Cultivation of novel marine bacteria of the SAR11 cluster by high throughput cultivation techniques and eluidation of their adaptations to the environment by comparative genome analysis

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Ulrich Stingl
• Subject Area: Metabolism, Biochemistry and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Term: from 2005 to 2007
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 15908533

Marine bacteria of the SAR11 cluster are probably the most abundant microorganisms on earth with an estimated cell number of greater than 2 x 1028 cells. The SAR11 bacteria, belonging to the (-Proteobacteria, are not a homogenous group but consist of several subclusters that seem to show an interesting geographical distribution as well as a spatial distribution with depth. Currently, there is only one cultured strain of the SAR11 clade available, which was preliminarily classified as Candidatus Pelagibacter ubique. In this application, the adaptation of SAR11 bacteria to different environments will be studied. By using dilution-to-extinction high throughput cultivation of bacteria obtained from different depths of the well investigated Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study site (BATS), new SARbe cultivated. Subsequent comparative genomics with the already available genome sequence of Cand. Pelagibacter ubique will result in first 11 strains will available genome t insights into the genomic adaptions of these organisms in response to their natural habitat.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: USA
• Host: Professor Dr. Stephen J. Giovannoni