CA24133 - European network for animal evolutionary immunology: interlinking laboratory and wildlife infection biology (EVIM-NET)

Infectious diseases pose serious threats to human health, to food security in agriculture, and to the conservation of vulnerable wildlife. These challenges can be addressed through novel strategies involving evolutionary applications in immunology. However, the current lack of personal connections between evolutionary ecologists and immunologists hampers development of such promising interdisciplinary solutions. EVIM-NET will bridge this gap via establishing a European collaborative research network in evolutionary immunology. Through this innovative framework, the Action will construct conceptual unity between the currently dissociated fields and set up standard methodologies and procedures crucial for effective interdisciplinary research and knowledge transfer. EVIM-NET interlinks scientists and practitioners with top expertise in i) immunogenomics and bioinformatics (comparative genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and structural bioinformatics), ii) evolutionary analyses (positive / balancing selection testing, phylogeny-phenotype matching, convergent evolution),  iii) classical “hardcore” immunology (functional in vitro protein variant testing, analysis of immunological regulation, immunomonitoring, cellular phenotyping), and iv) animal and veterinary science to explore immunogenetic and molecular phenotypic diversity effects on immune responses across a wide variety of domestic, as well as wild animal species and populations.

The Action aims to define principles and means for genome-based evolutionary prediction of molecular effects on variation in immune function, develop standards and toolkits for immune phenotype variation testing, and improve access to skill-oriented training in immune phenotype prediction for Young Researchers and Innovators.

Societal benefits and future applications will be achieved through dissemination of the results to key stakeholders and policy makers: veterinary therapeutics manufacturers, diagnostic laboratories, wildlife conservation bodies, and breeder’s societies.