Project description DEENESFRITPL Role of halogen metabolism in brown macroalgae immunity Macroalgal pathogens cause regular disease outbreaks and endanger the sustainable development of macroalgal marine culture and natural algae populations in ecosystems. The lack of proper disease management measures alongside a limited knowledge of macroalgal biology points to an urgent need to study algal pathologies. Following recent studies mimicking pathogen infection, and transcriptomics and proteomics analyses, haloperoxidases were introduced as a generic defence mechanism in brown macroalgae. The EU-funded HALOSPATH project aims to elucidate the significance of halogen metabolism in defence and immunity mechanisms of the filamentous brown macroalga Ectocarpus and the more complex Laminaria (with two large multigenic families of bromo- and iodo-peroxidases), using an integrated approach of comparative metabolomics and RNA-Seq transcriptomics. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Macroalgal pathogens are a threat to the sustainable development of macroalgal mariculture and natural populations in marine ecosystems, causing spectacular disease outbreaks and significant losses (10-20% annually). The lack of proper posteriori containment and disease management measures has increased the urgency to study macroalgal pathologies. Nevertheless, the biology of macroalgal pathogens is understudied and limited to their documentation and phylotaxonomy. Elicitor-based short-term studies mimicking pathogen infection complemented with recent transcriptomics and proteomics of Ectocarpus-Eurychasma pathosystem highlighted the induction of haloperoxidases as a generic defense mechanism in brown macroalgae. Nothing is known about the nature of metabolites, in particular halometabolites, involved in macroalgal host-pathogen interactions till date. HALOSPATH intends to elucidate the significance of halogen metabolism in defense and immunity mechanisms of the filamentous brown macroalga Ectocarpus (containing one haloperoxidase gene) and the morphologically complex Laminaria (containing two large multigenic families of bromo- and iodo-peroxidases) against pathologies, using an integrated approach of time-series comparative metabolomics, and RNA-seq transcriptomics. This will generate large metabolomic and transcriptomic datasets, offering unprecedented insights to advance the knowledgebase of disease resistance/infection mechanism in macroalgae, revealing the secrets behind the infective success of these pathogens that could be exploited for resilience of macroalgal ecosystem to pathogens. Potential bioactive halometabolite products will be explored during secondment at MEDINA, envisaging transfer of knowledge across EU. This project will significantly advance the scope of existing research in the host lab and contribute to gender equity in research. I will acquire cutting-edge analytical, molecular skills and expertise to lead my own independent research group. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsproteomicsmedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepathologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystemsnatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryhalogens Keywords Macroalgae endophytes disease metabolomics transcriptomics Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2018 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2018 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN Net EU contribution € 224 933,76 Address King's college regent walk AB24 3FX Aberdeen United Kingdom See on map Region Scotland North Eastern Scotland Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
