Objective
Organisms across the tree of life form partnerships with microbes for protection, metabolic and nutritional benefits. Symbiont acquisitions have allowed hosts to colonise ecological niches that they would otherwise be excluded from, use previously inaccessible resources and capture novel forms of energy. In some cases, host and symbiont become so tightly associated that dependency evolves and the two organisms integrate both physically and genomically. Understanding how organisms combine to perform new metabolic functions and capabilities is key to understanding the evolution of biological complexity. However, most permanent symbioses are ancient and independent evolutionary events, making it difficult to gain information about how dependency evolves. The symbiont Serratia symbiotica has relatively recently transitioned to an essential nutritional role in at least one subfamily of aphids. We provide evidence that dependency on Serratia’s has evolved not once, but several times independently in different aphid lineages. This provides a unique opportunity to explore how symbionts integrate with hosts both genomically and physiologically during the early stages of evolving dependency. We will use a state-of-the-art cross-species comparative genomic analysis in combinations with molecular cytogenetic experiments to determine whether dependency on Serratia has evolved through the same or different genetic mechanisms in the different aphid lineages. First, we will establish a timeline of when each aphid lineage evolved dependency on Serratia. Second, we will identify symbiont genomic rearrangements, the timing of losses and integration of host and symbiont metabolic pathways. Third, we will determine how physical integration evolves. Our findings will provide important information on how microbes and hosts evolve shared metabolic pathways and whether dependency evolves through parallel or convergent processes.
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 genetics
- natural sciences biological sciences biological behavioural sciences ethology biological interactions
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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-2017
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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.
E1 4NS LONDON
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.