Metatranscriptome of an algal bloom from St Helena Bay on the west coast of South Africa. St Helena Bay metatranscriptomics

The aim of this project is to investigate changes in gene expression specifically genes linked to PCD the duration of an algal bloom event. The study was motivated by the paucity of knowledge in changes in microbial complexity in algal blooms and by the lack of empirical evidence of PCD from field and natural environments such as algal blooms. Despite the progress made, algal blooms remain poorly understood, specifically why a particular taxa proliferates to dominate the bloom remains a challenge and a call for species specific information has been made. Concomitant to documenting the changes in microbial diversity and environment conditions during an algal bloom, changes in gene expression in relation to PCD will also be assessed to provide a contextual understanding of PCD during a bloom event.

本项目旨在探究基因表达的变化，尤其是藻华事件持续期间与程序性细胞死亡（Programmed Cell Death，PCD）相关的基因表达变化。本研究的开展动因在于：当前学界对藻华过程中微生物群落复杂性变化的认知较为匮乏，且缺乏来自藻华等野外自然环境中PCD的实证证据。尽管相关研究已取得一定进展，但人们对藻华的认知仍较为有限，其中为何特定分类群会大量增殖并成为藻华优势类群这一问题，仍是亟待解决的难题，学界也已呼吁需开展物种特异性的相关研究。与此同时，本研究将在记录藻华过程中微生物多样性与环境条件变化的基础上，同步评估与PCD相关的基因表达变化，以期实现对藻华事件中PCD的情境化认知。