Project description
Characterising a recently discovered generalist bacterial symbiont
Bacterial symbionts are bacteria that live in a symbiotic relationship with another organism, a relationship that can have positive or negative consequences for the host. There is only a limited number of generalist symbionts in insects. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the CUNNING project aims to investigate the nature of generalist symbionts by studying the symbiotic nature of Symbiodolus, a recently discovered symbiont that is widespread among insect orders and colonises various tissues. The experiments will investigate this symbiont, a genus of phytophagous beetles (Cryptocephalus). Questions to be addressed include: whether Symbiodolus co-diversified with these beetles, how Symbiodolus is transmitted and what the impact of Symbiodolus is on Cryptocephalus fitness.
Objective
Insects host various bacterial symbionts that can positively or negatively affect their fitness. While many symbionts coevolved within narrow host ranges, only a few generalist symbionts can colonize diverse insect taxa and tissues, with Wolbachia being the only well-studied example. The main aim of this project is to clarify the symbiotic nature of Symbiodolus (Enterobacterales), a newly discovered generalist symbiont infecting insects from six orders and colonizing various tissues. To investigate Symbiodolus' relationship with insects, the genus of phytophagous beetles Cryptocephalus (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae), including both Symbiodolus-infected and uninfected species, will be used as a model. Specifically, the first project objective is to determine the prevalence and phylogenetic distribution of Symbiodolus within Cryptocephalus to define if it is a phylo-symbiont or if its association with the host is linked to other factors. It will be achieved by characterizing the bacteria hosted by different Cryptocephalus species and testing the phylogenetic signal of Symbiodolus presence/absence across the genus. The second objective is to determine Symbiodolus transmission mode by localizing it in Cryptocephalus body across developmental stages and within its excretions using fluorescence in situ hybridization. The third objective is to assess Symbiodolus impact on Cryptocephalus fitness by analyzing the genomes of strain/s infecting six Cryptocephalus species to determine the presence of genes related to host benefits, pathogenicity, and reproductive manipulation. Symbiosis manipulation experiments will also test the effects of selectively removing or introducing Symbiodolus on the host phenotype. Beyond clarifying Symbiodolus' symbiotic nature, this project will provide insights into the mechanisms governing the establishment and maintenance of associations between insects and generalist bacterial symbionts, as well as the evolutionary adaptations sustaining them.
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 biological behavioural sciences ethology biological interactions
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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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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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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
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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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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.
80539 MUNCHEN
Germany
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.