| NSF Org: |
MCB Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | July 9, 2004 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | June 7, 2005 |
| Award Number: | 0343098 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Matthew Kane
mkane@nsf.gov (703)292-7186 MCB Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences BIO Directorate for Biological Sciences |
| Start Date: | July 15, 2004 |
| End Date: | June 30, 2007 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $0.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $48,571.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
FY 2005 = $9,750.00 |
| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
701 S 20TH STREET BIRMINGHAM AL US 35294-0001 (205)934-5266 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
701 S 20TH STREET BIRMINGHAM AL US 35294-0001 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): |
MICRO OBS & MICRO INTER & PRO, Population & Community Ecology |
| Primary Program Source: |
app-0105 |
| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.074 |
ABSTRACT
A grant has been awarded to Dr. Julie Olson at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa and Dr. Robert Thacker at the University of Alabama at Birmingham to examine microbial communities associated with freshwater sponges. Several species of freshwater sponges from the Mobile River Basin, Alabama, will be examined to determine whether they host unique microbial taxa that are not found in the surrounding riverine environment. A combination of bacterial cultivation studies and molecular genetic analyses will be employed in this determination. These investigations will also assess whether bacterial symbionts are host-specific, and whether freshwater sponges produce chemical compounds that affect the composition of their internal microbial communities. Crude extracts of freshwater sponges will be tested in laboratory assays for their ability to inhibit growth of bacteria isolated from freshwater environments. Active compounds will be isolated and characterized, with a strong potential for the identification of novel antibiotic compounds.
This research project will provide much-needed documentation of the diversity and abundance of freshwater sponges in the Mobile River Basin, since the ecological status of these sensitive indicators of water quality is currently unknown. Freshwater sponges and their symbiotic bacterial communities may provide a model system to integrate studies of ecology, evolution, and drug discovery. In addition to providing research opportunities for one graduate student and one undergraduate student, the investigators will incorporate protocols and results from these studies into graduate and undergraduate courses. These results will also be disseminated to the local community to enhance awareness of water quality issues, including eutrophication, sedimentation, and pollution.
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