Archaeal Virology: unravelling the mechanisms of interviral warfare

Información del proyecto

ARCVIR

Identificador del acuerdo de subvención: 101039446

DOI

10.3030/101039446

Fecha de la firma de la CE 15 Febrero 2022

Fecha de inicio 1 Septiembre 2022

Fecha de finalización 31 Agosto 2027

Financiado con arreglo a

• European Research Council (ERC)

Coste total

€ 1 500 000,00

Aportación de la UE

€ 1 500 000,00

Coordinado por

RIJKSUNIVERSITEIT GRONINGEN
Netherlands

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ARCVIR (Archaeal Virology: unravelling the mechanisms of interviral warfare)

Período documentado: 2022-09-01 hasta 2025-02-28

Resumen del contexto y de los objetivos generales del proyecto

Archaea are ubiquitous microorganisms that are found in numerous surroundings ranging from extreme environments to the ocean and the human gut and skin. Marine archaea have a huge impact on biogeochemical cycles and the climate, while archaea in the gut influence the human microbiome and health. Archaea can be infected by unusual viruses that are structurally very diverse and have unique infection mechanisms. As viruses are the major predator of archaea, they shape archaeal communities. This project will visualize the mechanisms that viruses use to fight each other to gain access to host cells. This knowledge of viral mechanisms can, for example, be applied to control archaeal populations to increase human gut health or to reduce the production of the harmful greenhouse gas methane by gut archaea of ruminants.

For more information: check www.quaxlab.org

Trabajo realizado desde el comienzo del proyecto hasta el final del período abarcado por el informe y los principales resultados hasta la fecha

Viruses from different families were analyzed for their capacity to exclude infection by other viruses, a process called superinfection exclusion. We identified several viruses that serve as model for further studies into the mechanism of superinfection exclusion.

Avances que van más allá del estado de la técnica e impacto potencial esperado (incluida la repercusión socioeconómica y las implicaciones sociales más amplias del proyecto hasta la fecha)

Insight into the molecular mechanism of superinfection exclusion in archaea is currently scarce. These results are the stepping stone for further study of these mechanisms in archaea. This is important to fully understand the role of viruses in natural ecosystems, where viral presence is high.