Objective
Understanding pathogen evolution is key to predicting and managing disease emergence. While theory predicts that strong immune responses will generally select for increased pathogen virulence, current work mostly ignores the effect of immune-suppressed hosts on virulence evolution and on pathogen adaptation to novel hosts during disease spread. Further, the underlying genetic basis of the evolutionary change, that is, the genomic targets of selection, is seldom detected. I will apply a novel experimental approach by evolving the viral pathogen Drosophila C Virus (DCV) in its natural host Drosophila melanogaster, using host lines that are either immune-competent or immune-compromised due to the inactivation of specific immune genes. In addition to assessing changes in the evolution of virulence in these host lines (i.e. viral growth rate and host mortality), I will also take an evolve-and-resequence approach, using ultra-deep sequencing of the viral populations during experimental evolution. Using these uniquely detailed sequence data I will (i) identify the region of the viral genome under selection, (ii) determine if rapid virus adaptation is dependent on the fixation of new mutations or changes in viral variant frequencies from standing genetic variation and (iii) measure the rate of repeatability of pathogen adaptation in identical selective regimes. This work will test the role of immune-compromised hosts on the evolution of pathogen virulence, and also dissect the mechanisms that underpin pathogen evolution during adaptation to hosts with variable immune responses.
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
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine gastroenterology inflammatory bowel disease
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics mutation virus mutation
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- medical and health sciences health sciences nutrition
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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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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF
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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) H2020-MSCA-IF-2015
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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.
EH8 9YL Edinburgh
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.