RNA matters: the role of transmissible RNAs for social and individual immunity

2020 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K16205
• Research Institution: Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University
• Principal Investigator: VELASQUE Mariana 沖縄科学技術大学院大学, ゲノム・遺伝子制御システム科学ユニット, 客員研究員 (10834591)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: social-immunity / behavioural-immunity / honey bee viruses / honey bee

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

Because of the support of Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research - KAKENHI - I was able to conclude my research entitled "RNA matters: the role of transmissible RNAs for social and individual immunity". Although I am still analyzing the final results of my research, this grant generated four scientific papers. Two research papers are currently in submission in scientific journals and are available as a preprint on the bioRxiv ( https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.05.08.442068v1 and https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.12.11.420604v2), one is completed and currently waiting for co-authors comments and will be submitted soon.

Current Status of Research Progress

3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.

Reason

Because of COVID, co-authors struggled to meet deadlined and complete tasks as initially predicted.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

All data collection is completed and samples sequenced. The last stage is complete RNA-sequence analysis and comparative genomics and writes the scientific paper.

Causes of Carryover

Because of COVID restrictions, co-authors struggled meeting deadlines and the data analysis was delayed. The remaining amount is destined to be used in publication fees. Since two manuscripts are submitted and two will be by the next fiscal year, I will need the remaining of my grant to be used by next fiscal year.