Objective
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a central process in microbial adaptation to xenobiotic chemicals, but also in their gain or loss of pathogenicity. The goal of the proposed research is to examine, describe, and control the incidence of extant HGT in microbial bio-film communities found in groundwater and drinking water treatment and distribution systems. The results of this project will answer questions with acute environmental and public health relevance: Can this natural process of rapid microbial adaptation (RaMAda) via HGT be harnessed to steer microbial attenuation of pesticide laden groundwaters? Does HGT need to be considered in a precautionary fashion when examining the fate of pathogenic traits in a drinking water distribution context? This project will employ advanced methods like novel molecular biomarkers to permit single-cell resolved detection of microbial growth and gene transfer dynamics; advanced microscopic tools and image analysis, innovative biomathematical approaches to model microbial a ctivity from individual cell behavior to yield emergent system properties, and environmentally relevant biological and physico-chemical materials and conditions. This study can lead to innovative approaches to detoxify pesticide-laden groundwaters, and may drastically reform fate assessment of pathogenic and bioterrorism micro-organisms by explicit consideration of the survival of their horizontally transmissible genes.
The central core of the proposal responds directly to 6th FP's call for enhancement and structuring of the European Research Area via its HRM activity. It will support 2 early and 2 mid-career scientists who will join a trans-national, leading-edge, and interdisciplinary research programme with European dimension, built around a young EU researcher, returning from the USA where he established an excellent autonomous research program, in direct response to the goal of counteracting brain drain under the MC Excellence Grant action.
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.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering water treatment processes drinking water treatment processes
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology genetic engineering gene therapy
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- 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.
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.
FP6-2004-MOBILITY-8
See other projects for this call
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
KONGENS LYNGBY
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.