Genome evolution and metabolic characterization of Lucinid symbionts and close relatives

Current projects

Aims: Expand our knowledge of the metabolic capabilities of Lucinid symbiont and compare the genome structure and functions to free-living relatives. This will allow for A) determining the evolutionary origin of Lucinid symbionts (Deep or shallow sea) and B) determining the variable metabolism of these symbiont and how this affects symbiont colonization.

Approach/Methods: Obtaining preserved samples from Museums, DNA extraction, Illumina sequencing, metagenomic binning, metabolic analysis, genomic comparison, phylogeny construction

Student: Jay Osvatic

Faculty: Petersen (PI), Berry, Loy, Horn, Rattei

Funding: WWTF VRG Molecular Host-Microbe Interactions