The Role of Phage Tail-Like Structures in Tubeworm Metamorphosis
Abstract
The Role of Phage Tail-like Structures in Tubeworm Metamorphosis Nicholas J. Shikuma The free-swimming larvae of many biofouling organisms adhere to submerged surfaces and metamorphose in response to bacteria. Bacterium-triggered biofouling can significantly increase fuel consumption for ships underway and therefore has substantial economic consequences for the U.S. Navy. The induction of animal metamorphosis by bacteria is an important instance of bacterium-animal interaction in which bacteria mediate animal development. Our research uses a model bacterium-tubeworm interaction to elucidate the fundamental mechanisms underlying biofouling and bacterium-animal interactions. We discovered that larvae of the tubeworm Hydroides elegans are induced to metamorphose by arrays of nanometer-scale syringe-like structures called Metamorphosis-Associated Contractile structures (MACs) produced by a marine bacterium, Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea. While MACs are necessary for P. luteoviolacea to induce tubeworm metamorphosis, we do not know how the MAC-tubeworm interaction takes place. This proposal aims to (1) identify and characterize the recognition and effector components of MACs; (2) sequence the Hydroides elegans genome and use the genome as a scaffold to analyze the transcriptional response of tubeworm larvae to phage tail-like MACs; and (3) develop genetic tools to study H. elegans and use these tools to study how MACs induce signaling and response genes in tubeworm larvae. From this study, we will describe a fundamental mechanism of bacterium-animal interaction and inform future strategies to inhibit biofouling.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jun 10, 2016
- Source ID
- N000141612135
Entities
People
- Nicholas J Shikuma
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies
- United States Navy