Descrizione del progetto
Approfondimento molecolare sui parassiti delle api
Le api mellifere impollinano molte colture agricole, e la loro salute ha implicazioni ecologiche ed economiche di vasta portata. Parassiti come Lotmaria passim, insieme ad altri fattori di stress come i pesticidi e la perdita degli habitat, stanno contribuendo al declino delle popolazioni di questi insetti. Nonostante la sua importanza, i meccanismi molecolari di sopravvivenza di Lotmaria passim all’interno e all’esterno del suo ospite sono ancora poco chiari. Il progetto ROLEPS, finanziato dal programma di azioni Marie Skłodowska-Curie, si propone di delineare il ruolo delle sostanze polimeriche extracellulari (SPE) secrete da Lotmaria passim nella resistenza ai parassiti e nella salute delle api. Il gruppo di ricerca identificherà i geni coinvolti nella secrezione di SPE e le conseguenze della formazione del biofilm sulle api. I risultati permetteranno di compiere passi avanti nel campo della parassitologia delle api e apriranno la strada a nuovi trattamenti antiparassitari mirati.
Obiettivo
Lotmaria passim is a trypanosomatid parasite of bees, highly prevalent in honeybee colonies, considered a major factor in colony loss. Yet, the molecular mechanisms it uses to survive both inside and outside its host are unknown. Preliminary studies showed that L.passim secretes extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and differentiates into surface attached colonies mimicking the mechanism of bacterial biofilm formation. EPS provides environmental resistance to changing and extreme physicochemical conditions (e.g. in bacteria). Thus, I hypothesise that EPS confers resistance to L.passim and have an active role in the bee gut. In ROLEPS I aim to explore the role of EPS secretion and the mechanisms of biofilm formation in the prevalence and resilience of L.passim chasing three objectives: i) study the response of L.passim biofilms to biotic and abiotic stressors, ii) identify the genes involved in EPS secretion and the developmental differentiation into biofilms using CRISPR/Cas9, and iii) explore the function of EPS in honey bee health. ROLEPS will be developed at the University of Granada (Spain), within the Biochemistry and Molecular Parasitology group lead by Prof. de Pablos, who has developed a protocol to isolate trypanosomatid strains from field isolates, optimized the isolation of the secretome of trypanosomatids and settled all the facilities for genetic engineering assays. A secondment is planned at the Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA) in Marchamalo (Spain), supervised by Dr. Higes, expert on bee health. ROLEPS is an innovative project as it will analyse for the first time the role of EPS and biofilms in a trypanosomatid parasite of bees, it will integrate genetic engineering in the field of bee parasitology and test parasite-secreting substances as protection against contaminants in bees. ROLEPS is fully achievable due to the easy handling of the model organisms. Thus, I expect ROLEPS has important repercussions in bee health.
Campo scientifico
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Meccanismo di finanziamento
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European FellowshipsCoordinatore
18071 Granada
Spagna