Obiettivo Freshwater quality was defined as a key environmental theme by the European Environment Agency's State and Outlook 2010 Report. A large threat to freshwater quality is the accelerated eutrophocation of lake waters due to high human impacts from agriculture and industrial and residential wastes, leading to eutrophocation and in some cases toxic cyanobacterial blooms. Microbial communities in eutrophic lakes contribute to a positive feedback loop which perpetuates eutrophocation. The persistence of and capability for dissemination of specific genes related to microbial metabolism in lake environments is unknown. Phage transduction is the primary mechanism by which gene transfer events occur in bacteria. Phage have the possibility to mediate LGT between very distantly related bacteria and transfer virulence factors and genes for metabolic adaptation across taxonomic boundaries and over long phylogenetic ranges. In this study, we will characterise microbial and phage populations as well as phage-mediated LGT in Finnish lakes using culture-independent techniques and high-throughput sequencing to determine: 1) the native microbial and phage populations in lakes at different trophic levels, 2) the cohort of functional genes carried by phage, and 3) how broad the host range of resident phage is. We hypothesize that phage provide a reservoir for genes allowing niche adaptation and increased fitness in response to nutrient stress and/or deprivation. Additionally, we will be able to identify whether phage contribute to the persistence and spread of cyanobacterial toxin genes, and/or providing a reservoir for genes which contribute to the positive feedback loop of eutrophication. Campo scientifico medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologygenetic engineeringgene therapynatural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologybacteriologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologyvirologyagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculture Programma(i) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Argomento(i) FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IIF - Marie Curie Action: "International Incoming Fellowships" Invito a presentare proposte FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IIF Vedi altri progetti per questo bando Meccanismo di finanziamento MC-IIF - International Incoming Fellowships (IIF) Coordinatore HELSINGIN YLIOPISTO Contributo UE € 199 016,40 Indirizzo YLIOPISTONKATU 3 00014 Helsingin Yliopisto Finlandia Mostra sulla mappa Regione Manner-Suomi Helsinki-Uusimaa Helsinki-Uusimaa Tipo di attività Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Contatto amministrativo Katariina Vainio-Mattila (Ms.) Collegamenti Contatta l’organizzazione Opens in new window Sito web Opens in new window Costo totale Nessun dato
