SyProDeSy - Synergy of Prokaryotic Defence Systems

Bacteria and archaea evolved diverse immune mechanisms to fight bacterial viruses (phages). Dozens of novel prokaryotic defence systems have been discovered in the past few years, however, it is unclear if and how these defences interact, and which combinations are the most effective ones in the face of phage infections. I hypothesise that prokaryotic defence systems that cooccur in the same genome can cooperate in anti-phage immunity.

In this project I will (i) search for defence systems that tend to cooccur in Pseudomonas aeruginosa genomes, (ii) test the synergistic action of the co-occurring defences, (iii) identify in what conditions the possession of multiple defence systems is advantageous. This multidisciplinary research will combine bioinformatic, microbiology and experimental evolution approaches, which will perfectly complement my background in biochemistry and molecular biology.

The project will open a novel avenue for future research of synergistic prokaryotic defences and is expected to generate significant impact in biomedicine, biotechnology and industry. The Fellowship will be pivotal for my career and will make me a competitive independent researcher in the field of molecular microbiology. I will join a group in the Environment and Sustainability Institute at the University of Exeter, a world-leading research centre in the field of ecological and evolutionary

microbiology. The Environment and Sustainability Institute provides outstanding opportunities for research, academic training, and career development. I will be embedded in the large collaborative network of the host, which will vastly expand my own network, bring critical expertise to provide feedback on my research, and many new opportunities for collaborations across disciplines.

I will present the results of the proposed project at major international conferences and will launch an educational website to translate the research outcomes for the broad public.