Project description
A study of minks exposed to antibiotics
Aquatic organisms are exposed to the continuous discharge of antibiotics in the environment. Recent studies have revealed pharmaceutical residues in aquatic ecosystems and organisms. The EU-funded NatureSToll project will investigate the non-therapeutic effects of antibiotics. It will focus on microbiota that represents the trillions of microorganisms inhabiting a host. Specifically, the project will study the impact of antibiotic residues on wildlife’s gut microbiota composition and its effect on disease occurrence. Its focus will be on the American mink (Neovison vison). In addition to determining the ‘natural’ variation of gut microbiota composition according to biological factors, the project will also test if people with high concentrations of pharmaceuticals are more likely to develop infectious diseases.
Objective
Global pharmaceutical consumption is rising with growing and ageing human population and more intensive food production. Recent studies have revealed pharmaceutical residues in aquatic ecosystems and organisms. Among pharmaceuticals, antibiotics, which are natural, synthetic or semi-synthetic compounds, able to kill and inhibit growth or metabolic activity of microorganism, are one of the most widely used categories. Environmental concentrations of antibiotics are often low, but their continuous discharge in the environment, exposes aquatic organisms during their entire life cycle. There is currently little data on the non-therapeutic effects of antibiotics. The microbiota represents the trillions of microorganisms inhabiting a host. Gut microbiota contributes to the development of an immune response, to metabolic processes and it influences the host behaviour. Gut microbiota is very plastic and recent insights have suggested that most diseases could be linked in some way to an alteration of the gut microbiota (i.e. a dysbiosis). However, no studies so far have investigated the impact of antibiotic residues on wildlife’s gut microbiota composition and its effect on disease occurrence. Top predators of aquatic ecosystems such as mustelids are exposed to high levels of pollutants and are considered as keystone sentinel species for the study of pollutant effects on wildlife. Mustelids are also a reservoir species to zoonotic disease, as they are exposed to diverse types of viruses that can be passed from and to domestic animals and humans. The aims of this research action are to 1) determine the ‘natural’ variation of gut microbiota composition according to biological factors, 2) investigate a threshold effect level for which pharmaceuticals could lead to health effects, 3) test if the individuals with high concentrations of pharmaceuticals are more likely to develop infectious diseases. I will investigate these questions in the American mink Neovison vison.
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.
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology immunisation
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- medical and health sciences health sciences public health epidemiology zoonosis
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology
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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.1.3. - 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-2020
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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.
4000 LIEGE
Belgium
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.