Vector-borne viruses (arboviruses) pose an increasing global threat, causing widespread disease in both humans and animals with significant health and economic impacts. In Europe, the mosquito-borne Rift Valley Fever Virus (RVFV) is especially concerning as this virus is expanding its territory beyond Africa, causing severe disease in both humans and ruminants. Despite ongoing research, critical gaps remain in understanding the RVFV infection cycle, particularly regarding the initial mechanism of mosquito mediated transmission. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions program, the INTERSECT project will expand knowledge on early RVFV infection in the skin using advanced virus particle analysis and 3D imaging techniques. These insights are crucial for developing targeted therapeutics and improve risk models. The INTERSECT project aims to investigate early RVFV infection in the skin of its natural host, focusing on mosquito transmission and replication. The specific objectives are to 1) map the genomic composition and distribution of RVFV virions, 2) examine the initial infection in ruminant skin, and 3) elucidate the early host immune response. To address its aims, the project will analyze RVFV infected mosquitos, skin biopsies and sera from infected lambs to study RVFV transmission, replication dynamics, and host immune responses. The project will employ cutting-edge methodologies, including tissue optical clearing, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), advanced microscopy, and spatial transcriptomics to uncover critical insights into early RVFV infection mechanisms. The project will provide advanced training in imaging and genomic analysis and enhance transferable skills through publications, presentations, and public engagement. INTERSECT will advance the scientific understanding of RVFV infection and develop methods applicable to other arboviruses, ultimately contributing to global health, informing vaccine development and outbreak prevention.

During wheat colonisation, toxigenic Fusarium species produce substantial numbers of mycotoxins, which pose serious adverse health effects in human and animals. The current control strategies rely on the use of resistant varieties and synthetic fungicides. However, these control measures are not always effective. Moreover, excessive use of fungicides has led to the development of resistance in many toxigenic Fusarium species. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop an effective and sustainable method to minimise wheat mycotoxin content. The goal of this project is to provide novel insights into the role of wheat microbiome in preventing mycotoxin contamination and to identify wheat varieties and microbes with potential to promote the suppression of mycotoxin production in wheat. Fungicide untreated winter wheat varieties will be collected from three different experimental field sites in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Then, a targeted metabolomics approach will be used to quantify 10 important mycotoxins in winter wheat samples, to identify resistant and susceptible varieties. Subsequently, DNA will be extracted from the samples and a culture-independent shotgun metagenomic high-throughput sequencing will be applied to characterise the microbiome diversity and function of wheat varieties. Robust statistical tests and bioinformatics tools will be used to analyse and compare sequences and mycotoxin level data, to identify specific microbial species and metabolic pathways that are significantly correlated with wheat varieties found resistant and susceptible to mycotoxin accumulation. Ultimately, the identification of specific wheat varieties that recruit microbiomes that can inhibit mycotoxin production opens new horizons for breeding next-generation crops depending less on fungicide input and resistant to mycotoxin contamination. This project and the planned training activities will further enhance my skills to become an independent researcher.

As the world population continues to grow and a shortage of protein supply is foreseen, there is a need to identify new and sustainable protein sources. While these alternative proteins must be of high nutritional quality, they also need to be safe for consumption. Dietary proteins and their digestion products can influence a number of regulatory systems, including the immune system. By interacting with elements of the immune system, proteins can help balance and stabilize immune responses, but may also trigger adverse effects such as allergic reactions. While the effects of proteins and peptides on the adaptive immunity have been examined in a number of studies, few have studied how these molecules are absorbed through the small intestine and interact with the innate immune system. Since, in order to trigger an immune response proteins must first be transported across the intestinal wall and interact with the innate immune system, understanding these processes is key to determining the immunological effects of protein consumption. The aim of the proposed project is to develop an in vitro model to evaluate the impact of dietary proteins on the immune system. This research will first examine the uptake of proteins and their digests across the intestinal wall using cellular models mimicking the intestinal epithelium and subsequently investigate the effect of the absorbed proteins/peptides on the immune system’s key players, including the dendritic and T cells. The model system that this research aims to develop could help shed light on the roles played by dietary proteins in regulating intestinal immunity and serve as a tool to evaluate the immunological properties of novel and sustainable proteins. Thus, this research is of relevance not only to the European food industry, but also to public health.

Neonectria ditissima is the causal agent of European fruit tree canker, one of the most devastating apple diseases in Europe. This pathogen causes cankers on apple twigs, branches and main stem, which may lead the loss of the whole tree. While chemical control is the essential component in the management of this disease, no suitable biocontrol products are commercially available against N. ditissima. Following the commitment of the European Union to prefer sustainable biological methods in integrated pest management strategies (Directive 2009/128/EC), BioNeedit will contribute in the development of a new biocontrol product to control European fruit tree canker disease. To achieve this objective, potential antagonistic microorganisms against N. ditissima will be selected i) based on the beneficial role of the microbiome found in N. ditissima infected and healthy tissues of apple trees, ii) through a systematic stepwise antagonist screening program, iii) testing the antagonist behaviour of the microorganisms against N. ditissima in a robust and cost-effective bioassay in planta and iv) evaluating the up-scaled biomass production of the selected antagonists. This multidisciplinary approach ensures that the selected microorganisms will not only have antagonistic properties, but will also fulfil the basic criteria regarding commercial production, safety and registration of plant protection products, as well as the ecological needs for the applications on the field. This approach will also overcome major constrains in the development of a biocontrol product and will reduce additional costs on its registration procedure. BioNeedit will mean a step forward in my career, broadening my existing Plant Pathology expertise and providing me new training in Biological Control. This project will expand my international network to a large group of active scientists and a biocontrol company that will help me to consolidate a position as a mature researcher in academia and/or industry

Poultry products are the most consumed source of animal protein globally. To enable current and future poultry genetic improvement towards climate adaptation and sustainable farming practices to meet future nutritional demands, it is essential to maintain and make available the existing genetic diversity within and between the breeds. Gene banks can assist in conserving genetic diversity and reintroduction and implementation of important traits or genetic variants into poultry lines. The main goal of CRYOCHICK is to develop effective cryopreservation methods for ex-situ conservation of male and female chicken germplasm. Existing strategies and methods for gene banking of chicken reproductive material are not adequate for several reasons such as poor fertility rate of cryopreserved semen, the contraceptive effect in hen of glycerol (the most effective sperm cryoprotectant), the current impossible cryopreservation of chicken oocytes due to its telolecithal structure, while semen alone does not capture genes of mitochondria and the W sex-chromosome. Therefore, new effective cryopreservation methods for both male and female chicken germplasms, as well as new strategies for maintaining and using the stored cryopreserved materials for cost-effective gene banking are required. The methods and strategies developed will likely also benefit other poultry species and conservation of wild relatives. CRYOCHICK comprises a high level training program for Dr. Bernal and different coordinated actions performed by prestigious institutes from different countries and research fields promoting international collaboration, interdisciplinarity and transfer of top knowledge to the private sector. The European competitiveness will be reinforced by addressing, with the highest level of knowledge, important global scientific and societal concerns such as maintenance of biodiversity and food security, both serious threatened by climate change.