SOILCOEV

Coevolution between bacteria and phages in soil: ecological and genetic bases of its specificity

Coordinatore	THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER    more  Organization address address: Northcote House, The Queen's Drive city: EXETER postcode: EX4 4QJ contact info Titolo: Ms. Nome: Samantha Cognome: Irish Email: send email Telefono: +44 1392 722375 Fax: +44 1392 263686
Nazionalità Coordinatore	United Kingdom [UK]
Totale costo	280˙180 €
EC contributo	280˙180 €
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-2010-IEF
Funding Scheme	MC-IEF
Anno di inizio	2011
Periodo (anno-mese-giorno)	2011-08-01   -   2013-07-31

 Partecipanti

#	participant	country	role	EC contrib. [€]
1	THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER  Organization address address: Northcote House, The Queen's Drive city: EXETER postcode: EX4 4QJ contact info Titolo: Ms. Nome: Samantha Cognome: Irish Email: send email Telefono: +44 1392 722375 Fax: +44 1392 263686	UK (EXETER)	coordinator	280˙180.00

Mappa

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Antagonistic coevolution between hosts and parasites has far-reaching consequences for evolutionary ecology, agriculture and medicine. Coevolution between bacteria and virulent phages is likely to be of particularly broad significance because of the ubiquity of phages, the key role played by bacteria in ecosystem functioning, and the therapeutic use of phages as ‘evolving’ antibiotics, in both clinical and agricultural contexts. Despite the far-reaching consequences of bacteria-phage coevolution in laboratory populations, we know virtually nothing about its operation and significance in natural ecosystems. Two complimentary approaches will be taken in order to increase our understanding of evolutionary maintenance of bacteria and phages in soil, and coevolutionary dynamics within communities in natural environments. First, I will determine the significance of coevolution for driving the within-population diversity of the focal bacteria population, and in turn how changes in the focal bacterial population affects community composition, at both phenotypic and genetic levels (Objective 1). In addition, I will assess the impact of coevolution on the evolution of bacteria mutation rate, and whether phages can select for increased mutation rates in soil environments (Objective 2). Furthermore, I will determine the extent to which natural selection acts on bacterial cooperative in soil, and how these are affected by phages (Objective 3). I will also assess the impact of some ecologically relevant manipulations on the rate of coevolution (Objective 4). The second approach will allow entirely natural communities to be studied. I will directly measure coevolution between natural populations of Pseudomonas-like bacteria and associated phages in soil, by measuring interactions across time (Objective 5). This proposal will provide a crucial understanding of the role of the phages in driving ecological and evolutionary changes of bacteria in soil environments.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Coevolution, where closely associated species influence the evolution of each other, can be seen in the relationship between a host and its associated parasite. An EU-funded project investigated coevolution between bacteria and bacteriophage in the soil environment to gain a clearer understanding of the process.