Project description DEENESFRITPL Understanding plant pathogens in olive trees The bacterium of Xylella fastidiosa is a plant pathogen responsible for several diseases and is considered a threat to the EU olive population. However, the lack of knowledge on central elements of vector–host–bacterium intimate interaction prevents research on sustainable containment strategies. Besides, Philaenus spumarius, the vector of X. fastidiosa to olive trees in south Italy, remains unexplored. The EU-funded XYL-SPIT project will apply a multidisciplinary method to exhaustively describe the relationship between P. spumarius and X. fastidiosa and transmission dynamics. It will combine real-time tracking of insect probing behaviour, classical transmission tests and microscopy. The results will contribute to the establishment of a sustainable bacterium-mediated disease containment strategy. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Research on sustainable containment strategies of diseases caused by the vector-borne bacterium Xylella fastidiosa is hampered by the lack of knowledge on key elements of vector-host-bacterium intimate interaction. Moreover, available data on this three-way relationship come from studies carried out with sharpshooters, the main American bacterial vectors. On the other side, nothing is known on the insect family who likely plays the major role in bacterium epidemiology in Europe, i.e. spittlebugs, to which Philaenus spumarius, the main vector of X. fastidiosa to olive in South Italy, belongs to. The main objective of this project is to thoroughly characterize P. spumarius-X. fastidiosa relationship and transmission dynamics through a multidisciplinary approach, combining real-time tracking of insect probing behavior, classical transmission tests and microscopy. First, we are going to characterize the spittlebug acquisition/inoculation behaviors of the bacterium on different host plant/bacterium strain combinations. Once these behaviors have been characterized, we will determine the sites within spittlebug foregut where bacterial cells are retained suddenly after acquisition, and from where the cells are detached and delivered to the host plant during inoculation. Finally, we will focus on P. spumarius behavior on, and X. fastidiosa transmission dynamic to, olive varieties found to be tolerant to the bacterium. The results of the present project will represent an essential step toward the set-up of a sustainable bacterium-mediated diseases containment strategy. This fellowship represents a unique opportunity for the applicant. The experience gained from this three-year multidisciplinary project will make Daniele Cornara a serious candidate for an academic position throughout Europe, beside an important resource for Europe considering the threat posed by the relentless spread of X. fastidiosa throughout the Continent. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologybacteriologymedical and health scienceshealth sciencespublic healthepidemiologynatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopynatural sciencesbiological scienceszoologyentomology Keywords Spittlebug bacterium olive sustainable control Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2018 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2018 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS Net EU contribution € 245 732,16 Address CALLE SERRANO 117 28006 Madrid Spain See on map Region Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 245 732,16 Partners (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all Partner Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement. THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA United States Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address FRANKLIN STREET 1111 12 FLOOR 94607 OAKLAND CA See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 165 265,92
