While many biosynthetic pathways in bacteria lead to one or a limited number of products, certain systems produce a diversity of metabolites. The pathways to the bacterial pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) represent striking examples of this phenomenon. A common biosynthetic scheme involving a bimodular nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) and a monooxygenase, in combination with accessory enzymes and/or spontaneous chemical reactions, leads to diverse azacycles such as pyrrolizidines and cyclocarbamates. In recent work, several of these compounds have been found to attenuate virulence of the producing bacteria during interaction with its host. The molecular mechanisms governing such diversification and underlying their biological activity remain unknown. Given the high interest and broad pharmaceutical potential of azacycle-containing molecules, this project proposes to decipher the molecular basis for the chemical diversity of pyrrolizidine and related alkaloids in bacteria, to elucidate structure-function relationships for key enzymes in the pathways, and to apply the obtained knowledge to generate new-to-nature derivatives with interesting bioactivity, notably as anti-virulence compounds of a major human pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Theories, concepts and empirical data can travel between different linguistic and societal spheres. How theories of space enrich ageing and how, in turn, the analyses of the space of ageing can contribute to the questions of general sociology, has been approached from different angles in France and in Germany in the past. The SPAGE project proposes 1) a systematic theoretical comparison of the interplay between age, space, and social exclusion in France and Germany, resulting in a comprehensive theoretical framework. 2) We will then empirically test the framework for potential societal differences and similarities between the two countries, aiming to use their synergy effect in order 3) to create a sustainable research network based on new theoretical approaches and epistemological pathways between Goethe University Frankfurt am Main (through the impulse of the Research Group ‘Doing Transitions’ and the Working Group ‘Interdisciplinary Ageing Research’) and the Université de Grenoble Alpes (through the laboratory of social sciences PACTE where thematic of ageing in public space is developing through ongoing/emerging ANR JCJC projects). Related to the three objectives, the project plan is divided into three work packages. In the first work package, we start a French-German conceptual dialogue aimed at facilitating the exchange of theories, concepts and epistemological pathways used in French and German research on age, space, and social exclusion. On that basis, and facilitated through four “Conceptual workshops” in both countries, we formulate a joint framework. In the second work package, a systematic empirical comparison of the interplay between age, space, and social exclusion in France and Germany leads to a specification of the framework. This second objective is twofold: as a first step, we will compare ongoing research carried out in the respective research groups/countries in both countries (“Data analysis workshops”). Exploiting the potential similarities/differences between the countries, comparative workshops are organized with German and French older participants in the partner’s country to explore how similarities/differences observed in German and French research are experienced (or not) by older adults themselves (“Bridging workshops”). Third, SPAGE wants to challenge the dominant representations of age, such as “age-friendliness”, “active ageing” or “healthy ageing”. By creating a research network on age, space and exclusion through the link between the original research team of both principal investigators, SPAGE would bring forward the multiplicity of age-diversity and age practices (handicapped elderly people/fragile age/age and gender/age and lifespan/ migratory experiences) in the production of space.

Fungi constitute one of the largest groups of organisms on earth with central importance for ecosystem functioning. Despite their obvious relevance for understanding nature and ecosystem change, they have traditionally been neglected in conservation and monitoring, implying a wide-ranging knowledge gap. This project application has an overarching goal of closing this gap, by bringing fungi firmly on the biodiversity map. It will use existing citizen science data to explore spatiotemporal changes in fungal communities and analyse how well the Habitats Directive captures fungal biodiversity. Further, it will develop and test new tools and methods for fungal biodiversity mapping and monitoring, combining citizen science and standardized sampling of DNA from environmental sampling (eDNA). Finally, an important objective is to consolidate open data resources underlying collaboration on fungal biodiversity, by substantially improving taxonomic identification and data linked to DNA-based fungal occurrences. Overall, the project will hence address all three themes of the open Biodiversa call. The project is structured into clearly delegated, yet interlinked thematic work packages (WPs): 1. Improving identification of and unambiguous communication on fungal species 2. Applying and Improving AI tools for fungal monitoring 3. Involving citizen scientists in biodiversity discovery and monitoring 4. Sampling fungal communities by eDNA and 5. Analysing fungal biodiversity patterns in time and space. The project involves computer scientists, bioinformaticians, ecologists, taxonomists and citizen scientists collaborating to solve questions of societal interest. It is novel and seeking maximal applied impact by combining well-established, but so far isolated, tools in innovative ways. The consortium behind the project has a strong track record of previous collaborations and bridges research traditions in Northern, Central and Southern Europe, securing transfer of knowledge across regions, and a wide geographical scope on the ground for those WPs where this is central, i.e., WPs 1, 3 and 4. The project will not only provide a much-needed insight into the conservation status of fungi in Europe. Due to the critical roles fungi play in ecosystems, and their sensitivity to ecosystem change, improved insights into the fungal dimension of biodiversity will be of huge importance for understanding, more broadly, how global change affect ecosystems and associated ecosystem services mediated by fungi. Finally, we believe that the project will have impact on conservation and monitoring in other organism groups, by showcasing how molecular and AI methods in combination with unambiguous communication on species can be combined to increase credibility and impact of biodiversity data