This $796,460 project grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Integrative Organismal Systems and Biological Sciences program will fund research into the role of extracellular RNA in intercellular and interkingdom communication. The University of South Alabama will lead a collaborative effort between seven laboratories to advance understanding of how RNA secreted by host cells maintains healthy microbiomes in plants, insects, and humans. The researchers will test the hypothesis that specific RNA modifications tag RNAs for secretion and uptake within and between species. They will determine the mechanisms of RNA transfer between signaler and receiver cells and assess the impact of extracellular RNA on microbiome health and composition using human gut, insect gut, and leaf surface models. Insights gained through this four-year project may enable new diagnostic, therapeutic, and environmentally friendly agricultural applications to promote microbiome health in both medicine and agriculture.