Genome sequencing of Micromonospora sp.

Ecology-driven natural product discover have been an effective approach to identify new metabolites with novel chemical scaffold and bioactivity. Fungus-growing termite have been an interesting research model for multilateral symbiosis. In this system, the termite cultivate the fungus Termitomyces as their food source, surrounding with other co-evolved microbial communities, and antagonists (e.g. Pseudoxylaria). While the host can produce their own defensive compounds, it is believed that the microbial symbionts, especially actinobacteria also contribute to the host defense. This project is to understand how termite-associated bacteria Micromonospora sp. RB23 co-occur and how they interact with each other over time, and to explore the products they secreted as the communicating language or for the protection against outer dangers.