Project description
The ecological drivers of antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic resistance (AR) is a growing problem, largely mediated by the transfer of resistance genes between bacteria. This mainly takes place through horizontal gene transfer (HGT), a process where bacteria exchange genetic material. HGT has traditionally been studied in the laboratory, but in reality, it takes place more frequently within the intricate microbial communities of the human gut. Although these ecological interactions may significantly influence gene transfer, experimental validation remains limited. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the hTARGET project aims to investigate how bacterial community dynamics affect the transfer of AR genes. Project findings will improve our understanding of resistance evolution and help design new strategies to tackle AR in clinical and environmental settings.
Objective
Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT) stands among the most common mechanisms for the emergence and persistence of Antibiotic Resistance (AR) in microbial communities, a major challenge in medicine and agriculture. While molecular mechanisms driving HGT are typically studied through in vitro co-cultures of two species, a donor and an acceptor species, HGT occurs in nature within microbial communities (such as the human gut microbiome) in which such two species interact with many others. Metagenomics has identified these ecological interactions as potential catalysts for HGT, yet direct experimental evidence remains lacking.
This project aims to elucidate how ecological interactions drive HGT of AR genes in diverse bacterial communities by combining experiments and theoretical models. Recent experimental advances have enabled the ecological interrogation of highly diverse communities in vitro, while theoretical models, inspired by statistical physics, can disentangle the dominant ecological interactions and predict the community dynamics. I will use high-throughput, in vitro techniques to assemble hundreds of different synthetic communities in which we will measure the rates of HGT of AR genes, both in the presence and absence of antibiotic exposure. I will develop a novel theoretical model that incorporates species interactions, environmental context and HGT. Utilizing statistical physics tools, I will generate testable predictions capable of interpreting the experimental outcomes. The project aims to generate a novel, quantitative understanding of how ecology modulates the HGT of AR genes, bridging the gap between molecular mechanisms previously described in pairwise co-cultures and ecological trends inferred from metagenomics. This knowledge will not only lead to the development of a theoretical framework integrating community ecology and HGT but also has the potential to indicate new strategies for addressing the global antibiotic resistance crisis.
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.
- social sciences other social sciences development studies social developments
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology
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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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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
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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.
75794 Paris
France
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