Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet CAUSATION (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Throughout earth’s history, a myriad of factors has driven biodiversity patterns. During the lifespan of lineages, biotic and abiotic variables might act differently in shaping the diversification dynamics of organisms. Therefore identifying and quantifying their relative importance is crucial for a better understanding of past and current biodiversity patterns. This is particularly relevant for complex systems involving multiple functional groups spread through different trophic levels, e.g. the system composed of browsing and grazing animals and the plants they consume. The dynamics of the whole system can be affected not only by the biological components but also by environmental factors. Recently, new methods have been proposed to directly address causal associations between time series, based on dynamic systems theory, which represents an advancement in relation to traditional correlation-based approaches. This proposal will assess the causal associations between the diversity of each component of the plant-herbivore system to have a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the regulation of biodiversity in macroevolutionary timescales. Using the “Empirical Dynamic Modelling” (EDM) approach, which is a non-parametric approach specifically designed to address causality in time series, I will test the performance of this approach when using simulated and empirical macroevolutionary time series, applying it to the diversity time series of the components of the plant-herbivore system. This project will produce a critical examination of the performance of the EDM approach in this context, as well as produce direct information on the causal associations between the diversity of different groups and the influence of environmental variables on the dynamics of the whole system.

Mots clés : macroevolution, diversification, empirical dynamic modelling, palaeontology

Participants :
- Université de Göteborg (Suède) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 222727.68 €
Projet MANGA (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Spin Hall nano-oscillators(SHNOs) have garnered significant attention in recent years due to their high frequencies, nanoscale size, ultra-fast/wide frequency tunability, and potential to replace CMOS-based oscillators. Here, an input current with spin hall effect is used to generate oscillations in a magnetic material ranging from a few hundreds of MHz to tens of GHz. As many existing and future radio protocols and applications will use frequencies well above 50 GHz, pushing the SHNO operating frequencies much higher would be of tremendous value. One way to increase the operating frequencies of SHNOs is by replacing the magnetic materials from ferromagnets to ferrimagnets. The magnetic properties of ferrimagnets make it a perfect candidate to be used for high frequency SHNOs. MANGA aims to use the Manganese Nitride (Mn4N) family of ferrimagnetic materials made up of light, abundant, cheap and greener elements to realise different types of SHNOs. It will demonstrate sub-THz ultra high frequency SHNOs followed by high frequency exchange spring oscillators by coupling the Mn4N system with other ferromagnetic materials such as Ni/NiFe/CoFeB. The Mn4N system will be studied as the spin source layer to generate oscillations in other magnetic layers. The first objective in MANGA of sub-THz ultra high frequency oscillators will be done by nanofabrication of nanoscale SHNO devices in Mn4N system which will be studied with the help of advanced optical techniques such as Brillouin Light Scattering(BLS) microscopy. For the next objective SHNO devices will be fabricated after the deposition of other magnetic layers on Mn4N layer and studied with various magnetic characterization techniques and BLS microscopy. For the last objective a Copper layer will be inserted between the Mn4N layer another magnetic layer. The spin source properties will be studied with the help of rectangular bar devices and oscillations will be studied with the SHNO devices.

Mots clés : spintronics, ferrimagnets, spin hall nano oscillators, rare earth free, green, manganese nitride, signal processing, spin hall effect, orbital hall effect

Participants :
- Université de Göteborg (Suède) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 206887.68 €
Projet COOLCASE (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Plants, as sessile organisms, must constantly adapt to variable environmental conditions, among which temperature is of paramount importance in the context of climate change. Indeed, in future years, despite an expected rise in temperatures due to global warming, we can also expect an increase in the frequency of severe cold periods for which plants are not prepared. Therefore, understanding the molecular processes that allow plants to react and adapt to cold is essential for developing cold-resistant plants, which is ultimately indispensable for global food security. In recent decades many studies have embarked in addressing this issue. However, the global regulatory landscape underlying cold acclimation and adaption of plants to noisy and fluctuating natural cold conditions remain poorly investigated. Low temperatures are known to have a direct effect on chromatin accessibility which is directly linked to gene expression. Therefore, the aim of this project is to investigate the dynamics of the coding and non-coding Arabidopsis thaliana transcriptome, as well as changes in chromatin accessible sites, in response to regimes of decreasing temperatures. To this end, a comparative analysis of deep-coverage RNA-seq (transcriptome) and ATAC-seq (chromatin accessibility) will be performed on A. thaliana plants grown over weeks of fluctuating temperatures, mimicking natural cold conditions of autumn and early winter. The proposed experimental design will reveal novel coding genes, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and potential distal regulatory elements involved in Arabidopsis responses to cold. Thus, by combining interdisciplinary and mutually reinforcing approaches including (epi)genomics, (epi)genetics, transcriptomics and bioinformatics, the proposed project will significantly improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms required for plant adaptation to cold temperatures likely delivering valuable tools for future breeding of cold resilient crop species.

Mots clés : arabidopsis thaliana, responses to cold temperature, transcriptional regulation, epigenetics, long non coding rnas, chromatin accessibility, rna seq, atac seq

Participants :
- Center for Research in Agricultural Genomics (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Autres, subvention : 165312.96 €
Projet SMetRI (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Rising global temperatures due to climate change are posing significant challenges for tomato production. High temperatures adversely affect fruit yield and quality, necessitating the development of heat-tolerant tomato varieties. Cell membrane function, particularly the role of sterols, is crucial for heat tolerance. This study aims to comprehend how modifying sterol composition can enhance tomato's resilience to high temperatures by influencing root exudate composition and shaping rhizosphere microbial communities. To investigate the mechanisms behind high-temperature tolerance through sterol metabolism manipulation, we outline three specific objectives: (1) To investigate the sterol-mediated impact on compositional changes in root exudates under normal and high-temperature (HT) conditions. (2) To explore the link between modified sterol profile, root exudate composition, and rhizospheric microbial interactions. (3) To evaluate the impact of sterol-modified root exudates on plant performance and resource exchange under normal and HT conditions. Our approach involves utilizing high-throughput technologies, including Gas Chromatography and Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry for lipid and metabolite profiling, as well as next-generation sequencing to analyze the impact of modified sterol metabolism on rhizosphere microorganisms. Additionally, we will assess physiological and phenological parameters to determine the effect of altered sterol metabolism on plant growth in various temperature environments. Given the critical role of Solanaceae family crops, such as tomatoes, in global and European agriculture, this research holds immense potential for enhancing food security and promoting sustainable agriculture. Moreover, it opens doors to innovative approaches for improving plant performance, reducing reliance on agrochemicals, and fostering beneficial plant-soil-microbe interactions.

Mots clés : plant sterol, root exudate composition, rhizospheric microorganisms, high temperature stress, specialized metabolites

Participants :
- Center for Research in Agricultural Genomics (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Autres, subvention : 181152.96 €
Projet MYBEST (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Environmental stressors such as nutritional imbalances, severe temperature, drought, and salinity are detrimental to plant growth. As a major strategy for adaptation to environmental stressors, plants have evolved extracellular barriers as part of their cell walls made of aliphatic biopolymers, cutin and suberin, along with their associated waxes. Cutin and cuticular waxes form the cuticle that covers the outer surfaces of leaves, fruits, and flowers. Suberin, on the other hand, is present in the extracellular space of inner tissues, such as endodermis, periderm, and exodermis, as well as the seed coat. Both cutin and suberin act as barriers, preventing water loss and nutrient leakage while also shielding the plant from pathogens. Despite decades of studies on these biopolymers, many essential aspects of their biosynthesis and assembly remain unclear. Among these is our understanding of the assembly of cuticle and suberin monomers in the extracellular space, as well as the control of the polymerising machinery both developmentally and environmentally. A few members of the GDSL-esterases/lipases (GELP) family have been shown to be involved in the polymerisation of tomato fruit cuticle and Arabidopsis thaliana root suberin. Intriguingly, another subset of GELPs has been shown to be able to degrade cutin or suberin, implying a complex mechanism that plants have evolved to modulate the dynamics of these polymers. On a regulatory level, several MYB transcription factors have been shown to be important in controlling the developmental and tissue-specific responses of suberin and cutin. The proposed research aims at uncovering the mechanisms of MYB-directed and GELP-mediated cuticle and suberin assembly and plasticity during growth and adaptation. Importantly, as part of our proposed work, we intend to use MYBs to manipulate suberin and cutin deposition at the tissue level to create new crop resilience strategies to environmental stressors including drought and salinity.

Mots clés : myb, gelp, suberin, cuticle, dynamics, arabidopsis, tomato

Participants :
- Center for Research in Agricultural Genomics (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Autres, subvention : 194074.56 €
Projet LoAGOding (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Small RNAs (sRNA) are essential regulators of gene expression, controlling development and preserving genome integrity, all across eukaryotic organisms. To execute their final functions, sRNA are loaded into an ARGONAUTE (AGO) protein to guide through sequence complementarity the regulation of target genes. In plants, sRNAs are divided into small interfering RNA (siRNA) and microRNA (miRNA), and both can be loaded into AGO1 for cell-autonomous action, or move out of the cell to act non-cell autonomously. This proposal outlines a series of complementary experiments to mechanistically study the loading of sRNA into AGO1 and to understand how it contributes to the intra- and inter-cellular movement of sRNA in plants. By combining cell biology, RNA biochemistry, deep-sequencing analysis, nuclear fractionation methods, micrografting and super-resolution microscopy, this project aims at: i) characterize the nuclear and cytoplasmic sRNA loading complexes (LCs), ii) decipher the connection between sRNA biogenesis and LCs and, iii) determine how sRNA loading could affect the sRNA movement. The results obtained will advance the state of the art in plants in our understanding of AGO1 loading mechanism, the execution of the AGO1 function and sRNA movement. Studying these pathways goes beyond mere mechanistic knowledge, as sRNA movement is being exploited to modulate plant and pathogen gene expression towards improving crop productivity and enhancing stress/pathogen tolerance, a booming strategy known as Spray-induced gene silencing. Altogether, this project is expected to create a wealth of original information, providing a meaningful contribution to European excellence and competitiveness in the field.

Mots clés : rna silencing srna loading srna movement argonaute proteins mirna sirna arabidopsis

Participants :
- Center for Research in Agricultural Genomics (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Autres, subvention : 165312.96 €
Projet REPHASE (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The proposed project explores the intriguing possibility of reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulating the formation of stress granules (SGs) during heat stress. Heat stress triggers the rapid accumulation of ROS, with H2O2 playing a pivotal role as a signalling molecule that induces oxidative post-translational modifications (Oxi-PTMs) to regulate protein activities. On the other hand, an increase in temperature leads to the formation of enigmatic droplets in the cytosol known as SGs. These membraneless organelles (MLOs) arise through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), enabling the concentration of proteins, mRNA, and metabolites to facilitate cellular adaptation. ROS accumulation and SGs formation have traditionally been viewed as independent events in the heat stress response. However, recent studies have shed light on the significance of Oxi-PTMs as regulators of protein LLPS in plants. Moreover, my preliminary experiments have demonstrated that the chemical blocking of Oxi-PTMs impairs SG formation during heat stress. I propose that ROS accumulation during heat stress induces Oxi-PTMs on proteins, promoting LLPS and facilitating SG formation. The REPHASE project aims to address this hypothesis through two main objectives. Firstly, I will investigate the dynamics of the redox state within SGs during heat stress. Secondly, I will map the landscape of Oxi-PTMs in SGs shedding light on their distribution and functional implications. To achieve these goals, the fluorescent redox biosensor roGFP2-Orp1 and the proteomic OxiTRAP probe YAP1 will be targeted to SGs. Utilizing these innovative methods will enable a comprehensive exploration of the redox biology of SGs, leveraging the state-of-the-art proteomic core and live cell imaging facilities available at the host institute. By bridging the gap between redox signalling and SGs, the REPHASE project promises to provide valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying plant adaptation to environmental stress.

Mots clés : redox biology, stress granules, heat stress, arabidopsis, biomolecular condensates

Participants :
- Université de Münster (Allemagne) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (Belgique) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 175920.0 €
Projet FEEDING (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Obesity is a major burden to public health as it increases the risk of several chronic diseases, like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal disorders or some cancers. Energy homeostasis is centrally regulated by the hypothalamus where the arcuate nucleus (ARC) orchestrates feeding behaviors and energy balance. Two neuronal populations of the ARC are considered as the first-order neurons mediating the effects of various signals such as leptin and insulin, the orexigenic neuropeptide (NP)Y/Agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons and the anorexigenic pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)/Amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) neurons. Leptin is an adipocyte-secreted peptidic hormone that inhibits food intake and regulates body weight. Nearly in all forms of obesity, circulating levels of leptin increase but fail to suppress food intake and body weight. This condition has been identified as "leptin resistance". G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of membrane proteins and a notoriously successful source of drug targets. However, many GPCRs are understudied or even orphans meaning they have no known ligands. Despite our knowledge of the principal circuits regulating feeding, satiety, hunger and energy expenditure, we have been unable to deliver effective drugs targeting these systems. The failure in targeting the melanocortin pathways comes out partly from an incomplete understanding of leptin action, especially leptin resistance, at the central level. Here, we propose to investigate the interplay between the signaling of orphan GPCR and leptin receptor in leptin sensitive cells of the arcuate nucleus. To do so, we will use conditional knockout animals and pharmacological modulators. We will measure various metabolic parameters including weight and food intake with the Comprehensive Laboratory Animal Monitoring System (CLAMS). We will also establish hypothalamic cell cultures in which we will address the impact of G protein signaling on leptin.

Mots clés : orphan gpcr, leptin, leptin receptor, lepr, obr, hypothalamus, arcuate nucleus, g protein, signaling, food intake, obesity, weight gain, clams, drug screening, pomc, npy, stat3, leptin resistance

Participants :
- Université de Liège (Belgique) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 175920.0 €
Projet ClimDivE (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Currently facing major environmental changes due to global warming, a growing concern of modern societies is related to how we will be able to cope with these rapid changes to survive. This kind of preoccupation is probably not new: over the course of its history, the human species has been able to adapt to very different environmental conditions thanks to diversified cultural adaptations. The objective of the project “ClimDivE” is to understand the role of environmental change in the diversity and evolution of cultural adaptations at large geographic and chronological scales, using the archaeological record of the Gravettian (32-26 000 years before present) as an example framework. At this period, archaeologists have shown that two neighboring regions, Western and Central Europe, exhibit very different cultural trajectories, without being able to understand the large-scale mechanism that influenced this pattern. The ClimDivE project aims to explore the factors composing this mechanism by integrating archaeological data and paleoclimate simulations into a unified approach: “Eco-cultural niche modeling”. This approach derived from the field of distributional ecology allows one to identify the environmental conditions associated with specific cultural traits. To do so, Dr. Vignoles will gather pertinent archaeological occurrences and environmental variables for the Central European Gravettian. These data will feed a mathematical model that represents the niche. These results will be compared with her previous work on the Western European Gravettian. Based at Liège with shorter stays in Kansas University and Paris-Saclay, the research will be supervised by three internationally recognized researchers specialized in the Gravettian, ecology and paleoclimatology. The proposal will result in a model underlining different types of factors – environmental, cultural, demographical – probably implicated in the separate evolution of neighboring regions during the Gravettian.

Mots clés : eco cultural niche modeling gravettian upper palaeolithic cultural traditions cultural evolution central europe western europe paleoclimate modeling

Participants :
- University of Kansas Medical Center (Etats-Unis) — Partner, associated partner, Organismes publics (hors enseignement & recherche), subvention : 0.0 €
- Université de Liège (Belgique) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 175920.0 €
Projet PrimeAge (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Metastasis is the leading cause of death in cancer patients. Aging is an important risk factor for metastasis formation, yet the underlying processes remain poorly understood. Given the increase in aging populations worldwide, elucidating mechanisms of age-promoted metastasis formation is an important and timely topic addressed in this proposal. Recently, the Fendt group has pioneered the concept that tumor-secreted factors (TSF) induce nutrient priming of distant organs for metastasis formation. This concept is exemplified by adaptations in lipid metabolism of target organs, triggering a pro-metastatic signaling pathway in invading tumor cells. I propose that nutrient priming is age-dependent, as the metabolism changes with age, contributing to the enhanced risk of metastasis formation in the elderly. I will investigate this concept using melanoma as a prototypic cancer of age-dependent, aggressive metastatic behavior. I will address 3 specific objectives: (1) Identify age-dependent metabolic response of distant organs to TSF using mass spectrometry imaging-based spatial metabolomics in young and aging mouse models, and corroborate my findings in melanoma patients. (2) Elucidate molecular mechanisms whereby identified metabolites promote the pre-metastatic potential of the distant niche by applying genetic screens as well as multi-omics and functional assays to spheroid models of metastasis. (3) Validate the therapeutic potential of intercepting age-specific metabolic priming using pharmacological and genetic perturbations in mouse melanoma models. Ultimately, I expect to identify age-specific metabolic adaptations in pre-metastatic niches and to document that these pathways provide targets for personalized therapy of metastatic tumors in the elderly. This ambitious proposal is based on my expertise in elucidating the instructive role of metabolites in cell fate and function, and on expert skills in cancer metabolism research that I will acquire in the Fendt lab.

Mots clés : metastasis, nutrient priming, melanoma

Participants :
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (Belgique) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 191760.0 €