'common' microbes in gut of fish (microbiota)
'oil' microbes enter gut of fish (microbiota)
Research Idea (Hypothesis)
This material is based upon work supported by the
National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1051237.
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or
recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do
not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science foundation.
Broader Impact
This project will introduce undergraduate students
from minorities traditionally underrepresented in science to biological
research, and engage them with a project that is relevant to a problem
currently facing society. This research project will also be integrated with
lectures and laboratory instruction. Students will be recruited to conduct
undergraduate research at all levels of the investigation, from field work
to molecular biology to web-based bioinformatics. Students will participate
in the analysis of results, and the presentation of their work in posters
and talks at scientific conferences, as well as in scientific manuscripts.
This project will involve collaboration with the Louisiana Universities
Marine Consortium. Results will also be made publically available through
the office of Satellite Telecommunications Network Interface/Distance
Learning at SUNO and the investigator's website www.sunocas.com/tietzel.
NSF Oil Spill Research -
RAPID: Oil spills
and (evolutionary) changes in intestinal microbiota of fish.
The hypothesis to be tested is that the Deepwater
Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico will, by increasing the presence of
oil-associated microbes in the marine environment, induce changes in the
normal community of microbes (the microbiome) of fish and other marine
organisms. For example, this exposure may result in new symbiotic
host-microbe relationships between fish and bacteria. This research project
has two aims: (1) To examine the bacteria of the digestive tract of fish
from areas exposed to the Gulf oil spill for the presence of oil-associated
microbes. A comparison with microbes from fish that have not been exposed to
the oil spill will determine if exposure has led to a changed microbial
community in oil-exposed fish. (2) To determine if genes related to the
metabolic processing of oil (and which occur normally in oil-associated
microbes) have been transferred into the normal intestinal bacteria of fish
as a consequence of exposure to the Gulf oil spill.
Alcanivorax borkumensis - A microbe
associating with oil has many functions
(figure from http://berkeleynaturally.wordpress.com/category/spirituality/)
Alcanivorax borkumensis was found close to the
German island Borkum and thus named borkumensis. Later it was found that
this microbe is widespread all around the globe (ubiquitous). It can digest
and chemically alter oil components such as alkanes. The involved process is
called alkane hydroxylation and several genes were identified contributing
to this process.
Chemical processes of Alcanivorax
borkumensis
(figure from: Schneiker S, et al. Genome
sequence of the ubiquitous hydrocarbon-degrading marine bacterium
Alcanivorax borkumensis. Nat Biotechnol. 2006 Aug;24(8):997-1004.)
Scientists propose that the Alk genes are such as
alkB1 and alkB2 are involved in oil degradation. Alk genes can be
found in this figure at position resembling 11 o'clock on a dial.
Field Trips
September 10 2010
A small boat with a small trawl net was used to catch
Atlantic croaker, Gulf Menhaden and Killifish. All other living organisms
were immediately returned to the waters. Interestingly, the majority of
caught fish were Atlantic croaker and Gulf Menhaden with very few fish not
belonging to other species that had to be returned.
Cataloguing and Measurements of Fish
Locations of captured fish
(1) 29 degrees 11' 54" N and 90 degrees 39' 56" W at 4
mph(2) 29 degrees 12' 10" N and 90 degrees
39' 56" W at 4.5 mph
(3) 29 degrees 12' 20" N and 90 degrees 39' 48" W
at 3.5 mph
(4) 29 degrees 10' 46" N and 90 degrees 39' 44" W
at 4 mph
(5) 29 degrees 10' 23" N and 90 degrees 39' 32" W
at 4 mph
(6) 29 degrees 15' 15" N and 90 degrees 39' 39" W;
for Killifish
Field trip October 08 2010
trawl throwing
trawl guiding
Once the trawl is thrown into the water, the trawl has
to be guided into a position where it can be pulled. For LUMCON's pontoon
boat "Dos Gris" the trawl was thrown from the bow (front). Then the lines
for pulling the trawl had to be guided around the sides of the boat to the
stern (back) of the boat. (from left to right Ms. Whitmore, Mr. Kiffin & Mr.
Hayward)
Trawling
The trawl net was pulled for 5 minutes at each
location with speeds around 4 miles per hour. Mr. Chuck Guidry was the
experienced boat operator on October 8 of 2010.
Trawl hauling
Biology majors at SUNO, Mr. Hayward and Mr. Kiffin,
are shown throwing the small trawl net out into the Gulf waters. The small
boat "Dos Gris" from LUMCON was used.
Inspection of caught fish
The majority of caught fish were Atlantic croaker.
Very few Gulf Menhaden were caught. This is in contrast to the September
field trip when the Gulf Menhaden was the predominant fish species.
Location of trawls
The location of trawl runs and the speed were assessed
using a GPS device. The data were then documented. Ms. Whitmore is shown
reading the GPS device and recording the location as well as speed into a
notebook.
Field trip Nov. 12 of 2010
The field trip was similar to the earlier ones. The
disappearance of Gulf Menhaden reversed itself, their numbers increased
somewhat.
Genetic Analysis of Microbes
Gene Sequencer
(1) 29 degrees 11' 33" N and 90 degrees 39' 48" W at
4.1 mph
(2) 29 degrees 12' 07" N and 90 degrees 40' 02" W at 4.2 mph
(3) 29 degrees 12' 36" N and 90 degrees 39' 46" W at 3.5 mph
(4) 29 degrees 10' 41" N and 90 degrees 38' 50" W at 5.1 mph
(5) 29 degrees 9' 50" N and 90 degrees 38' 50" W at 5.3 mph
(5b) 29 degrees 11' 18" N and 90 degrees 39' 15" W at 0.0 mph; for Killifish
(6) 29 degrees 15' 9" N and 90 degrees 39' 39" W; for Killifish
