Project description
Microbial community dynamics: opening the black box
Microbes interact with each other and the environment, forming complex communities. A better understanding of community dynamics is essential for tackling pathogenic bacteria but also for optimising bacterial culture conditions in biotechnology or bioengineering applications. To achieve this, the EU-funded EcoBox project establishes novel techniques to grow bacteria in a well-controlled and automated manner in many replicates, and tests them on a defined community of human gut bacteria. In a first step, the variability of community dynamics and alternative community states are explored. Next, perturbation experiments are performed to learn how community structure and external factors influence community dynamics. The generated information will feed into a mathematical model capable of predicting microbial community behaviour.
Objective
The dynamics of microbial communities may be driven by the interactions between community members, controlled by the environment, shaped by immigration or random events, influenced by evolutionary processes or result from an interplay of all these factors. This project aims to improve our understanding of how community structure and the environment impact community dynamics. Towards this aim, a defined in vitro community of human gut bacteria will be assembled, since their genomes are available and their metabolism is comparatively well resolved.
In the first step, we will quantify the intrinsic variability of community dynamics and look for alternative stable states. Next, we will systematically vary community structure as well as nutrient supply and monitor their effects on the dynamics. Finally, we will measure model parameters, evaluate to what extent different community models predict observed community dynamics and validate the models by identifying and experimentally validating keystone species.
Studies of microbial community dynamics are hampered by the cost of obtaining densely sampled time series in replicates and by the difficulty of community manipulation. We will address these challenges by setting up an in vitro system for parallel and automated cultivation in well-controlled conditions and by working with defined communities, where every community member is known.
The proposed project will discern how external factors and community structure drive community dynamics and encode this knowledge in mathematical models. Moreover, the project has the potential to transform our view on alternative microbial communities and their interpretation. In addition, the project will extend our knowledge of human gut microorganisms and their interactions. These insights will ease the design of defined gut communities optimized for therapeutic purposes.
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 microbiology bacteriology
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- natural sciences mathematics applied mathematics mathematical model
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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.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
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.
ERC-STG - Starting Grant
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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) ERC-2018-STG
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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.
3000 LEUVEN
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.