.edu (Principal Investigator) Veronica Worrell (Co-Principal Investigator) Allison Gillaspy (Co-Principal Investigator)
Sponsor:	University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center 1000 Stanton L Young Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73117 405/271-2090
NSF Program(s):	BE: NON-ANNOUNCEMENT RESEARCH
Field Application(s):
Program Reference Code(s):	BIOT, 9183, 9178, 9150, 9104, 7187
Program Element Code(s):	1629

ABSTRACT

The single goal of this project is to sequence and annotate the genome of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus. The intellectual merit of this project will link two seemingly unrelated processes, bacterial predation and morphogenesis. One genus, Bdellovibrio, is especially unique among all the differentiating species because it undergoes morphogenetic changes as a part of a life-cycle that is dependent upon attacking and invading gram negative bacteria for food. Every Bdellovibrio isolated to date has been obligatorily dependent (host dependent - HD) upon a host (prey) cell for growth to carry out its life cycle (attack phase cell to filamentous cell to fragmenting filament/lysis to attack phase). One unique strain (W) has the ability to form environmentally resistant cysts which may have practical value. To provide the framework for the systematic and detailed investigation of these phenomena, high throughput DNA sequencing and subsequent annotation of the genome of B. bacteriovoris strain W will be carried out. Closure and annotation will be carried out in the PI's laboratory. The broader impact of this research has implications in training. The sequence database will allow this group and collaborators (John Tudor at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia and Mark Martin at Occidental College in Los Angeles) to exploit the information to design training projects for undergraduate students. Using summer workshops, 4 undergraduates and their mentors will be trained in the techniques of sequence closure and annotation. A web-based bioinformatics suite will allow the trainees to return to their home institutions and continue projects begun during the workshops.

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