Objective Most of nature s biodiversity, and many potentially useful metabolic capabilities, remain hidden among the vast numbers of uncharacterized environmental microbes. Because cultivation is still not possible for most of these microbes, cultivation-independent molecular techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), or shotgun DNA sequencing have been used in order to study their function and ecology in their natural habitats. However, none of the above techniques have so far been sufficient for any systematic assignment of molecular functions to distinct microbial lineages. Thus, most of the molecular ecology of natural microbes remains elusive. Here, we propose a computational meta-analysis and synthesis of existing and newly generated molecular sequence data sampled directly from the environment combining DNA sequencing data (metagenomics), and proteome expression data (metaproteomics). This analysis will be coupled to computational modelling of genome content evolution at the community level. We will aim to assess how gene repertoires of microbial communities, and their taxonomic compositions, change across distinct environments, in response to changed conditions, and through time. We plan to address fundamental questions in microbial ecology, including the extent of cooperation among members of the communities, stability of community composition at evolutionary timescales, the importance of lateral gene transfers, the extent of functional adaptation/regulation in situ, and whether gene occurrence and expression patterns are diagnostic of community functions and ecological status. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsproteomicsmedical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologygenetic engineeringgene therapynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNAnatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystemsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsgenomes Keywords genome content evolution metagenomics metaproteomics microbial ecology Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-SG-LS2 - ERC Starting Grant - Genetics,Genomics,Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Call for proposal ERC-2009-StG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant Host institution University of Zurich EU contribution € 1 129 800,00 Address RAMISTRASSE 71 8006 ZURICH Switzerland See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Christian Von Mering (Prof.) Administrative Contact Christian Von Mering (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all University of Zurich Switzerland EU contribution € 1 129 800,00 Address RAMISTRASSE 71 8006 ZURICH See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Christian Von Mering (Prof.) Administrative Contact Christian Von Mering (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
