Project description
Uncovering plant-microbe dialogue at the single cell level
Like animals, plants live in close association with diverse microbial communities that colonise their roots and help them grow, absorb nutrients, and survive stress. These beneficial plant-microbe interactions are not uniform but vary across different root cell types. Most studies so far have examined these relationships at the tissue level, missing the complexity and detail at the single-cell scale. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the MICROMETER project aims to transform our understanding of how plants shape their microbiomes. Researchers will use single cell multiomics and spatial transcriptomics to identify and characterise gene regulatory networks that plants use to communicate with helpful microbes. Project findings are expected to assist sustainable crop improvement.
Objective
Plant-microbiome interactions are crucial for plant health, promoting growth and enhancing resilience under stress conditions. These interactions are highly heterogeneous, shaped by diverse plant cell types and the complex spatial distribution of microbes. However, our current understanding remains predominantly at the tissue level, lacking the resolution to fully capture this heterogeneity. As a result, the genetic networks that govern how plants foster beneficial microbiomes remain largely unexplored. This Fellowship aims to address these gaps by employing cutting-edge single-cell multiomics and spatial mapping technologies. Using Arabidopsis thaliana and the well-characterized 35-member synthetic microbial community (SynCom35) as model systems, I will integrate single-cell transcriptome and chromatin accessibility assays to map transcriptional and epigenetic changes in root cells in response to microbial colonization. This approach will provide novel insights into the cellular mechanisms and genetic networks underlying plant-microbiome interactions. Additionally, by utilizing and further developing PHYTOMap, a multiplexed 3D spatial gene expression analysis platform, I will simultaneously spatially map plant gene expression and microbiome distribution. By integrating single-cell and spatial omics data, I will reconstitute spatially-resolved plant gene regulatory networks that interact with specific microbiome members. Furthermore, I will functionally characterize these predicted regulatory networks, aiming to lay the foundation for genetic engineering to enhance plant interactions with beneficial microbes, offering new strategies for optimizing plant growth and resilience. Altogether, this research will significantly advance our understanding of plant-microbiome interactions at single-cell and spatial resolutions, providing a foundation for innovative approaches to enhance crop resilience and agricultural sustainability in response to global challenges.
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 genetics RNA transcriptomes
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture
- 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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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
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.
NR47UH Norwich
United Kingdom
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.