Objective
sRNA-Defense is an ambitious research project that will exploit the natural capacity of plants to produce antimicrobial small RNAs (natural host-induced gene silencing or nHIGS) to generate a completely new form of crop disease resistance.
Plant small RNAs (sRNAs) silence pathogen genes. Current approaches using transgene-derived artificial sRNAs have had mixed successes in disease control. The recent discovery of nHIGS as a natural plant immunity offers a transformative path toward robust sRNA-based defenses. However, harnessing this potential requires a deep mechanistic understanding of how nHIGS works.
Building on our groundbreaking discoveries, sRNA-Defense is poised to deliver fundamental new insights into nHIGS and evaluate its potential for precise, durable disease control. We identified specific pathogen-targeting sRNAs and an ARGONAUTE (AGO) protein responsible for their production during infection. We also identified an ancestral yet diversified gene cluster that serves as the precursor of these antimicrobial sRNAs – this distinct biosynthetic pathway offers unique opportunities for engineering. Importantly, we successfully achieved sRNA production and disease resistance by heterologous expression of an nHIGS-sRNA-producing gene cassette.
sRNA-Defense comprises two complementary work packages (WPs) that integrate discovery science and translational application. WP1 (Mechanisms) elucidates the regulatory mechanisms linking the biogenesis and secretion of nHIGS sRNAs – a pivotal yet unexplored aspect of the nHIGS process. WP2 (Engineering) aims to develop a system that can be engineered to produce bespoke sRNA cocktails for simultaneous precision targeting of three major pathogens in a staple food crop potato. By employing innovative, multi-disciplinary approaches and novel methodologies in genetics, genomics, biochemistry, and cell biology, this project tests the hypothesis that nHIGS can be engineered to achieve broad-spectrum disease resistance.
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 biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
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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.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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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) ERC-2025-ADG
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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.
NR47UH Norwich
United Kingdom
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.