Objective
Bacterial virulence has been traditionally thought to co-evolve in reciprocal selection with its host organism. However, in nature pathogens are embedded within a web of interactions which could indirectly affect evolution of bacterial virulence. Recent findings suggest that protozoan predation could increase pathogen virulence because bacterial defensive adaptations can correlate positively with bacterial ability to harm hosts. Yet, protozoan predation could also decrease bacterial virulence if increased allocation to anti-predatory traits is traded off with pathogen virulence. Thus, different type of protozoa could select for different anti-predatory adaptations which have opposite consequences for the evolution of bacterial virulence. Selection by other enemies such as phages (parasitic viruses) or abiotic environment could also select for bacterial traits that have correlated effects on pathogen virulence. However, despite indirect evidence that evolutionary interactions with natural enemies can drive bacterial virulence evolution, the direct, experimental evidence is lacking. In this proposal I concentrate on how protozoa and phage enemies affect the evolution of a bacterium’s (Pseudomonas fluorescens) defensive and virulence traits in two- and multi-species study systems in different environmental conditions. I will first perform microcosm experiments where I expose bacteria to single or multiple enemies, and then determine evolutionary changes in bacterial traits and measure the virulence in invertebrate host. The main aim is to determine how different microbial enemies indirectly select for bacterial virulence, and how defence and virulence related traits are correlated. Importantly, I will learn to work with P. fluorescens-phage system and perfect my skills in virulence assays. The concept of proposal is novel, merges knowledge between two labs and will strengthen the status of Europe as leading region in the study of experimental 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.
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology virology
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology protozoology
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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-2009-IEF
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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
EX4 4QJ Exeter
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.