Project description DEENESFRITPL Disease transmission in social groups The risk of disease outbreaks may be increased in social organisms living in dense groups, in which pathogens can rapidly transmit between hosts. According to theory, disease dynamics should depend on the composition of a social group and on its social network structure. However, there is insufficient empirical data. Experimental epidemiology is obstructed by the lack of study systems that allow research of the causal link between group composition, social network structure, and disease transmission. The EU-funded EPIDEMIC project will use an original system based on the unique biological characteristics of the clonal raider ant. Unlike other ants, this species is deprived of queens and reproduces clonally, allowing to control important aspects of colony composition. The project will use automated techniques for tracking behaviour, aiming to detect those characteristics that protect social organisms against infectious disease. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective The risks and impact of disease are exacerbated in social organisms, which live in dense groups wherein pathogens can rapidly propagate. Theoretical epidemiology predicts that disease dynamics will depend in large part on a group's social interaction network, but empirical data are scarce. Experimental epidemiology is currently hampered by a lack of study systems that would enable a rigorous investigation of the causal link between network structure and disease transmission. I will tackle this question using a novel system, the clonal raider ant, a social insect whose unique biology affords unparalleled control over the main aspects of colony composition that are thought to modulate social network structure, and therefore, disease transmission. My approach will combine cutting-edge automated techniques for behavioral tracking with molecular tools, and develop new methods to monitor transmission in real time. In a first step, I will create empirical networks that are theoretically predicted to vary in transmission risk and map individual immune function onto these networks, to measure the prophylactic network properties that might reduce disease transmission. Second, I will test if experimental increases in immune activity induce changes in behavior that are relevant for disease transmission, to measure inducible network properties. Finally, I will inoculate colonies with nematodes and quantify infection propagation in real time. This will allow me to compare various types of social networks (healthy, immune-activated, infected), to probe the link between behavior and immunity, and to experimentally test predictions from theoretical epidemiology. This project takes an integrative approach—from individual immunity to collective behavior—to uncover the properties of social groups that protect them against disease. By linking theoretical epidemiology to real-world disease dynamics, it will push the limits of our ability to predict disease dynamics in social groups. Fields of science medical and health scienceshealth sciencespublic healthepidemiologynatural sciencesbiological scienceszoologyentomology Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2019-STG - ERC Starting Grant Call for proposal ERC-2019-STG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-STG - Starting Grant Host institution MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN EV Net EU contribution € 1 348 298,91 Address HOFGARTENSTRASSE 8 80539 Munchen Germany See on map Region Bayern Oberbayern München, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Research Organisations 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 Total cost € 1 348 298,91 Beneficiaries (3) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN EV Germany Net EU contribution € 1 348 298,91 Address HOFGARTENSTRASSE 8 80539 Munchen See on map Region Bayern Oberbayern München, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Research Organisations 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 Total cost € 1 348 298,91 UNIVERSITE DE LAUSANNE Participation ended Switzerland Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address QUARTIER UNIL CENTRE - BATIMENT UNICENTRE 1015 LAUSANNE See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Région lémanique Vaud 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 Total cost No data EIDGENOESSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZUERICH Participation ended Switzerland Net EU contribution € 151 701,09 Address Raemistrasse 101 8092 Zuerich See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Zürich Zürich 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 Total cost € 151 701,09