New approaches to understanding eco-evolutionary dynamics in metaorganisms (C04*)

• Subject Area: Microbial Ecology and Applied Microbiology ; Evolution, Anthropology ; Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions ; Virology
• Term: since 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 261376515

The project C4 (Rainey, Hentschel-Humeida) aims to explore the role of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) as regulators of host-associated microbial community composition and function. The project will expand on the established Metaorganism Evolution Experiment approach by providing highly resolved insights into the dynamics of evolutionary change under regimes that either promote or hinder MGEs in two host-microbe pairs: the worm C. elegans & Ochrobactrum and the sponge H. panicea & Vibrio.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1182: Origin and Function of Metaorganisms
• Applicant Institution: Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
• Co-Applicant Institution: GEOMAR Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel; Max-Planck-Institut für Evolutionsbiologie
• Project Heads: Professorin Dr. Ute Hentschel-Humeida; Dr. Tim Lachnit, until 12/2023; Professor Paul Rainey, Ph.D.