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Drivers and consequences of host microbiome control

Descrizione del progetto

Le rane possono insegnarci a sfruttare il microbioma a favore della salute

La pelle ospita microbi che possono proteggere dalle infezioni, ma come fanno gli ospiti a controllare quali microbi trattenere e quali espellere? Il progetto FROGMICRO, finanziato dal CER, vuole rispondere a questa domanda studiando le rane, animali con un microbioma cutaneo utile a combattere il micidiale fungo chytrid, che ha spazzato via le popolazioni di anfibi in tutto il mondo. Usando come modello un alite ostetrico, l’équipe di ricerca studierà come i sistemi immunitari influiscono sui microbi benefici, come questi si adattano e se il controllo dell’ospite può essere usato per realizzare terapie microbiche naturali e trasmissibili. Coniugando genomica, glicomica, proteomica, intelligenza artificiale e lavoro sul campo, FROGMICRO potrebbe rivelare nuovi metodi per progettare microbiomi sani.

Obiettivo

The epithelial surfaces of animals harbour symbiont communities that influence the health of their hosts, including defending against pathogens. Whilst microbiome effects on host biology have been extensively studied, much less is known about how hosts regulate their microbiomes to ensure that they are pThe epithelial surfaces of animals harbour symbiont communities that influence the health of their hosts, including defending against pathogens. Whilst microbiome effects on host biology have been extensively studied, much less is known about how hosts regulate their microbiomes to ensure that they are populated by beneficial rather than harmful symbionts. The study of host control is critical for both understanding how microbiomes function and for the development of targeted therapies. To meet this need, I will develop an amphibian skin model to ask three key questions exploring host control across major life-stages: 1) How does host control promote symbiont colonization? 2) How does host immune policing and symbiont counter-adaptation shape the microbiome? 3) Can host control be exploited to select transmissible protective microbial therapies? I will examine these questions using the deadly chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) that is devastating amphibian populations worldwide, and the highly susceptible common midwife toad (Alytes obstetricans), which can be defended by its dermal symbionts. The project has risks, with microbial communities being ecologically complex and fundamental aspects of host biology that are relevant to symbiont control not fully understood. To overcome these challenges, I will apply a combination of novel approaches in glycobiology, proteomics, competition experiments, genomics, in vivo experimentation, AI computer vision and field work. By identifying the major drivers of host control, this project promises to transform our ability to predict microbial community assembly and develop protective symbiont therapies.

Campo scientifico (EuroSciVoc)

Programma(i)

Argomento(i)

Meccanismo di finanziamento

HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants

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Invito a presentare proposte

(si apre in una nuova finestra) ERC-2025-STG

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Istituzione ospitante

QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
Contributo netto dell'UE
€ 1 499 751,00
Costo totale
€ 1 499 751,00

Beneficiari (1)