Project description
Dissecting bacterial immunity
To evade infection by viruses (bacteriophages), bacteria have evolved a battery of defence mechanisms. Understanding when bacteria employ each strategy is the key objective of the EU-funded PredProkDef project. Researchers will follow a multidisciplinary approach including ecology and metagenomics techniques to investigate microbial immunity. The importance of this knowledge is dual as it may be employed to protect bacteria used for example in biotechnology applications. At the same time, bacteriophages represent a therapeutic avenue to overcome the current antibiotic resistance crisis so the generated information could be exploited as an antimicrobial strategy.
Objective
Bacteria are crucial for health, nutrient cycling and biotechnology but face a constant pressure from the viruses that infect them (phages). As such, bacteria have evolved a sophisticated suite of defence mechanisms that allow them to evade phages. These defence mechanisms can be classified into two basic classes: selfish or altruistic. A selfish system protects individuals, whereas an altruistic system protects the population. Interestingly, the distribution of this defensive arsenal is uneven, with large variations in the types carried, even among closely related species. This proposal aims to understand the basis of this distribution by using a multi-disciplinary approach that combines the precision of a model laboratory system with cutting-edge metagenomics techniques.
Specifically, I will use abortive infection as a model for altruistic defence and CRISPR as a model for selfish defence and test the role of spatial structure in determining the abundance of each type. High spatial structure is predicted to be a key determinant of altruistic defences as it results in proximate bacteria being closely related. I will then apply the findings from the first objectives to classify a novel, recently discovered, defence system. Together, these results will enable researchers to better understand microbial immunity, with key consequences for industry and healthcare.
The outgoing phase will take place at the University of Otago, New Zealand, using molecular biology expertise in abortive infection and CRISPR systems. The return phase will take place at the University of Exeter, UK, benefitting from expertise in ecology and evolution. The proposed project will allow me to complement my strong background in genomics and ecology with molecular biology and novel bioinformatic approaches. By working in two world-class research laboratories I will further develop independence and a strong collaborative network for the future.
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 microbiology bacteriology
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology virology
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology
- natural sciences biological sciences molecular biology
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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 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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-2018
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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.
EX4 4QJ Exeter
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.