Details of Award
NERC Reference : NER/M/S/2000/00235
Development of a molecular toolbox for assessing the distribution and diversity of bacterial plasmids in natural environments.
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor AM Osborn, University of Essex, Biological Sciences
- Grant held at:
- University of Essex, Biological Sciences
- Science Area:
- Terrestrial
- Marine
- Freshwater
- Overall Classification:
- Terrestrial
- ENRIs:
- Pollution and Waste
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Biodiversity
- Science Topics:
- Environmental Microbiology
- Environmental Genomics
- Systematics & Taxonomy
- Technol. for Environ. Appl.
- Abstract:
- Molecular techniques are now widely used to study microbial biodiversity in natural environments. However, attempts to study the distribution and diversity of mobile genetic elements (MGEs), which play a critical role in gene dissemination and adaptation, are limited by a lack of DNA primers and probes suitable for the study of environmentally-important MGEs and especially plasmids. This study aims to address this limitation by utilising a database of plasmid replicons to enable the design of family- and group-specific primers and probes. These will be tested on reference plasmids prior to their use for assessing plasmid distribution and diversity in natural habitats. Secondly, the potential use of MGEs that can mobilise plasmids, to enable the exogenous isolation of new plasmids from bacteria in natural environments, without the need for culture, will be evaluated.
- NERC Reference:
- NER/M/S/2000/00235
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Small Grants Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Small Grants
This grant award has a total value of £35,232
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Staff | Total - Other Costs | Total - Equipment | Total - Indirect Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| £14,264 | £10,126 | £4,281 | £6,562 |
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