Project description
Genomic insight into insecticide sensitivity
Bees, ants, wasps, and sawflies of the Hymenoptera order of insects exhibit diverse roles in the ecosystem as pollinators, predators, and parasitoids. Although many of these insects are exposed to harmful pesticides, certain bee species detoxify these chemicals using cytochrome P450 enzymes. The ERC-funded HYMOTOX project aims to investigate how P450 enzyme variants across Hymenoptera species determine insecticide sensitivity. Researchers will employ genomic, synthetic biology, and protein modelling approaches to predict which species are most vulnerable to particular insecticides. Project findings are expected to improve pesticide risk assessment and support the development of safer insecticides that protect beneficial insects and preserve biodiversity.
Objective
Hymenoptera (sawflies, wasps, ants, and bees) are an environmentally and economically important order of insects that carry out vital ecosystem services in their role as parasitoids, predators, and pollinators. However, while performing this function, hymenopteran species may come into contact with potentially harmful xenobiotics in the environment such as pesticides. We have recently demonstrated that the impact of pesticides on the health of managed bee species is profoundly influenced by the capacity of a small group of cytochrome P450 enzymes (P450s) to convert these compounds to less toxic forms. However, for the vast majority of the >150,000 hymenopteran species the role of these enzymes as determinants of insecticide sensitivity remains unknown.
The overarching objective of the HYMOTOX project is to address this critical knowledge gap by exploiting the natural diversity within the Hymenoptera, in combination with new advances in genomics, synthetic biology and protein modelling, to understand how variation in these biotransformation enzymes across an entire order of insects impacts sensitivity to pesticides. Our analyses will establish the extent to which insecticide-detoxifying P450s are shared across hymenopteran diversity, identify critical structural and functional determinants of P450-mediated insecticide metabolism, and develop a framework for predicting hymenopteran sensitivity to insecticides based on genomic information.
The project will progress beyond the state of the art by providing: i) a step-change advance in our understanding of the molecular determinants of insecticide sensitivity in the Hymenoptera, ii) a new paradigm for pesticide risk assessment that moves beyond the use of data derived from a few managed model species, iii) powerful knowledge, tools and resources that can be used to predict and avoid negative pesticide-insect interactions and in the development of next-generation insecticides that are safe to beneficial insects.
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 genetics
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- natural sciences biological sciences zoology entomology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
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.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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-2024-ADG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
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.
EX4 4QJ Exeter
United Kingdom
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.