About Us

研究室簡介

Research: Evolutionary and Functional Genomics of Symbiotic Bacteria

In bacterial evolution, the development of a host-dependent lifestyle often has profound effects on the genome organization. To better understand the evolutionary processes and functional consequences associated with these genetic changes, we utilize genomics, transcriptomics, and molecular genetics approaches to conduct comparative analyses among bacteria with different ecological niches or phenotypes. The recent research projects in our lab are based on two main study systems:

(1) Mollicutes

The class Mollicutes contains diverse groups of host-associated bacteria with no cell wall, including Mycoplasma (many are vertebrate pathogens), 'Candidatus Phytoplasma' (plant pathogens), and Spiroplasma (mostly insect symbionts, some are plant pathogens). Our short-term goal in this system is to investigate the genetic mechanisms that may explain the differences among species or strains with distinct phenotypes. In the long-term, we plan to generate sufficient genomic data to allow for comprehensive comparisons that improve our understanding of these bacteria.

(2) Agrobacteria

The plant-associated bacteria known as "agrobacteria" are important because of their biotechnological use in plant transformation and their phytopathogenicity that impacts agriculture. We are interested in the genetic diversity, genome evolution, and functional characterization across different subgroups in this diverse group, including those classified to the genera Agrobacterium, Allorhizobium, Rhizobium, and others.

研究主題:共生細菌的演化與功能性基因體學

在細菌的演化中,當一個物種發展出對真核宿主的依存性時,其基因體經常會有大規模的變化。為了解與這些遺傳變化相關的演化過程及功能性影響,本研究室利用基因體學、轉錄體學、分子遺傳學等方法進行不同細菌間的比較分析。近年之研究計畫包含兩個主要的生物系統:

(1) 柔膜菌綱 (Mollicutes)

柔膜菌綱為一群不具有細胞壁之宿主依存性細菌,包括黴漿菌(Mycoplasma; 含多種脊椎動物病原)、植物菌質體 ('Candidatus Phytoplasma'; 植物病原)、及螺旋菌質體 (Spiroplasma; 多為昆蟲共生菌,部分物種為植物病原) 等代表性物種。本研究室的短期目標為調查可解釋物種間或菌株間表現型差異之遺傳機制,而長期目標則是累積足夠的基因體資料以進行完整的比較分析藉以了解這群細菌。

(2) 農桿菌 (Agrobacteria)

農桿菌為一群與植物相關的細菌,由於這群細菌在植物基因轉殖上的應用以及在農業上造成的危害,在生物科技和農業的發展上都具有相當的重要性。這群細菌包含現有分類系統中多個「屬」,例如AgrobacteriumAllorhizobiumRhizobium等。本研究室致力於探討不同小群菌株間的遺傳歧異度、基因體演化、及功能性分析等課題。