Project description
Temporal mutualism and the Bacillus subtilis circadian clock
Circadian clocks generate endogenous rhythms, enabling organisms to adapt their physiological and behavioural activities to 24-hour cyclic changes in the environment. Though prevalent in eukaryotes, little is known about circadian clocks in bacteria. The ERC-funded MicroClock project seeks to address this knowledge gap based on a recently discovered circadian clock in Bacillus subtilis that increases in vigour when co-cultured with Arabidopsis (rockcress) or Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker’s yeast). The project will define the novel concept of temporal mutualism whereby mutualistic interactions between microbes and other organisms in their environment use circadian clocks. To do so, it will characterise the molecular structure and function of the Bacillus subtilis circadian clock and identify regulatory nodes common to plant/bacterium and fungus/bacterium temporal mutualism.
Objective
Circadian clocks are biological timekeepers. They structure processes - from molecular pathways to behavioural attributes - over the 24h day. They are pervasive in eukaryotes yet remain almost completely unknown in bacteria. We propose to address this major knowledge gap by capitalising on our recent breakthrough discovery of a circadian clock in Bacillus subtilis. Our unpublished data reveal that robustness of the B. subtilis circadian clock increases when co-cultured with either the plant Arabidopsis, or the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We propose that the mutualistic interactions between microbes and other organisms in their environment utilise circadian clocks, allowing us to propose the new concept of “temporal mutualism”. Within this project, we will identify and understand the molecular structure and function of the B. subtilis circadian clock (WP1), which will be the first detailed characterisation of a circadian clock in a non-photosynthetic bacterium. We will exploit the interactions that occur between B. subtilis and plant circadian clocks to define this new concept of temporal mutualism (WP2 and 3). Co-culture of B. subtilis with S. cerevisiae will identify regulatory nodes that are common to plant/bacterium and fungus/bacterium temporal mutualism (WP3). We will probe the novel hypothesis that biofilm enables intra-species temporal mutualism via differentiated cell populations within the matrix-bound structure (WP3). We will use circadian formalisms (behaviour), molecular systems analysis and state of the art technological approaches (e.g. combinations of microfluidics, microscopy, reporter gene technology and optogenetics), which is only possible through our interdisciplinary collaboration. This work will drive a paradigm shift, to open a completely new field that will change current thinking by bridging chronobiology with microbiology and 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 microbiology bacteriology
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- natural sciences biological sciences biological behavioural sciences ethology biological interactions
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.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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-ERC-SYG - HORIZON ERC Synergy Grants
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) ERC-2024-SyG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
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 MUNCHEN
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.