The proposals should address relevant areas of research in terrestrial livestock, and related wildlife as appropriate and should contribute to:

1. understanding the population dynamics of pathogens in and outside hosts, including interactions within and between humans and animals;

2. understanding the drivers of pathogen evolution (e.g. mutations) and their impact on virulence and cross-species transmission;

3. understanding the impact of the host immune response on pathogen adaptation / evolution;

4. understanding the mechanisms of behaviour/persistence of pathogens in animals, animal products, vectors and outside the host (e.g. environment, fomites);

5. inactivation of pathogens in a changing environment;

6. understanding antimicrobial resistance development, where relevant.

The choice of the infectious agent / diseases should take into account their importance for the EU policy and regulatory framework, not least for epizootic diseases such as African swine fever, avian influenza or African horse sickness, or for zoonotic pathogens, or major diseases, including production diseases, responsible for high antimicrobial usage and potential transfer of resistance to human pathogens or microbiota. Where appropriate for the diseases targeted, cooperation with relevant professionals outside the animal health domain (e.g. public health, environment) is recommended, as highlighted by the ‘one health’ approach. The gender aspects should be considered, where relevant, e.g. in pathogen transmission.

They should draw on lessons learned from other EU funded projects on selected diseases and clearly underline how they will bring new knowledge and impacts. International research cooperation with non-EU countries where selected diseases are endemic is encouraged.