Project description
Bacteriophages: can they transfer genes across human microbiomes?
Bacteria exchange genetic material through a mechanism known as horizontal gene transfer. This facilitates evolution but is also the main driving force behind virulence and antimicrobial resistance. The EU-funded PHAGENET project is investigating the role of bacterial viruses (bacteriophages) in bacterial DNA mobilisation and transfer specifically in the human microbiome. Evidence so far indicates that certain bacteriophages can accumulate bacterial genomic DNA thus contributing to genetic dissemination across different microbiomes. Identification of the molecular determinants of this process will have wide implications for the fields of microbiology and gastroenterology.
Objective
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is one of the primary forces driving rapid adaptation and long term evolution of complex microbial communities such as the human microbiome. The same process is involved in the dissemination of virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes and emergence of “superbugs”. The precise mechanisms and role of HGT in the structure and function of the microbiome remain largely unexplored.
Bacteriophages are ubiquitous and highly abundant members of the human microbiome, accounting for ~5% of total microbial DNA. Many of them, such as crAssphage, are highly prevalent and have evolved complex relationships with their microbial hosts. At the same time their role in microbiome composition and function is unclear. Recently we observed the accumulation of considerable amounts of bacterial genomic DNA in the phage-encapsulated fraction of human faeces (up to 50% in some instances). Analysis of this chromosomal fraction reveals that it does not appear to be due to contamination, but rather represents phage-mediated mobilisation and transfer (transduction) of DNA from specific bacterial taxa and specific genomic regions.
PHAGENET argues that phage-mediated transduction plays a significant role in the genetic plasticity of the human microbiome, and that the phageome provides individual microbes with access to a wider pangenome and enables dissemination of genes both within and across individual human microbiomes. I propose to thoroughly test this hypothesis at molecular, cellular and organismal levels. This will involve an array of approaches, including long-read high-throughput sequencing, faecal chemostat models, random transposon insertion libraries in gut bacteria and animal models.
By addressing an important gap in our understanding of the microbiome, PHAGENET will impact across the research areas of microbiology, virology, gastroenterology, evolutionary ecology and epidemiology.
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 DNA
- medical and health sciences health sciences public health epidemiology
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine gastroenterology
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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.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
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Topic(s)
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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
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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-COG - Consolidator Grant
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2020-COG
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T12 YN60 Cork
Ireland
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