Objective
Antagonistic coevolution between hosts and parasites, the reciprocal evolution of host defence and parasite counter-defence, has far-reaching consequences for evolutionary ecology, agriculture and medicine. It can drive patterns of biodiversity, population dynamics, the evolution of evolvability and parasite virulence. However, the impact of coevolution on these processes is crucially dependent on the specificity of the interaction between host and parasite. That is, do parasite genotypes specialize on host genotypes, or can host and parasites evolve more generalized patterns of resistance and infectivity, respectively? If hosts and parasites specialize on each other, coevolution will be characterized by cycling of genotypes, favouring ongoing coevolution and the maintenance of diversity. By contrast, if generalists evolve, coevolution will be characterised by a directional arms race, resulting in ‘super-parasites’ and the purging of diversity. Host-parasite specificity will be determined by both the genetic bases of the interaction, and the environment. The environment is likely to affect specificity because there are often fitness costs associated with being a generalist, and costs vary under different environmental conditions. The aim of this proposal is to identify the genetic and ecological drivers of host-parasite specificity, and the consequences of this specificity to diversity, virulence, population dynamics and evolvability. The primary approach will be experimental evolution of a well-studied bacteria and phage system; these organisms undergo persistent coevolution in real time under laboratory conditions. Early stages of coevolution are directional; and there are fitness costs associated with the evolution of generalists which vary between environments. We will complement the work by studies of the specificity between bacteria and phage in natural environments and mathematical modeling.
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 bacteriology
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology virology
- natural sciences biological sciences evolutionary biology
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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.
ERC-2007-StG
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.
Host institution
OX1 2JD Oxford
United Kingdom
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.