By far most of the diversity of life resides in the prokaryotic world, yet we are only now gaining insight into this vast world. Furthermore, microbial taxonomy is in transition, with whole genome sequences providing new views of microbial species definitions. Using the bacterial Aquificales as a model group, this project will introduce students to the latest techniques in microbial taxonomy and provide opportunities to explore some of the most pressing taxonomic issues in microbiology.

The Aquificales are dominant in many high temperature ecosystems, from deep-sea vents to shallow marine vents to terrestrial hot springs and deep hot gold mines. Yet relatively few isolates have been grown in the laboratory or characterized. The microbes are heat loving thermophiles and primarily use inorganic compounds for their source of carbon and energy. Because some genera are able to use different metals as energy sources, they have potential biotechnological applications. Due to their controversial deeply- rooted position in some phylogenetic trees and numerous unresolved taxonomic issues, the Aquificales provide many good examples for training microbial taxonomists.

New isolates will be obtained from Yellowstone National Park, Russia, Chile, Iceland and New Zealand. These will be catalogued in a database and characterized using a suite of physiological and molecular characters. Additionally, since 2 whole genome sequences of new genera in this group will be available, genomic sequence analysis will be incorporated into the taxonomy, potentially challenging our perception of the "prokaryotic species concept". As part of our international collaborations we will hold taxonomic workshops and encourage foreign graduate student participation in the project. The students who will be trained through this project will have a strong training in classical microbial taxonomy and in molecular phylogenetic analysis of single gene and genomes and contribute to novel concepts in modern microbial taxonomy. The data collected as part of this taxonomic revision will provide the framework for questions relating to biogeography, endemism and speciation of the Aquificales and microorganisms in general.