Objective
Plasmids are known to be major contributors to lateral gene transfer in bacterial genomes; however, their comprehensive evolutionary role within bacterial communities is poorly understood. Recently we have developed cutting edge abilities to access a plasmid population (plasmidome) of a given microbial community, and applied them to rumen microbial communities. These abilities are an element long-needed for the study of microbial lateral gene transfer and evolution. Ruminants house a highly complex microbial community in the rumen compartment of their digestive tract, with which they have evolved into an obligatory co-dependence. Its confined nature provides a perfect system for the study of evolutionary dynamics within microbial communities.
Here we propose to study the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of the rumen plasmidome and its interaction with the rumen microbiome using our established approaches, together with a dense host-sampling resolution. We aim to understand the origins and assembly of these two entities, as well as their interactions with each other. We will explore the effect of early assemblages on the adult plasmidome and microbiome phenotypes. To complement the overview of global trends, we will study local interactions among individual rumen plasmids with their microbial host's genome and physiology at the single-plasmid level. These two distinct perspectives will allow us to understand the role played by plasmids within this complex microbial community, the co-evolutionary relationships between these two entities and their importance to the overall rumen ecosystem.
Based on a plasmid-centric approach, this study bears the unique ability to examine lateral gene transfer in “real time” by following genes on their transfer “vehicles”, and providing new insights into the fine details of microbial evolution. Its goals, many challenges and new approach place this proposal at the cutting edge of current research in microbial ecology and evolution.
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: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology genetic engineering gene therapy
- natural sciences biological sciences evolutionary biology
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry aliphatic compounds
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
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.
-
H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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.
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.
ERC-STG - Starting Grant
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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.
(opens in new window) ERC-2014-STG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
84105 Beer Sheva
Israel
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.