Objective
Vaccine research has highlighted the need for effective adjuvant formulations that elicit strong, safe and protective cellular immune responses. Through recognition by Toll-like receptors (TLRs), adjuvants brings the immune system in a “state of emergency” required for an efficient vaccine formulation. Knowledge of TLR-mediated signalling, therefore, could lead to rational adjuvant design for vaccines. Bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS), major components of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, are recognized by TLR4. Most synthetic adjuvants designed so far are mimicking the LPS structure but their toxicity and the difficulties related to their synthesis and purification limit their use significantly. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop new efficient and safe adjuvants (not structurally related to LPS).
SFMB laboratory in Brussels designed and synthesized a new cationic lipid, diC14-amidine, which activates TLR4-dependent cellular pathways, suggesting that this lipid is a good candidate for vaccine development. It is easy to synthesize and to modify in order to improve adjuvanticity.
The main goal of this work is to study the interaction between this new class of immunomodulatory lipids and the components of the TLR-4 recognition system, to elucidate how this new class of ligands activate underlying signalling pathways, and to identify, at a molecular level, the characteristics required for an agonist activity. The long term goal is to design and synthesize, on a rational basis, new cationic lipids able to modulate the immune responses activated by TLR4 possibly leading to the development of new and safe adjuvants for vaccines.
The multidisciplinarity nature of this application gives a real opportunity to achieve a major breakthrough in the field of adjuvants and immunomodulation. The unique expertise acquired by the applicant both in structural biology and immunology will undoubtedly improve her potential to reach professional maturity.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules lipids
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs vaccines
- natural sciences biological sciences molecular biology structural biology
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IEF
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
CB2 1TN CAMBRIDGE
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.