Project description
Immune regulation of coral reef symbiosis with algae
Coral reefs are complex underwater ecosystems that provide food and shelter for various marine species. Coral reefs rely on their symbiosis with algae for essential nutrients and for their characteristic pink colour. Rising ocean temperatures are destabilising this relationship, leading to coral bleaching and subsequent reef degradation. Accumulating evidence suggests that coral immunity plays a key role in sustaining this symbiosis, though the precise biological mechanisms remain unclear. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the IMMSYM project seeks to understand how immune pathways regulate the uptake and retention of symbiotic algae. Researchers will conduct both laboratory and field studies in anemones, hoping to develop new strategies for reef conservation.
Objective
Algae live inside corals and transfer valuable nutrients to them. This essential endosymbiotic relationship is the foundation of reef ecosystems. Elevated temperature, as a consequence of climate change, disrupts this symbiosis, resulting in the expulsion of algae, coral bleaching, and eventual reef destruction. Symbiosis establishment and bleaching significantly alters the expression of numerous host immune genes. This suggests that coral immunity regulates symbiosis, but the mechanisms remain elusive. I aim to understand the role of host immunity in coral-algal symbiosis using anemones as a model. In my host laboratory, we were able to generate immune mutants and transgenic lines to monitor distinct stages of symbiosis. Taking advantage of these lines, and the molecular tools established in the host laboratory such as quantitative phagocytosis assays, fluorescence microscopy, and transcriptomics, I will functionally determine how immunity regulates symbiosis. I will assay how immune activation and genetic mutation impacts symbiont uptake by anemone larvae, as this is the first step in symbiosis establishment. Subsequently, I will perform RNA sequencing to determine genes downstream of immunity that control symbiont uptake. Second, I will compare bleaching rates in anemones upon immune activation in both wild-type and immune mutants, perform RNA sequencing and identify genes altered in mutants to elucidate mechanisms of immune control of bleaching. Third, I will do comparative coral fieldwork to determine whether immune stimulation and mutation alters symbiosis establishment and bleaching in corals from their natural environment. Using novel functional tools this project will provide new insight into how evolutionarily ancient innate immune pathways have been co-opted to regulate coral symbiosis in health and what goes awry under environmental stress, providing valuable information to guide restoration efforts.
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 phycology
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics mutation
- natural sciences biological sciences biological behavioural sciences ethology biological interactions
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
You need to log in or register to use this function
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.
-
HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
80539 Planegg
Germany
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.