SYMBIOMICS

Symbiomics: Molecular Ecology and Evolution of Bacterial Symbionts

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Symbiosis research is currently in the midst of a revolution as molecular techniques are leading to major breakthroughs in our understanding of interactions between animals and microbes. There is an emerging recognition that all animals are intimately associated with a complex community of beneficial microbes that are essential for their development, nutrition, and health. Thus, modern symbiosis research has become a newly emerging supra-disciplinary field with novel and innovative methods for examining microbial symbionts, the vast majority of which remain as yet uncultivable. As so often when novel technologies open up new areas of research, training for students lags behind. We propose to close this gap by offering a comprehensive and innovative training in the microbial ecology and evolution of animal symbionts. The proposed ITN Symbiomics will include 14 leading research groups as well as 4 top-tier participants from the private sector to provide 14 early stage researchers (ESRs) and 1 experienced research (ER) with an interdisciplinary and synergistic training. Cutting edge methods in molecular biology and image analysis will be used to analyze a broad range of hosts from protozoan and invertebrate animal groups. Symbiomics will provide training through a combination of local and network-wide activities that will include research, secondments, workshops and courses including soft skills training, networking and meetings, regular thesis committee meetings, and mentoring. By pooling the scientific, technological, and entrepreneurial expertise of the Symbiomics partners, this ITN will provide a synergistic research environment and training that extends far beyond what each partner would be able to offer with local training alone. At the end of their training, the early stage researchers will have the skills they need for successful careers in academia and industry in a broad range of disciplines in the fields of environmental, applied, and medical microbiology.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

The scientific tools used to study the beneficial relationship between animals and microbes are constantly evolving and students need training to keep up with new methods. An EU-funded initiative is supporting this need by providing 14 early-stage symbiosis researchers with a range of skills development opportunities.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Animals are intimately associated with a complex community of beneficial microbes that are essential for their development, nutrition and health. Modern technologies have opened up new research avenues into these symbiotic relationships, and the 'Symbiomics: Molecular ecology and evolution of bacterial symbionts' (SYMBIOMICS) project is playing its part in shaping the field's future experts.

An experienced researcher and 14 early-stage researchers (ESRs) are receiving training from leading research groups and from participants in the private sector. The training focuses on the use of cutting-edge methods in molecular biology and image analysis to study the microbial ecology and evolution of animal symbionts. Researchers involved will also participate in secondments, workshops, soft skills training courses, networking activities, regular thesis committee meetings and mentoring sessions.

Research topics include the functions and metabolic networks involved in the symbiosis between certain bacteria and their respective insect and marine invertebrate hosts. Advanced techniques are also being used to study amoebal and sponge symbionts from shallow-water environments and mussel symbionts from deep-sea hydrothermal vents.

Furthermore, the trainees are looking at ecological and evolutionary factors. These include the diversity, habitat and biogeographical distribution of symbiotic partners and free-living symbionts.

The disciplines covered by the SYMBIOMICS project include environmental, applied and medical microbiology. As such, at the end of their training, the researchers will be well equipped with the necessary skills for fruitful careers in both academia and industry.