Aquaculture is an important source for food, nutrition, income and livelihoods for millions of people around the globe. Intensive fish farming is often associated with pathogen outbreaks and therefore high amounts of veterinary drugs are used worldwide. As in many other environments, mostly application of antimicrobials triggers the development of (multi)resistant microbiota. This process might be fostered by co-selection as a consequence of the additional use of antiparasitics. Usage of antimicrobials in aquaculture does not only affect the cultured fish species, but - to a so far unknown extent - also aquatic ecosystems connected to fish farms including microbiota from water and sediment as well as its eukaryotes. Effects include increases in the number of (multi)resistant microbes, as well as complete shifts in microbial community structure and function. This dysbiosis might have pronounced consequences for the functioning of aquatic ecosystems. Thus in the frame of this project we want to study consequences of antimicrobial/-parastic application in aquaculture for the cultured fish species as well as for the aquatic environments. To consider the variability of aquaculture practices worldwide four showcases representing typical systems from the tropics, the Mediterranean and the temperate zone will be studied including freshwater and marine environments. For one showcase a targeted mitigation approach to reduce the impact on aquatic ecosystems will be tested.

Context Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the chief viral cause of severe acute respiratory tract illness in infants and n calves worldwide. After fifty years of research, there is still no vaccine available for humans. So far, no efficient specific inhibitors are avalible against these viruses. RSV belongs to the Mononegavirales (MNV) order and is a member of the Paramyxoviridae family. It is an enveloped virus and its negative strand RNA genome is encapsidated by the nucleoprotein N, which forms a helical ribonucleoprotein complex (RNP). This RNP template is recognized by the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) composed of L (the catalytic subunit), P (which is an essential cofactor of L), N and two small proteins, M2-1 (22K) and M2-2, which act as transcription and replication co-factors, respectively. RSV infection induces the formation of spherical inclusion bodies (IBs) of a few µm in diameter that are found in the cytoplasm of infected cells. The co-expression of RSV N and P is necessary and sufficient to induce the formation of these IBs. IBs of various sizes have been immunostained with antibodies to the N, P, M, M2-1, NS2 and L proteins. Viral genomic RNA also has been detected either within IBs or around their perimeter, depending on their size. Some cellular proteins, such as Hsp70, also associate with RSV IBs. However, the architecture, ultrastructure, the exact composition, organization and functioning of RSV IBs remains unknown. The Brazilian team has already identified some cellular partners for several RSV proteins including N, P and M. In order to study RSV IBs by high resolution microscopy, we have made constructions with P, L and M2-1 carrying photo-activable fluorescent proteins, and these fusion proteins still allow RNA synthesis, as analyzed by minireplicon assay, and are still localized in IBs. Proposal This ambitious proposal was initiated by collaboration between the groups of Dr. Eléouët (INRA) and Dr. Ventura (USP), and is based on the collaborative work of several groups with complementary competences and knowledge. The Eléouët laboratory has built all the necessary tools to track the viral proteins within infected cells and on replicon system. He has also developed protocols to produce recombinant proteins for studying their structure and function in vitro. The collaboration with the Rey group has results in the first high-resolution view of the ribonucleoprotein complex of RSV, published in Science in 2009. Similarly, the collaboration with the Sizun group has led to the NMR structure of the RSV transcription antiterminator M2-1 protein. Our common goal here is to characterize virus-cell interactions at the molecular level, to investigate the structure and composition of IBs where genome transcription and replication take place using new technologies, and to define molecular targets for the development of antivirals. We will search for cellular partners for RSV cytoplasmic proteins. Preliminary experiments performed by the Brazilian team have identified at least 5 cellular partners for RSV cytoplasmic proteins N, P, and M. First, using recombinant proteins, deletions and site-directed mutagenesis, we will identify the domains and the residues involved in these interactions. The effect of the residues identified as critical for these interactions on the replication, transcription or assembly of RSV will be analyzed in living cells using an RSV minireplicon and microscopy. The atomic structure of cellular-viral protein complexes will be investigated by NMR and X-ray crystallography. Precious structural and functional information on the relationships between RSV RdRp complex and cellular proteins will be collected. These data will allow a better understanding of the functioning of the viral RNA polymerase and the matrix protein, and will also be useful for drug design and development.

Wind as a clean and renewable alternative to fossil fuels has become an increasingly important contributor to the energy portfolio of both Europe and Brazil. At almost every stage in wind energy exploitation ranging from wind turbine design, wind resource assessment to wind farm layout and operations, the application of HPC is a must. The goal of HPCWE is to address the key open challenges in applying HPC on wind energy, including efficient use of HPC resources in wind turbine simulations, accurate integration of meso- and micro-scale simulations, and optimization. The HPCWE consortium consists of 13 partners representing the top academic institutes, HPC centres and industries in Europe and Brazil. By exploring collaborations between Europe and Brazil, this consortium will develop novel algorithms, implement them in state-of-the-art codes and test the codes in academic and industrial cases to benefit the wind energy industry and research in both Europe and Brazil.

The proposed Coordination and Support Action (CSA) has the overall objective to establish an international network of experts and stakeholders in the field of microbiome food system research, elaborating microbiomes from various environments such as terrestrial, plant, aquatic, food and human/animal and assess their applicability and impact on the food system. MICROBIOMESUPPORT will follow the approach of food system and integrate actors and experts from all stages in this circular economy of food. The food system approach is part of the FOOD 2030 concept to promote a systems approach to research and innovation (R&I). MICROBIOMESUPPORT will be one of the key drivers to implement FOOD 2030 strategies, will facilitate multi-actor engagement to align, structure and boost R&I in microbiome and will support the European Commission by coordinating the activities, meetings, workshops and results from the International Bioeconomy Forum (IBF) working group ‘Food Systems Microbiome’. The main concept behind MICROBIOMESUPPORT IS to boost the bioeconomy and the FOOD 2030 strategy, by focusing on the new avenues generated by microbiome R&I efforts. MICROBIOMESUPPORT WILL have a main impact on the coordination of commonly defined R&I agendas which will be incorporated into regional, national, European but also global funding programmes related to microbiomes in food systems. MICROBIOMESUPPORT will create a collaborative international network and integrate know-how in plant, terrestrial, animal, human and aquatic microbiome R&I as well as expertise in bioeconomy applications. MICROBIOMESUPPORT has integrated international partners form Brazil, Canada, South Africa, China, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, India and USA in order to improve the international cooperation and coordination of common bioeconomy research programmes and set a basis for common microbiome R&I agendas.

Trafficking of human beings (THB) and child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSA/CSE) are two big problems in our society. Inadvertently, new information and communication technologies (ICTs) have provided a space for these problems to develop and take new forms, made worse by the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, technical and legal tools available to stakeholders that prevent, investigate, and assist victims – such as law enforcement agencies (LEAs), prosecutors, judges, and civil society organisations (CSOs) – fail to keep up with the pace at which criminals use new technologies to continue their abhorrent acts. Furthermore, assistance to victims of THB and CSA/CSE is often limited by the lack of coordination among these stakeholders. In this sense, there is a clear and vital need for joint work methodologies and the development of new strategies for approaching and assisting victims. In addition, due to the cross-border nature of these crimes, harmonisation of legal frameworks from each of the affected countries is necessary for creating bridges of communication and coordination among all those stakeholders to help victims and reduce the occurrence of these horrendous crimes. To address these challenges, the HEROES project comes up with an ambitious, interdisciplinary, international, and victim-centred approach. The HEROES project is structured as a comprehensive solution that encompasses three main components: Prevention, Investigation and Victim Assistance. Through these components, our solution aims to establish a coordinated contribution with LEAs by developing an appropriate, victim-centred approach that is capable of addressing specific needs and providing protection. The HEROES project’s main objective is to use technology to improve the way in which help and support can be provided to victims of THB and CSA/CSE.