The BIO Directorate
Microbial Biology Emphasis
BIO Advisory Committee
April, 2005
BIO’s Microbial Biology Emphasis
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BIO is proposing an increased effort to advance
microbial biology beginning in FY 2006.
A new working group has been charged to
consider:
 What programs or activities will best serve
the microbial science of the future?
 How should they be structured?
Background and Context
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Microbes are vastly understudied,
given their importance on Earth.
NSF has supported research on
microbes in a number of contexts over
many years.
Interest and opportunities are growing.
Background and Context
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Genomics has provided the key to
understanding the microbial world.
Complementary approaches have been
enhanced and revitalized.
Microbes and their interactions can
now be placed in the context of their
natural environments.
The BIO Microbial Biology
Working Group
Approach
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Identify the leading edge biological questions
and research needs in microbial biology.
Match the questions and research needs to
current programs and opportunities.
Identify intersections and complementarity of
programs and gaps.
Develop a plan for the BIO Microbial
Emphasis in 2006
Community Input
A Number of Workshops, Including
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1999. Microbial Genomes: Blueprints for Life
2000. The Microbe Project – The NSF Role
(a BIO/NSF Advisory Committee Workshop)
2002. Microbial Ecology and Genomics:
A Crossroads of Opportunity
2004. Facilitating Microbial Research through
Advanced Data Management Infrastructure (A
workshop sponsored by the Microbe Project
Interagency Working Group)
Community Input
Recommendations from PI Meetings
 Microbial Genome Sequencing Program
• 2005
Genome sequencing is still needed.
 Microbial Observatories
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2002: Add an opportunity for research on
Microbial Interactions and Processes
• 2004 White paper from meeting of Microbial
Observatories PIs with USDA grantees and staff
recommends a joint effort.
Interagency Coordination: The
Microbe Project
Member Agencies
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Department of Agriculture
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Department of Commerce
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Department of Defense
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Department of Energy
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Department of Health and Human Services
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National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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National Science Foundation
The Microbe Project
Interagency Working Group
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1999. Interagency Report on the Federal Investment in
Microbial Genomics
2001. Interagency Working Group on Microbial
Genomics of the NSTC Committee on Science,
Subcommittee on Biotechnology, The Microbe Project
Report
2005. Updated strategic planning document in
preparation.
The Microbe Project
Interagency Working Group
2005 Topics under Consideration
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Infrastructure needs (including more genome sequencing)
Assigning Functions
Mechanisms of Microbe-Microbe and Microbe-other
organism interactions
Comparative Genomics
Databases and Bioinformatics Infrastructure
Environmental Genomics (aka Metagenomics)
Proteomics
Microbial Epidemiology and Forensics
Recommendations from All
Sources
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Advance genome-enabled research at all
levels of biological organization
Education and outreach programs
Resource needs:
 Genome sequence and quality annotation
 Cyberinfrastructure
 Accessible technologies
Research Frontiers
Understand the fundamental processes
of life from molecular to ecological levels
Explore and elucidate microbial:
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Metabolic diversity and function
Communication, signaling, and behavior
Interactions with other organisms
Diversity
Evolution and how groups maintain cohesion
Ecology
Infrastructure and
Resource Needs
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Build the genome sequence knowledge base.
Determine the functions of open reading
frames to improve annotation.
Develop ontologies, databases, and
informatics tools for:
 Analysis of microbial genomes.
 Analysis of DNA from environmental samples.
 Linking genomic data with other data types.
Develop and make accessible new research
tools and techniques.
Education and Outreach
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Educate at the interfaces of microbial
biology with:
 Genomics
 Math, physical sciences, computer science
 Environmental Science
Broaden Participation
Increase public awareness
NSF/BIO Current Opportunities in
Microbial Biology
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Microbial Genome Sequencing (Joint with USDA)
Microbial Observatories & Microbial Interactions
and Processes
Microbial Research in:
 Core Programs
 FIBR
 Plant Genome Research Program
 Ecology of Infectious Disease (Joint with NIH)
[Research Frontiers]
Ecological & Evolutionary Physiology
Plant Genome Research
Metabolic
Biochemistry
Microbial Observatories
& Interactions &
Processes
Developmental
Systems
Instrumentation &
Instrument Development
Microbial
Genetics
Ecology & Ecosystems
Post
Docs
Plant Biology
Systematics
PEET
Genome
Sequencing
Living Stocks
RCN
IGERT
[Education ]
Dissertation
Improvement REU
UMEB
Biodiversity
Surveys
& Inventories
[Infrastructure]
Databases and
Informatics
NSF/BIO Planning for Future
Opportunities in Microbial Biology
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The Microbial Biology Working Group
is charged to consider:
 What activities and programs will best
serve the microbial science of the future?
 How should they be structured?
Postdoc
PEET
Microbial
Observatories
IGERT
UBM
Plant genome
Genome
Sequencing
REU
Living Stocks
Instrumentation
Databases