| Acronym: | 2022.06153.PTDC |
| Cost Center: | 1158 |
| Title: | Application of large-scale genomic analysis to discriminate entomopathogenic nematodes. |
| Start-End: | 01-01-2023 - 30-06-2024 |
| Entidade Beneficiária Principal: | Fundação Gaspar Frutuoso |
| Responsible Researcher: | Anna Garriga Oliveras |
| Organic Units: | FCT - Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia |
| Entidade | Fundação Gaspar Frutuoso |
|---|---|
| Total Financing | 50.000,00 € |
| Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (100.0 %) | 50.000,00 € |
Main Objectives:
Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are being studied for the biological control of Popillia japonica. This beetle is an agricultural pest that seriously affects meadows in Europe. Despite pest control efforts, EPNs showed variable virulence among strains of the same species. Previous work by the research team leads to the potential of using genetic markers to discern between wild-type strains by a desired phenotypic trait. Thus, the main objective of this project is to create a tool to discriminate virulent strains of EPNs using molecular detection of genetic variants. In the development of the project, new strains of the bacteriophore Heterorhabdiဆs will be evaluated against the insect to associate the virulence phenotype. Then the transcriptomic profile of the strains will be examined with genome analysis to detect differential variants. These candidate variants will finally be evaluated with new nematode strains and verified with infectivity assays.
Project Description:
Application of large-scale genomic analysis to discriminate entomopathogenic nematodes.
