Project description
Uncovering new roles for phages in genome editing
Bacteriophages inhabit over two-thirds of bacterial genomes, accounting for about 10 % of their DNA. They can integrate into host genes during lysogeny, influencing bacterial development and microbial communities such as the human gut microbiome. However, the evolutionary mechanisms behind phage integration and its regulatory effects remain unclear. In this context, the EU-funded PHAGE_ATTACH project will study how specific phage integrations affect host-phage interactions using bioinformatics and a new prophage database. Focusing on Bacillus subtilis, it will examine integrase specificity and its effects on phage-host fitness through engineered phages and imaging, aiming to reveal new phage roles in genome editing and deepen understanding of phage-bacteria coevolution.
Objective
Bacteriophages are found in over two-thirds of sequenced bacterial genomes, with phage DNA making up an estimated 10% of these genomes. Recent studies suggest that phage DNA integration, during so called lysogeny, can lead to interactions with bacterial hosts that are more complex than once thought. There are phages which very specifically and reversibly integrate into host genes, modulating host development. Altering bacterial behaviours can have detrimental consequences in microbial communities, such as those found in the human gut. However, it is unclear how specific phage integration mechanisms evolve, or if integration specificity influences regulation during lysogeny. I hypothesise that phage integration components are a key factor in phage-host interactions, with attachment sites (att) and phage integrases under strong evolutionary pressure. This project's goal is to examine the consequences of specific phage integration for the host and for the phage and to understand how integration components are directed by evolution. This will be fulfilled via three research objectives: 1) bioinformatics analysis of phage integration components, capitalizing on newly built prophage database and focusing on conservation of host att genes and phage integrases; 2) investigation of the effects of integrase specificity on phage-host interactions and fitness via combining engineered phages and trackable host with high-throughput imaging and RNA sequencing. 3) testing the long-term effect of specific att sites on host genome evolution in ecological context to Bacillus subtilis was selected as the model host due to its tractability, biotechnological importance, and susceptibility to phages with highly specific integrases. Understanding the impacts of phage integration specificity and its evolution will reveal new phage roles in host genome editing and gene transfer, improve our knowledge of phage-bacteria coevolution and it will pave new ways to engineering of bacterial genomes.
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 virology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- natural sciences biological sciences evolutionary biology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
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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.4.1 - Widening participation and spreading excellence
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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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
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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
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-WIDERA-2024-TALENTS-02
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1000 Ljubljana
Slovenia
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