Objective
Endosymbiosis has driven eukaryotic evolution, endowing them with organelles: the endosymbiotic origins of (i) mitochondria from proteobacteria, launching all of eukaryotic evolution; and (ii) plastids from cyanobacteria, resulting in the emergence of all plants and algae. The fern Azolla is on its way to having a third organelle—a nitrogen-fixing one. As with plastids, the symbiont is a cyanobacterium—a cyanobiont—that has become a perpetual partner. The perpetuity of symbiosis has been assured for more than 60 million years by the inheritance of the cyanobionts—both during sexual and vegetative reproduction. Thus, host and cyanobiont must engage in fine-tuned molecular communication, yet the molecules involved have remained obscure. Now, our data indicate that common plant defense responses are involved in this crosstalk. If so, how do the ferns balance pathogen defense and perpetual symbiont accommodation with both co-occurring simultaneously? I propose to use Azolla—whose fate and fitness hinge on the presence and well-being of its cyanobiont—to study how plants shape their communication with symbiotic partners upon pathogen threat. My team and I will characterize the molecular plant defense network in perpetual symbiosis by using one of its denominators, salicylic acid (SA), and perform comparative network analysis with facultative symbioses across land plants. We established the first natural pathosystem for Azolla to now bridge plant pathology and symbiosis research to define a shared patho-symbiotic signaling. Integrated with population genomics, we will infer the evolutionary history of the patho-symbiotic signaling network. We will mix-and-match cyanobionts and different hosts to scrutinize how fitness landscapes are shaped by plant–symbiont compatibility. Our work will provide insights into the evolution of defense responses by taking a novel approach in a unique setting: the resilience of perpetual plant symbiosis in a biotically stressful environment.
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.
- humanities history and archaeology history
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology phycology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
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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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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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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
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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-2026-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.
37073 Gottingen
Germany
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