START

We are delighted to announce the official launch of our ambitious project, INTER-MICRO - "Talking Microbes: Understanding Microbial Interactions within a One Health Framework," effective from January 1, 2024, and set to continue until June 30, 2028. This initiative aims to unravel the intricate world of microbial communication and its profound implications for One Health.

The project, coordinated by Jan Jansa, brings together esteemed institutions, including the Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague, and Charles University. Funded by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Health of the Czech Republic under the Programme Johannes Amos Comenius OP JAK, and co-financed by the European Union EU (the reference number CZ.02.01.01/00/22_008/0004597).

Project Goals:

1. To identify novel signalling molecules (i.e., the “words” in chemical cross-talk) involved in communication between prokaryotic microbes and/or microbes and their eukaryotic hosts.
2. To elucidate the mode of action of the previously established and novel signalling molecules, thus assembling the “sentences” and “messages”.
3. To successfully manipulate the eukaryotic-associative microbiome by changing the nutrient/energy inputs (diet), composition of starting microbiomes and by using the signalling molecules or their silencers, i.e. the “microbial language”.
4. To describe links between diet, associative microbiome and on-set and development of nutritional and health disorders in model eukaryotic hosts (e.g., fish, mouse, pig, soybean, mycorrhizal fungus).
5. To identify prokaryotic microbes, metabolic pathways and their regulation involved in the degradation of complex biomolecules or toxins of biological or industrial origin.
6. To describe ecosystem-wide microbiome shifts and their functional consequences in response to land use and global changes such as nutrient enrichment, drought, and biological invasions.

We are excited about the groundbreaking research ahead and the potential impact on our understanding of microbial interactions in various ecosystems. Regular updates on project milestones and findings will be shared on our website. Here's to the beginning of an enlightening journey into the fascinating realm of microbes!