BrainMap

Mr. Peter Laszlo Pap

Dr.

Professor - UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI

Teaching staff

Curriculum Vitae (15/10/2019)

Expertise & keywords

Individual and social immunity at work: multilevel defense mechanisms in Myrmica ants against an ectoparasitic fungus Call name: P 1 - SP 1.1 - Proiecte de cercetare Postdoctorală
PN-III-P1-1.1-PD-2016-1272 2019 - 2020

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO)

Project website: https://antsimmunity.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/final_csata_report_annual.pdf

Abstract:

Pathogens, parasites and their hosts provide excellent models for studies on coevolution. They are intrinsically linked but their evolutionary interests are different. However, not just unitary organisms can have parasites, and thus exhibit behavioral modifications due to parasitic effects, but social entities can also be targeted. Ants are frequently exploited by parasites, and in some cases parasitic organisms induce changes in the life history, physiology and behavior of the ant hosts. To defend themselves, ants have evolved a variety of adaptations against parasites, including behavioral, biochemical and immunological responses to reduce virulence and transmission of entomopathogen agents. In addition to individual strategies, social organisms have an additional option to defend themselves against pathogens and parasites, and to fight infections. This line of defense in insect societies is known as the “social immune system”. Thus, social immunity is manifested at the level of the society. In the frame of the current project I intend to study the individual and social defense strategies that help control the infection. I will investigate the defense mechanisms of individuals, and finally those phenomena that manifest at the level of the society. More precisely the effect of fungus on the immune response of host’ ants, the costs (reduction in survival) linked to potential benefits (facilitated immune responses) of this association, the colonial defense mechanisms that could hinder the transmission of the parasite, and how the interaction network within a colony changes on the verge of a parasitic outbreak. The study of ant-fungi interactions enables us to clarify how parasites, pathogens, through affecting individuals, could ultimately influence the social system.

Sex differences in life- history traits in birds and mammals: the significance of physiological state Call name: P 4 - Proiecte de Cercetare Exploratorie
PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2016-0404 2017 - 2019

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO)

Project website: https://avianimmunoecology.wordpress.com/pce-grant/

Abstract:

Life-history theory seeks to understand the evolution of fundamental biological traits with crucial effect on lifetime performance, such as number of offspring produced, survival prospect and lifespan. Studies of life-history theory demonstrated that (1) there is an inverse association between reproductive effort and survival success, (2) species dramatically differ in life-history tactics (some give priority to reproductive effort, others excel in survival), and (3) there is considerable variation in sex differences in life histories (e.g. in many vertebrate species females outlive males). However, the mechanisms that underlie these three patterns are still poorly understood. Although the role physiological systems might play in underpinning the first two patterns are increasingly documented, whether these do also account for sex differences in life histories is still largely unknown. We propose a novel research agenda that addresses this latter issue. For this, we (1) describe the inherently intricate physiological network via multiple markers of innate immunity, oxidative balance and insulin signalling, (2) make use of unprecedented datasets collected by the PI’s team, (3) consider beyond life-history traits (mortality and lifespan) those behavioural, morphological and social traits that are rooted in differences between males and females in terms of sexual selection intensity (mating systems, parental care, sexual size dimorphism and adult sex ratio), and (4) use the phylogenetic comparative approach, a powerful statistical tool to answer evolutionary questions, spanning a large number of ecologically diverse species of birds and mammals. We seek to answer the following questions: (1) Does sex-specific parental effort explain the sexual differences in immune defence and oxidative state? (2) Does sex-specific physiology explain the differential mortality rate and lifespan of males and females? (3) Does sex-specific physiological traits explain adult sex ratio?

RESISTANCE AND TOLERANCE TO PARASITISM AS A MEDIATOR OF AVIAN LIFE HISTORY: THE ROLE OF OXIDATIVE STRESS AND IMMUNE CELL SYSTEM Call name: Projects for Young Research Teams - TE-2010 call
PN-II-RU-TE-2010-0291 2010 - 2013

Role in this project: Project coordinator

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BABES-BOLYAI DIN CLUJ-NAPOCA

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BABES-BOLYAI DIN CLUJ-NAPOCA (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BABES-BOLYAI DIN CLUJ-NAPOCA (RO)

Project website: http://avianimmunoecology.wordpress.com/

Abstract:

PARASITISM IS ONE OF THE MOST WIDESPREAD WAYS OF LIFE ON EARTH, SHAPING ALL ASPECTS OF THE LIFE HISTORY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY OF THE PARASITIZED ORGANISMS, LIKE REPRODUCTION, SOMATIC GROWTH, SURVIVAL, DISTRIBUTION AND THE ABILITY OF ADAPTATION TO NEW ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES. VERTEBRATES DEFENCE AGAINST PARASITES' ATTACKS PRIMARILY THROUGH ACTIVATING THEIR SPECIFIC AND NON-SPECIFIC IMMUNE SYSTEM AND TARGETING DAMAGING REACTIVE OXYGEN PRODUCTS AGAINST INVADING PATHOGENS. AS A RESULT, THE ABILITY OF THE HOST TO RESIST AND/OR TOLERATE PARASITISM IS A KEY ASPECT OF THEIR SUCCESSFULNESS IN TERMS OF FITNESS AND ADAPTABILITY. FURTHER, THE VARIATION BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS, POPULATIONS AND SPECIES IN TOLERATING ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS, LIKE PARASITISM, DEPENDS ON THE CAPACITY OF ORGANISMS TO MANAGE STRESS RESPONSE AGAINST THESE FACTORS. THEREFORE UNDERSTANDING THE MECHANISM OF IMMUNE DEFENCE AGAINST PARASITISM UNDER VARIOUS STRESSFUL CONDITIONS IS ESSENTIAL IN EXPLAINING THE COEVOLUTION BETWEEN THE HOSTS AND INFECTIOUS PARASITES. IN THE PRESENT PROJECT WE PROPOSE TO STUDY THROUGH A MODEL SYSTEM THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: (1) THE DEFENCE AGAINST COCCIDIAN PARASITES OF THE HOUSE SPARROW, WHICH CAN BE DIVIDED INTO TWO CONCEPTUALLY DIFFERENT COMPONENTS: THE ABILITY TO LIMIT PARASITE BURDEN (RESISTANCE) AND THE ABILITY TO LIMIT THE HARM CAUSED BY A GIVEN NUMBER OF BURDEN (TOLERANCE). (2) THE MECHANISM THROUGH THE IMMUNOLOGICAL DEFENCE OF RESISTANCE AND/OR TOLERANCE AGAINST PARASITISM DEVELOPS, AND FINALLY (3) THE ROLE OF STRESS FACTORS IN EXPLAINING ADAPTIVE RESPONSE TO PARASITISM OF BIRDS.

FILE DESCRIPTION	DOCUMENT
List of research grants as project coordinator or partner team leader
Significant R&D projects for enterprises, as project manager
R&D activities in enterprises
Peer-review activity for international programs/projects