Project description
Fighting antibiotic resistance in the air
Airborne microbes are invisible, but they can travel vast distances. However, scientists know little about their role in spreading antibiotic resistance. Unlike soil or water ecosystems, the atmosphere has remained a blind spot in microbiological research. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the IntegrAAir project will focus on integrons – the genetic elements that help bacteria acquire and spread resistance. Researchers are using cutting-edge atmospheric simulation chambers to study whether aerosolisation triggers genetic shifts. One focus is the Arctic, where human impact is minimal, to better understand natural microbial dynamics. IntegrAAir aims to deepen our understanding of microbial ecology and better anticipate risks to human and environmental health.
Objective
In the current context of the “One-Health” concept, the importance of assessing and monitoring microbial biodiversity and ecology in all environmental compartments is becoming increasingly apparent. However, although the atmosphere participates in worldwide dispersal of microorganisms and their genetic material, it has been relatively little studied compared to freshwater, marine and soil ecosystems. Recently, concerns have been raised about the atmospheric dispersal of antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs). Interestingly, ARGs are part of integrons, important bacterial genomic elements that facilitate the dispersal and acquisition of genetic material. In this context, the main objective of the two-year IntegrAAir project is to assess the ecodynamic of integrons in the atmosphere and assess their impacts on human and ecosystems health. It relies on the hypothesis that aerosolization can impact integron dynamic by inducing the integron integrase gene expression and thus mobilizing new genetic elements from the environmental gene pool. In order to respond to this hypothesis, two main sub-objectives are planned: (i) Understand the drivers behind integron complexity in the Arctic boundary layer using an omics approach, the Arctic being an ideal environment to attempt to focus primarily on environmental integrons, as it is little impacted by anthropogenic sources; (ii) Understand whether aerosolization can affect integron dynamics (gene gain and loss). We will investigate the integron integrase gene expression under simulated atmospheric conditions, using unique atmospheric chambers developed by the host research team. Overall, the project will provide new insights in the fields of aeromicrobiology and microbial ecology, as well as for public health, with regard to the impact of atmospheric transport on bacterial evolution and adaptation, and integron ecology in an environmental context.
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 ecology ecosystems
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology
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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.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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
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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-2024-PF-01
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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.
8000 Aarhus C
Denmark
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.