Award
National Institute of General Medical Sciences 1R35GM162124-01
Evolving together, evolving apart: probing the genomic basis of a facultative host-microbe mutualism
Recipient
Pennsylvania State University, The, University Park, PA, United States
Award Amount
$393,250.00
Ceiling
$393,250.00
Awarded
March 09, 2026
Identifier
1R35GM162124-01
This award funds research to understand the genomic basis of host-microbe mutualism using legume-rhizobium symbiosis as a model, aiming to identify microbial adaptation mechanisms and predict host-microbe interaction outcomes.
Description
The project investigates the evolution of host-microbe mutualisms, focusing on beneficial microbes' role in host health. It aims to identify genomic bases of microbial adaptation inside and outside hosts, and develop a framework to predict microbial host specialization and stability of host benefits. The research uses the leguminous plant Medicago truncatula and Sinorhizobium meliloti as model systems, leveraging whole-genome sequencing, bioinformatics, and field/lab experiments.