Genome Sequencing of a Chlorinated Ethene-respiring Dehalococcoides Strain and Development of a Single Cell Sequencing Method

A wide variety of chemical compounds are released into the environment every year and they pose a serious threat to human health and the ecosystem. Chlorinated ethenes are one such example where because of their superior properties, a large quantity of them is used worldwide but improper disposal has also caused widespread soil and groundwater contamination. Removing the chlorinated ethenes from the environment is a priority because these compounds are toxic and carcinogenic to humans. Fortunately, to our rescue, bacteria in the Dehalococcoides genus can detoxify these compounds under anaerobic conditions, transforming the compounds to a harmless form. The goal of this research is to further our biological understanding of these bacteria through genome sequencing. Specifically, the genome of a novel cultured Dehalococcoides isolate will be sequenced and analyzed, and a method will also be developed to analyze the genomes of uncultured bacteria through single cell sequencing.