Award
NIH Reporter #5R35GM150625-04
Using Experimental Evolution to Evaluate Environmental Effects on Microbial Mutation and Adaptation
Recipient
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
Award Amount
$396,127.00
Ceiling
$396,127.00
Awarded
July 31, 2026
Identifier
5R35GM150625-04
Research project funded by NIGMS to study microbial evolution under different oxygen conditions using experimental evolution techniques, focusing on adaptive mutations and their effects.
Description
This project aims to investigate how oxygen availability influences microbial evolution under feast/famine conditions. Using experimental evolution with Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus crispatus, the study will characterize adaptive mutations, fitness outcomes, and diversification patterns. The research will employ multi-omic approaches, including transcriptomics and phenotyping, to understand the molecular and physiological impacts of adaptive mutations. The study addresses a neglected area of microbial evolution, focusing on fastidious and anaerobic microorganisms prevalent in the human microbiome.