Objective
Understanding the dynamics of viral diversity at interfaces between preserved and cultivated areas is a necessary major step towards understanding the molecular evolutionary processes underlying the emergence of plant viruses as agricultural pathogens. This project is likely to yield large volumes of novel information both on natural viral diversity associated with threatened ecosystems, and on the impact of human mediated disturbances on this diversity. Our first objective is to decipher contemporary plant viral dynamics within a defined spatiotemporal framework located in the fynbos biome of South Africa, and to assess the impact of fire and agriculture upon fynbos plant viral biodiversity. Our second objective is to retrieve virus sequences from preserved herbarium specimens to analyze past viral diversity. Our third objective is to specifically target an entire virus family (Geminiviridae) in order to understand the evolutionary processes by which geminivirus have emerged over the past two centuries to become important crop pathogens. During the colonization era these viruses jumped from their indigenous African hosts into the exotic crop species introduced by Europeans. Following adaptation to these hosts some of these newly emergent virus strains spread across the continent to become what are today among the most important biotic threats to African food security. During the outgoing phase, I will be joining Dr Martin’s group (Univ. of Cape Town), who has an extensive track record in both the experimental and computational analysis of virus evolution and genetic diversity. I firmly believe that this project will be the first step in my development as a world-leader in the field of virus evolutionary-ecology research that could credibly apply for and obtain ERC Advanced Grants and will enhance transnational access to research infrastructures for African and European researchers, and directly promote integration of African and European research enterprises.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology virology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics mutation virus mutation
- natural sciences biological sciences evolutionary biology
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IOF
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
75016 Paris
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.