How do micro organism journey on fungal freeways? UH examine explores

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A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa undertaking to discover how micro organism and fungi work together that might make clear well being, environmental and even family points has been awarded a $591,606 federal grant.

The undertaking, “Bacterial dispersal and nutrient transport along fungal highways,” appears at how micro organism transfer with the assistance of fungi. It will probably be led by UH Mānoa Associate Professors Daisuke Takagi from the Department of Mathematics within the College of Natural Sciences and Nhu Nguyen from the Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences within the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience.

While fungi are sometimes regarded as molds or mushrooms, additionally they create tiny thread-like constructions known as hyphae that type networks throughout each uncovered floor. These fungal “highways” may also help micro organism unfold and transport substances, together with vitamins or dangerous compounds, into new environments. By constructing mathematical fashions and testing them in managed experiments, the UH workforce goals to raised perceive how this partnership works and the way it impacts bigger programs.

“This project lets us combine math and biology to uncover the hidden rules of how bacteria spread, which could impact everything from health to the environment,” Takagi stated.

Nguyen added, “This grant allows us to explore how tiny interactions between microbes can shape bigger systems like soils, crops, indoor environments and natural ecosystems that people depend on every day.”

The researchers will examine how micro organism journey alongside fungal networks, how they reply to modifications of their atmosphere and the way they could carry different molecules with them. The findings may assist clarify how micro organism unfold on human pores and skin, throughout our meals, in addition to how they transfer via soil or buildings.

Collaborative analysis digs in

In the long term, this data may inform public well being methods, agriculture and environmental administration. The award highlights UH Mānoa’s rising function in advancing cross-disciplinary analysis that bridges biology and arithmetic to handle advanced, real-world challenges.

“One of the best parts of doing research at UH is the collaboration—working across different fields is incredibly fun and rewarding,” Takagi stated. “Learning from one another often leads to discoveries we couldn’t make alone.”

The three-year grant is collectively supported by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation via a program that funds tasks on the intersection of biology and arithmetic.