Project description
Deleterious mutations in the evolution of RNA viruses
Deleterious mutations have been under-studied in comparison to beneficial mutations since it has been technically unfeasible to sequence each deleterious mutation. Next-generation sequencing techniques have recently shown that a significant proportion of viral genetic diversity is a consequence of deleterious mutations. The EU-funded RNAVirFitness project investigates the distribution of fitness effects across a diverse array of RNA viruses, spanning representatives of each class of major human pathogens, both in vivo and in vitro. The project will explore how the accumulation of deleterious mutations may lead to the extinction of the viral population, and how this can be used as a novel strategy to tackle viral epidemics. Beyond their contribution to evolutionary biology, the results may be harnessed for the design of new vaccine strains and the development of broad-spectrum antiviral therapeutics.
Objective
Mutations are fundamental drivers of evolution. Characterizing how mutations affect fitness is critical across diverse fields: from pathogen biology, to human genetic diseases, and models of population extinction. RNA viruses, notorious for their high mutation rates and rapid generation times, are ideal models for studying the effects of mutations. To date, deleterious mutations (i.e. mutations with a fitness cost) have been understudied as compared to beneficial mutations, mainly since it has been technically unfeasible to sequence each single rare deleterious mutation. Using novel next generation sequencing (NGS) techniques, we and others have recently overcome this gap, and shown that an appreciable proportion of viral genetic diversity is a consequence of a multitude of rare deleterious mutations. Here, we suggest investigating the distribution of fitness effects (DFE) across a diverse array of RNA viruses, spanning representatives of each class of major human pathogens, both in vivo (in patients) and in vitro (in cell culture). Next, we will focus on genetic linkage and context-dependent fitness effects of mutations. We postulate that over- and under-represented sequence contexts may represent signatures of host anti-viral activity. Finally, we will investigate how the DFE changes following an environmental perturbation (physical and metabolic changes, tissue type, and sex of the host). We will explore how the accumulation of deleterious mutations following rapid perturbations may lead to the extinction of the viral population, and how this can be used as a novel strategy to tackle viral epidemics. To this end we will integrate state-of-the-art NGS, population genetics modelling, and reverse genetics validation. Beyond their contribution to evolutionary biology, we anticipate that our results may be harnessed for the design of safe and effective attenuated vaccine strains, and the development of broad-spectrum antiviral therapeutic strategies.
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
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics mutation
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
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Topic(s)
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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
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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.
ERC-STG - Starting Grant
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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) ERC-2019-STG
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69978 Tel Aviv
Israel
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