Objective
Symbiosis is an important factor in evolution as a source of evolutionary novelty and ecological diversity. Microbial symbionts in particular have had a large impact on the evolution of eukaryotic organisms. An intimate type of symbiosis is endosymbiosis, in which (typically) bacteria live within the host cells.
Mitochondria and chloroplasts are examples of ancient endosymbioses that dramatically extended the range of eukaryotic life. Besides on these organelles of bacterial origin, many organisms depend on endosymbiotic bacteria for survival and reproduction. If both partners benefit from the symbiosis, evolution towards mutualism can be straightforward.
The question is however, how two distinct organisms can become totally dependent on each other. Although this question is much debated, the lack of suitable model systems has made the evolution of dependence largely an unexplored area in biology. The association between the parasitoid wasp Asobara tabida and the endosymbiotic Wolbachia bacteria provides an excellent model system to study the evolution of dependence.
Wolbachia bacteria totally depend on their hosts and maintain themselves in host populations by manipulating their hosts reproductive system. Here, symbiosis is also obligatory for the host. Without Wolbachia, European A. tabida cannot complete oogenesis. North-American strains, however, can complete oogenesis in the absence of Wolbachia.
The aim of the proposed study is to investigate the mechanisms involved in dependence, as well as its evolutionary consequences for the host. We will use cytological observations and QTL mapping to determine the processes and host genetic factors involved in Wolbachia dependent oogenesis.
The consequences of dependence for the life-history evolution of A. tabida will be determined, as well as the relation between bacterial density and egg load. The results of these studies will be integrated in model simulations of the dynamics of dependence in host populations.
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.
- agricultural sciences agricultural biotechnology marker assisted selection
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- natural sciences biological sciences evolutionary biology
- natural sciences biological sciences biological behavioural sciences ethology biological interactions
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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.
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.
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.
FP6-2002-MOBILITY-5
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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.
Coordinator
France
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.