The role of the gut microbiome in host adaptation to environmental toxins
Michael Shapira, Professor
Integrative Biology
Closed. This professor is continuing with Spring 2024 apprentices on this project; no new apprentices needed for Fall 2024.
Toxins play important roles in inter-species interactions, and the ability to overcome them can open new niches. The potential of animal genomes to facilitate such adaptations is limited; instead, toxin resistance in animals is often provided by gut bacteria. Human activity and industry has dramatically increased the prevalence of environmental toxins, including antibiotics and pesticides, which represent a novel selection pressure on most if not all organisms, and can affect animal health and potentially evolution. Anecdotal evidence suggests that animals can acquire pesticide-resistance by exchanging gut symbionts for environmentally-enriched toxin-modifying bacteria. However, such short-term fitness advantages may come with a price, as changes in microbiome composition, or dysbiosis, are associated with long-term detrimental consequences and pathology. Using C. elegans as a model host, we study the roles of environmentally-acquired gut bacteria in host adaptation to toxic antibiotics, the mechanisms enabling productive gut-environment exchanges, and the long-term consequences of changes in the gut microbiome for host health and lifespan.
We seek an enthusiastic and motivated undergrad to take part in this project
Role: The undergrad working on these projects will be trained in basic lab techniques such as media preparation, maintenance of bacteria and nematodes, preparation of DNA samples for genetic sequencing, and possibly microscopy. Furthermore, we will provide relevant papers from the scientific literature and guidance on how to read and interpret scientific writing. We will expect apprentices to commit to learning about the experimental system and lab techniques, engaging in our research, attending our weekly lab meetings, and helping to move our projects forward. While the URAP program is a one semester commitment, we seek an undergrad who would be interested in continuing to develop projects and skills in the lab in future semesters as well.
Qualifications: Pre-requisites: Bio1A/Bio1B; students should be able and willing to read and understand scientific literature (especially research articles) to a level that will allow them to understand the general concepts described in the project description. Sophomores or Juniors.
Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Dan Kim, Ph.D. candidate
Hours: 12 or more hours
Related website: http://ib.berkeley.edu/labs/shapira/
Biological & Health Sciences Engineering, Design & Technologies