Project description DEENESFRITPL Exploring phages’ role in aquaculture Phages, as natural bacterial predators, are thought to play a role in aquaculture. It is crucial to understand the role of phages in controlling pathogens sustainably and harmlessly. The EU-funded DYNAMIC project intends to reveal essential ecological and evolutionary processes, focusing on phage–bacteria dynamics in the marine environment. As a model, the project will use an oyster bacterial pathogen called Vibrio crassostreae and its infecting phages to explore the molecular bases and evolution of phage infections in nature. By using field methodology, it will specify whether phages affect V. crassostreae dynamics in the wild and whether co-evolution influences this natural system. DYNAMIC will combine comparative and functional genomics to detect genes related to the phage host range, host resistance and phage–host co-evolution, providing new knowledge for phage treatment in aquaculture. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Facing the therapeutic impasse of antibiotics, farming systems, among which aquaculture, should consider the extraordinary resource of phages, the natural bacterial predators, for environmental friendly practices. It is, however, crucial to understand how phages can control pathogens in a sustainable and safety manner. The goal of this project is to shed light on key ecological and evolutionary processes underlying phage-bacteria dynamics in the marine environment. An oyster bacterial pathogen, Vibrio crassostreae and its infecting phages will be used as model system to investigate the molecular bases and evolution of phage infections in nature. Based on a field approach, we will determine whether phages influence V. crassostreae dynamics in the wild by reducing bacterial density via predation and if co-evolution applies in this natural system. Combining comparative and functional genomics we will identify genes involved in the phage host range, host resistance, and phage–host coevolution. Exploring phage-vibrio interactions in culture, we will analyze whether fitness costs can constrain evolution of resistance in oyster hemolymph. We will identify vibrio virulence genes that are negatively selected by phages. In addition we will study whether phages in combination act synergistically to control V. crassostreae. Focusing on a T4-giant phage as a model, we will assess the molecular mechanisms underpinning its broad host range and decipher its potential to spread bacterial genes by horizontal gene transfer. We will finally revisit the phylogenomics of T4-related phages, and reconstruct the T4-giant phage ancestral genome to determine how the ability to infect multiple hosts has evolved in this group. This project has significant potential to make truly ground breaking discoveries on phage-bacteria coevolution providing new and major knowledge for the future generation of phage therapy in aquaculture. Fields of science agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesfisheriesnatural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologybacteriologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologyvirologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesevolutionary biologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsgenomes Keywords vibrio phage aquaculture evolution ecology trade-off synergy horizontal gene transfers Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2019-ADG - ERC Advanced Grant Call for proposal ERC-2019-ADG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant Host institution INSTITUT FRANCAIS DE RECHERCHE POUR L'EXPLOITATION DE LA MER Net EU contribution € 1 706 212,50 Address 1625 ROUTE DE SAINTE ANNE ZONE INDUSTRIELLE DE LA POINTE DU DIABLE 29280 Plouzane France See on map Region Bretagne Bretagne Finistère 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 € 1 706 212,50 Beneficiaries (2) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all INSTITUT FRANCAIS DE RECHERCHE POUR L'EXPLOITATION DE LA MER France Net EU contribution € 1 706 212,50 Address 1625 ROUTE DE SAINTE ANNE ZONE INDUSTRIELLE DE LA POINTE DU DIABLE 29280 Plouzane See on map Region Bretagne Bretagne Finistère 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 € 1 706 212,50 CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS France Net EU contribution € 180 303,75 Address RUE MICHEL ANGE 3 75794 Paris See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris 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 € 180 303,75
