HETEROGENIUS

Heterogeneous activity underlying the control of animal behaviour by a fungus

Coordinatore	LUDWIG-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN    more  Organization address address: GESCHWISTER SCHOLL PLATZ 1 city: MUENCHEN postcode: 80539 contact info Titolo: Mr. Nome: Frank Cognome: Spiekermann Email: send email Telefono: 498922000000 Fax: 498922000000
Nazionalità Coordinatore	Germany [DE]
Totale costo	266˙289 €
EC contributo	266˙289 €
Programma	FP7-PEOPLE Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)
Code Call	FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IOF
Funding Scheme	MC-IOF
Anno di inizio	2012
Periodo (anno-mese-giorno)	2012-08-16   -   2015-08-15

 Partecipanti

#	participant	country	role	EC contrib. [€]
1	LUDWIG-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN  Organization address address: GESCHWISTER SCHOLL PLATZ 1 city: MUENCHEN postcode: 80539 contact info Titolo: Mr. Nome: Frank Cognome: Spiekermann Email: send email Telefono: 498922000000 Fax: 498922000000	DE (MUENCHEN)	coordinator	266˙289.00

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'One of the most dramatic examples of parasites controlling behaviour is the manipulation of ants infected by the fungus Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, causing them to bite into vegetation before dying. Most work so far has described the ant’s behaviour. I plan to study the process behind this behaviour from the fungal genome point of view. The environment experienced by the fungal parasite changes dramatically as it goes from infection to manipulation. Therefore, the transcriptome of this mind controlling fungus is expected to be highly heterogeneous. To test this hypothesis and elucidate the complex genetic mechanisms behind adaptive parasite manipulation of host behaviour I will use a single cell, whole transcriptome analysis protocol I pioneered and apply it to this emerging model. This will allow me to sample cells in different parts of the ant’s body during different phases of the lifecycle. I will combine this with LC/MS in fungal cells transferred between artificial ant environments to elucidate the fungal metabolites that are secreted in different parts within the host. Recently, it has been discovered that manipulated biting behaviour is synchronized at noon. This indicates that the fungal circadian clock might have a big influence on this parasitic behavioural control. Therefore, I will combine my findings with chronobiology to test the hypothesis if this heterogeneous activity is a function of circadian rhythm. An important additional objective of this proposal is advanced training facilitating my transition to independence.'