Project description
A multiparametric investigation of microbial interactions
Understanding how bacteria interact with each other and how they form communities is of paramount importance for human health. The EU-funded MultiMEc project proposes to study microbial interactions by developing a synthetic model community that consists of Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus plantarum, two microorganisms of the human gut. Researchers will employ experimental and mathematical methods to characterise the interactions between these microbes as well as delineate the role of the environment. These fundamental principles will find a plethora of applications including in the management of intestinal diseases associated with microbial dysbiosis.
Objective
Microbial communities profoundly influence global biogeochemical cycles and human life. Understanding their wiring is crucial to manage, rationally manipulate, or de novo assemble communities for environmental, industrial or medical applications. However, studying the complex web of microbial interactions and how they are affected by the spatial structure of the community is experimentally challenging. Here, I propose an integrative approach to dissect microbial interactions in a synthetic community consisting of two bacterial species of the human gut microbiota, the commensal Escherichia coli and the probiotic lactic acid bacterium Lactobacillus plantarum. These two species were predicted to engage in exploitative and mutualistic metabolic interactions depending on oxygen availability and provide an experimentally tractable and possibly health-relevant model community. I will employ a combination of highly sensitive quantitative analyses on the molecular level (proteomics, metabolomics, CRISPR/Cas9 genetic perturbations) with quantitative analyses on the individual cell and community level (cellular growth rates and spatial organization) to obtain a comprehensive mechanistic understanding of the interactions between the two species. The multilayered nature of the approach, including the conceptualization of the interactions with a mathematical model, is expected to provide novel insights into the fundamental principles underlying microbial interactions and how they are affected by the environment. Furthermore, a detailed understanding of the molecular interactions of L. plantarum with other gut residents could inform the rational modulation of the gut microbiome to treat diseases associated with dysbiosis. This fellowship would have a major impact on my career by facilitating re-integration into the European research landscape. It would allow me to acquire a unique and competitive scientific profile and to establish my own niche in the field of microbial ecology.
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 biochemistry biomolecules proteins proteomics
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry organic acids
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology
- natural sciences mathematics applied mathematics mathematical model
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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.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
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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.
8092 Zuerich
Switzerland
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.