The overarching goal of our research is to define the regulatory principles underlying associations of microbial communities with hosts from diverse taxonomic groups.
Novel insights into above topics have already been obtained by the members of the CRC 1182. Our consortium is thus in an ideal position to join forces to deepen our understanding of the metaorganism and validate our findings across the different model systems. In summary, the CRC 1182 “Origin and Function of Metaorganisms” will focus on a research field of high current interest, namely the evolutionary dynamics within metaorganisms and the molecular interactions involved.
To achieve such an integrated view on the metaorganism, our consortium will focus on three main themes:
Evolutionary dynamics and molecular basis of C. elegans-microbiome interactions
Project A1 (PIs Schulenburg, Dierking, Kaleta) aims to enhance our understanding of microbiome-mediated evolution of the metaorganism. Using the nematode C. elegans as a versatile experimental model system, the project will examine the molecular and …
Host-microbiome coevolution in the mammalian intestine
Project A2 (PIs Baines, Franke) aims to determine the genetic basis of evolutionary change among mammalian metaorganisms. The project will investigate mechanisms of host-microbe interactions, with G protein-coupled receptors as an important updated focal class …
Molecular determinants underlying symbiosis in the wheat metaorganism
Project A3 (PIs Stukenbrock, Dagan) aims to characterize the genetic basis underlying eco-evolutionary interactions among plant hosts and their microbiome. Focusing on wheat and its associated fungi and bacteria, the project will study the role …
Mathematical models and experiments on the levels of selection in evolving metaorganisms
Project A4 (PIs Traulsen, Schulenburg) aims to study the role of multilevel selection and microbial transmission mode in shaping host-microbiome interactions, the resulting phenotypes, and the fitness of hosts and associated microbes. The project will …
Host-microbe cross talk in three marine taxa (Porifera, Cnidaria and teleost fish)
Project B1 (PIs Hentschel, Fraune, Roth) uses cross-host comparisons to study the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie the host differentiation between – and response to – native and nonnative microbes in marine metazoans. The …
Microbiota-host interactions at the base of the metazoan tree
Project B2 (PI Schmitz-Streit) will study host-microbe interactions during early developmental stages, focusing on the jellyfish system Aurelia aurita. The project aims to identify the members in the jellyfish microbiome whose presence is crucial for …
Microbial interactions within the metaorganism: mechanisms of bacterial niche specialization and warfare in symbiosis
Project B4 (PIs Dagan, Unterweger) aims to investigate the mechanisms of bacterial niche specialization, focusing on interactions with the host and competitive interactions within the host-associated microbiome. This includes identifying the currencies at the origin …
Impact of symbiosis on life history decisions at the base of the metazoan evolution: lessons from placozoans and Hydra
Project C1 (PIs Bosch, Gruber-Vodicka) aims to explore the impact of microbes on senescence and life history switches in two stem bilaterians: Hydra and placozoans using a comparative approach. This includes focusing on the role …
Memory mechanisms of undernutrition in the gut ecosystem
The overarching goal of project C2 (PIs Roeder, Rosenstiel) is to understand the long-lasting (memory) effects of undernutrition on the physiological host-microbial interplay in two different model organisms: Drosophila and mouse. Building on accumulated findings, …
New approaches to understanding eco-evolutionary dynamics in metaorganisms
Project C4 (PIs Rainey, Hentschel) aims to explore the role of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) as regulators of host-associated microbial community composition and function. The project will build on the established Metaorganism Evolution Experiment (MEE) …
Functional impact of recent shifts in human lifestyle on hostmicrobiome interactions
The newly added project C5 is led by the three new PIs Groussin, Poyet and Rühlemann. They will join their expertise to investigate the impact of shifts in human lifestyle and associated changes in community …