Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet FEAST (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Pinnipeds play a top predators key role in top-down processes and are considered bio-indicators of the health of marine ecosystem. Therefore, quantifying their foraging activity and energy expenditure in relation to rapidly changing marine environments is crucial for assessing these roles. However, gathering concurrent information on the movements, prey acquisition and environment of these cryptic species is a real challenge. In FEAST, I will, for the first time, combine the use of acceleration and acoustic data to quantify the links between pinnipeds foraging decisions and energetics with 3-D prey distribution, environmental features and anthropogenic activities using grey seals as model species. FEAST will (I) validate the use of acoustic and movement recording tags (D-Tags) on grey seals to detect feeding events, (II) quantify grey seals’ fine scale foraging activity and energy budgets to investigate how they optimize resource acquisition, (III) assess the influence of the abiotic & biotic environments as well as anthropogenic activities on their foraging activity, (IV) estimate prey type and field densities using active acoustic D-Tags as onboard echosounders. Thus, I will use, for the first time on pinnipeds, DTAGs which are central to the Host lab at Aarhus University and are the most advanced tagging technology in the field of marine mammal research. The originality and innovative aspects of FEAST lies at the intersection of bioacoustics, cutting edge engineering tools, signal processing, ecology and physiology to determine foraging optimization in free-ranging, wild marine animals. In accomplishing FEAST objectives, I will provide an unprecedented understanding of the sensory ecology of a large marine predator in habitats facing increased human encroachment, which will also be directly relevant to the European Commission’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive by assessing animal responses to human impacts.

Mots clés : marine mammals, pinnipeds, biologging, foraging strategies, predator prey interactions, bioaccoustic, physiology, statistical modelling, habitat use, acceleration, movement ecology, signal processing

Participants :
- Aarhus University (Danemark) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 200194.8 €
Projet PLIMPine (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Pinus is one of the most ecologically and economically significant tree genera in the world having an extreme economic importance to wood and paper industries. Pine pitch canker, caused by the fungus Fusarium circinatum, is an introduced non-native pine disease in natural and planted stands of Europe subject to quarantine measures. To date, there are no suitable approaches available to control this threat, being associated with elevated economic losses to the forestry sector. “Plant immunization” or priming, is pointed as the safest and most effective biotechnological approach to boost the endogenous plant immune system. Phosphites (Phi) have been shown to activate plant resistance acting in a dual way, both at the host and fungus level. PlimPine project has been built on the basis of ecological, industrial and socioeconomic importance of European pine forests, combined with the fact that short research is conducted on F. circinatum in Europe. We propose a substantially cross-disciplinary (from physiology to Omics) and ambitious, but feasible, project to create knowledge and tools to explore the intricate defence system against pathogens for forest trees, having Pinus-Fusarium interaction as a model. This project aims to characterize and identify markers of resistance (natural or induced) to pitch canker disease based on solid and exciting preliminary results. Deciphering the mode of action of Phi will help in the preventive application as a viable alternative for the pitch canker management, contributing to the European forest management.

Mots clés : pinus, pitch canker, plant immunization, system biology

Participants :
- University of Aveiro (Portugal) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 148635.6 €
Projet DUSTBUSTERS (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Staff Exchanges
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Planet formation is a widespread by-product of the process of star formation itself and occurs within relatively thin and dense protostellar discs made of gas and dust that orbit the newborn star. Such discs can now be probed with unprecedented detail thanks to high resolution telescopes and instruments, such as the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) at sub-millimeter wavelegths or the SPHERE instrument at the Very large telescope (VLT) in the near infrared, which are both capable of probing nearby star formation regions with a spatial resolution of a few astronomical units. The overall aim of this project is to to strengthen the collaboration of groups located in Europe, USA, Chile and Australia - many of them already collaborating actively - in order to (1) develop and use suitable numerical algorithms and techniques to address key unsolved issues related to the interaction of newborn planets with the gas and dust environment in which they are born and (2) to compare such models with the most advanced observations of protostellar discs, obtained with high resolution telescopes in the IR and sub-mm.

Mots clés : plant formation, accretion disks, protoplantary disks

Participants :
- University of Milan (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 174800.0 €
- Monash University (Australie) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- University of Santiago Chile (Chili) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- University of Hawaii System (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- University of Chile (Chili) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Research Foundation for the State University of New York (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Autres, subvention : 0.0 €
- Arizona's Public Universities (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- University of Cambridge (Royaume-Uni) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 87400.0 €
- European Southern Observatory (Allemagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 138000.0 €
- École normale supérieure de Lyon (France) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 105800.0 €
- University of Leicester (Royaume-Uni) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 133400.0 €
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (Chili) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet Plant Phenome (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Plant Phenomics has been growing and advancing rapidly in the last decades. Two important facts drive this growth: 1) the need for growing more food with better nutrition quality for the world population which has been rising enormously along with increasing social inequalities; 2) the need for better understanding of plant-environment interaction so improving the ability to produce crops better adapted to coping with uncertainties in future climate. This project aims to provide a detailed philosophical analysis of the main concepts and methodologies in phenome research, specifically in plant science. To achieve this, a very careful and detailed ontological and epistemological analysis of main concepts (phenome, phenotypic trait, response, stress, stress tolerance, stress resistance, phenotypic plasticity) and all the phases in plant phenomics research (including experiment design, instrument choice, data production, interpretation, flow and integration etc.) will be conducted. Main methodology will be traditional philosophical analysis both in philosophy and scientific literature. Genotype, phenotype and environment are concepts traditionally at the core of theoretical biology and philosophy of biology. Philosophy of biology has paid far more attention to genotypes than phenotypes, and this project will make an important contribution to redressing this balance. Plant phenomics is an area that includes researchers with backgrounds in biology, agricultural sciences and engineering. A proper philosophical analysis of the key concepts and ideas in the field should make a major contribution to improved communication both between practitioners with these diverse approaches to the field, and also with other areas such as geography, environmental sciences and political sciences which have close relations with plant science.

Mots clés : phenome, phenotypic trait, stress resistance, stress tolerance, phenotypic plasticity, plant phenome, phenomics, environment

Participants :
- University of Exeter (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 212933.76 €
Projet SMART POP (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Plant biomass represents a quasi-unlimited reservoir of functional elements, which are buried within large macrostructure assemblies. Extreme comminution of plant materials is a way to reveal emergent functionalities that can be exploited in highly technical applications such as smart materials designed by additive manufacturing. This dramatic size reduction induces physical and chemical changes whose interconnections have not yet been investigated. The concept of the SMART POP project is to exploit them to prepare powders with enhanced functionalities and flowabilities. By stirring these powders into a polymeric matrix, the final aim is to design, using 4D-printing, environmentally friendly materials that can react to environmental stimuli. By using direct and reverse engineering approaches, the SMART POP project will explore two functionalities that the biomass powder could provide to the materials from grafted-molecules : a fluorescent response to an environmental stimulus and the control of the degradation of the matrix thanks to delayed acid hydrolysis reactions. These functionalities will be studied in close interaction with the different processing steps and related to flowability of the powder. The originality of the SMART POP project relies on a strong interdisciplinary (chemistry, physics, engineering, etc.). Its achievement will be possible thanks to the broad scientific background of Dr Claire Mayer-Laigle and the facilities & skills developed by the host team in SCION Institute (NZ) since more than 10 years. During the outgoing phase, the host team will train Dr Claire Mayer-Laigle to numerous additive manufacturing technologies and conjoint innovative developments are expected. The return phase in the beneficiary institute (INRA) will be devoted to the transfer of the acquired skills, the dissemination of the results, the creation of a strong network and the setting up of ambitious project to carry this thematic at the European level.

Mots clés : additive manufacturing, milling, mechanosynthesis, lignocellulosic biomass

Participants :
- New zealand forest research institute ltd (Nouvelle-Zélande) — Partner, organization partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 261169.76 €
Projet NSTree (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Plant cell walls are essential for plant growth and provide us with food, clothing, shelter, and renewable energy. Nevertheless, key aspects of cell wall structure and the molecular players involved in its biosynthesis remain poorly understood. In particular, about the mechanisms that underpin the formation of secondary walls, which constitute the bulk of biomass in plant cells, little is known. To narrow this gap in our knowledge this project attempts to characterise and manipulate transporters essential for the delivery of the building blocks required for the biosynthesis of cell walls and their precursors in tree species. Furthermore, recent studies in the model plant Arabidopsis revealed that the transport mechanisms required for polysaccharide biosynthesis are regulated and controlled by as yet unknown mechanisms. To uncover these mechanisms and new components that are required to make the plant cell wall, I will combine bioinformatics, biochemistry, molecular genetics, immunochemistry and quantitative cutting-edge microscopy and investigate the model plant species Arabidopsis, poplar and Norway spruce. Thereby this research will contribute to our fundamental understanding of plant biomass production, leverage translational opportunities and develop knowledge that can be used to exploit these processes in woody species. The project supports exciting fundamental research and research training, aims at reintegrating an experienced researcher in Europe, and has clear potential for improved human health via climate change mitigation, enhanced plant biomass production and improved fuel security.

Mots clés : cell wall, golgi apparatus, nucleotide sugar transport, protein complex formation

Participants :
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Suède) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 191852.16 €
Projet MAAP (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Plant cells are immobile, therefore positional signaling is essential for body patterning. While many genes involved in positional signaling in plants are known, we currently lack a mechanistic understanding of their functions. Embryonic axis pattering is the earliest and simplest instances of positional signaling. In Arabidopsis thaliana, embryo is initially radial symmetry. Soon after, the embryo switches to bilateral symmetry and development continues along the newly-established axis. How these patterns emerge from a small group of homogeneous cells remains a fundamental unanswered question in developmental biology. Answering this question requires an in-depth analysis of the spatio-temporal relationship between gene expression and cellular patterns. Today, advanced microscopy and latest image analysis allow us to quantify division, growth and gene expression in individual cells throughout embryogenesis. The host group has been studying the regulatory role of homeobox proteins, PHABULOSA (PHB) and PHAVOLUTA (PHV). Distribution of PHB/PHV protein is restricted by microRNA to apical embryo, triggering embryonic shoot formation. If the PHB/PHV distribution is a positional signal reflecting apical-basal axis, how do they regulate cellular growth and division patterns to establish axis? I will generate a 4D map of axis patterning, extract high quality quantitative data to develop spatial computer models, and examine the interplay between geometry and genetic regulation on axis patterning. I will also apply same approaches to study embryos in other Brassicaceae species. Such comparative developmental analysis will reveal the core mechanism of axis formation shared among these species and also provide insights into the origins of their embryonic morphological diversity.

Mots clés : plant embryology, embryonic axis formation, comparative development, quantitative image analysis

Participants :
- Max Planck Society (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 159460.8 €
Projet DEF2DEV (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Plant defensins are small highly stable peptides and were originally isolated based on their antifungal activity. They are regarded as being an important part in plant innate immunity responses directed against fungal pathogens. Recent data suggests however that their role is not restricted to antimicrobial peptides in the defense response, but also includes important biological functions, such as root development and reproduction. Surprisingly, despite the broad international interest in plant defensins, their mode of action in plant defense responses is still unclear as well as their possible involvement in (other) biological functions. The project aims to unravel in depth the biological function and mode of action of the plant defensin AtPDF2.3 and its closest homologue AtPDF2.2. Our complementary approach will focus on alternative modes of action of these plant defensins relevant for plant defense and root development, allowing to find clear answers about their biological functions, being: (1) their role during root development, (2) their role during plant defense (3) their mode of action in plants and (4) their antifungal mode of action. The envisioned long term goal of this project is to identify novel strategies to cope with biotic stress and regulation of root architecture to be applied on important agricultural crops. The project has a strong multidisciplinary nature, combining bioinformatics, genetics, microbiology and molecular biology approaches. The project bridges the knowledge and expertise of the applicant in root development and confocal microscopy with the that of the host in plant-fungi interactions. With the implementation of the project the applicant will be trained in a new field, being plant-fungi interactions, able to learn new scientific skills and establish herself as high-quality researcher, allowing to take the next steps in her scientific career.

Mots clés : plant immunity

Participants :
- KU Leuven (Belgique) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 166320.0 €
Projet VAMEAP (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Plant diseases are a major constraint on food production. To rationally design efficient and resilient disease control strategies, it is essential to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying pathogen virulence. Most pathogens rely on secreted proteins called effectors to manipulate the host machinery for their benefit and perform their life cycle. In VAMEAP, we propose to characterize the virulence activities of the metalloprotease effector AVR-Pita from Magnaporthe oryzae, the causal agent of rice blast disease. Despite a strong selection pressure against this effector, AVR-Pita is maintained in populations of the pathogen suggesting a crucial role for the fitness of M. oryzae. Yet, next to nothing is known about the virulence activities or host targets of AVR-Pita. Here we propose an ambitious combination of biochemical and functional approaches to bridge this knowledge gap. We will survey the natural diversity and sequence polymorphisms in AVR-Pita and investigate the impact of its loss on the fitness of M. oryzae. We will identify the virulence targets of AVR-Pita using protein-protein interaction screens and characterize the protease activity of this effector. Beyond the knowledge that this project will gather on AVR-Pita, it will also help to understand the biology of metalloprotease effectors commonly found in fungal pathogens. The multidisciplinary approach developed in this project will be a powerful tool to further understand fungal virulence and help design new resistance strategies to control fungal crop diseases.

Mots clés : rice, magnaporthe oryzae, effector, metalloprotease

Participants :
- Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 184707.84 €
Projet HiBriCarbon (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Plant microbial fuel cells (PMFC) are promising electrochemical devices that can produce electricity generated by active microorganisms present in plant soil. The reactions at both anode and cathode of PMFCs can be catalysed by microbial biofilms capable of oxidising organic matter (anode) and catalysing oxygen reduction (ORR) (cathode) producing electrical power from renewable resources. However, PMFC power output to date remains low and often unpredictable due to the variability in activity achieved by the electrodes microbial biofilms. Their selection in both anode and cathode is a fundamental requirement to enhance catalytic activity and produce higher power densities. This proposal aims at developing a conceptually new approach towards PMFC catalysis though the introduction of novel nanocomposite carbon electrodes that will combine intrinsic and microbially-mediated catalytic activity. These functional materials will integrate moieties that promote bacterial recruitment to select suitable microbial consortia onto carbon based electrodes for both anodic and cathodic reactions. In the case of the cathode, the carbon material will be selected by using electrochemical methods ex situ (voltammetry) in simulated aqueous environment in the presence of fertilizers and soil to also display ORR catalytic activity. Anode and cathode topography will be investigated to identify nanostructures that promote biofilm colonisation and to control density and stability of active sites. The best electrode materials will be modified with carbohydrates and peptides that promote cell adhesion to only recruit electroactive bacterial consortia. This project combines my expertise in carbon synthesis and microbial fuel cell devices with expertise in biofilm control and carbon material characterization of the host laboratory. New training in characterization of electroactive biofilms will be provided by a secondment through a cross – European collaboration at University of Rennes1

Mots clés : carbon surface chemistry, electroactive bacteria, surface functionalization, oxygen reduction reaction, wastewater treatment

Participants :
- Trinity College Dublin (Irlande) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 175866.0 €