Project description
Molecular-genetic mechanisms of dysfunctional hybrid offspring in agricultural pests
Certain processes, such as incompatible gene interactions, mating with incompatible partners, or cytoplasmic incompatibilities mediated by bacterial parasites like Wolbachia, can result in dysfunctional hybrid offspring in agricultural pests. Although these offspring are used in new pest control strategies, there is a knowledge gap related to the molecular genetic mechanisms that cause these incompatibilities, which hinders the development of new innovations. The EU-funded HYBRIPEST project aims to study and uncover the processes and mechanisms responsible for these incompatibilities. It will do so by studying an important pest that can lead to various hybrid defects and is affected by a recently developed genetic toolkit.
Objective
Mating with an incompatible partner can result in dysfunctional hybrid offspring. Multiple processes cause such hybrid defects, including incompatible gene interactions and cytoplasmic incompatibilities that are mediated by bacterial parasites such as Wolbachia. Hybrid defects are strong reproductive barriers that drive speciation and are being harnessed by new pest control strategies to suppress harmful pest populations. Although pivotal to our understanding of these biological phenomena and applications, the molecular-genetic mechanisms that underpin these incompatibilities remain poorly understood. With HYBRIPEST, we will unravel all major mechanisms, and their interactions, that shape hybrid dysfunction within a system that recently became amenable to such a research endeavour. The system of Tetranychus mite species (important agricultural pests) is typified by various processes that culminate in different hybrid defects and benefits from a recently developed genetic toolkit. For the first time, we will dissect the molecular-genetic underpinnings of cytoplasmic incompatibility from the perspective of Wolbachia and host, an approach that will test biological theory and identify novel pest control opportunities. We will identify the molecular-genetic bases of incompatible gene interactions within and between species, shedding light on early speciation mechanisms. We will test for mechanistic convergence of different incompatibility loci and study how polygenic hybrid dysfunction is controlled. We will implement high-resolution genetic mapping techniques and comparative genomics to identify (in)compatibility loci. The functional importance of (in)compatibility loci to hybrid dysfunction will be further validated by recombinant expression, genome engineering, and other experimental advances. HYBRIPEST will bridge pertinent gaps in our mechanistic understanding of hybrid dysfunction, insights that will be translated into new theory and bio-applications.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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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.
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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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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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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-2022-STG
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9000 Gent
Belgium
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