Objective
Despite the advances against infectious diseases, morbidity and mortality still pose a very high social and economic impact. Viruses have developed a plethora of strategies to modulate the host. The main goal of my research is to investigate these strategies in order to understand viral immunomodulation, neuromodulation and pathogenesis. This will permit us to develop better intervention approaches to combat viral infections and their role in neuropathies. Due to their high prevalence and adaptation to their hosts, I will focus on relevant human pathogens within the Herpesviridae family: herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2, respectively) and varicella zoster virus (VZV). These viruses establish latency in sensory ganglia of the peripheral nervous system. The mechanisms that allow the colonization of the nervous system by these viruses are unknown. The interplay between the virus and the immune system is relevant for persistence and pathogenesis.
Chemokines and neurotrophic factors play a relevant role in the crosstalk between the immune and nervous systems. We have recently discovered the first mechanism employed by a virus, HSV, to modulate both sets of proteins. This novel strategy may be relevant for HSV spread, colonization of the nervous system and pathogenesis. Other relevant human pathogens, such as VZV, may express modulators of chemokines and/or neurotrophic factors. These hypotheses will be addressed using molecular, cell biology, functional assays, and mouse models.
My previous experience in viral modulation, the multidisciplinary approach of the project and the interdisciplinary environment of the host institution will ensure the feasibility of this proposal. We will discover novel viral mechanisms of immune, neuromodulation and pathogenesis providing relevant insights on the cellular processes involved. The results will permit developing better intervention approaches to combat viral infections and their role in neuropathies.
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 neurobiology
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology virology
- natural sciences biological sciences cell biology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- medical and health sciences health sciences infectious diseases DNA viruses
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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-2013-CIG
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.
MC-CIG - Support for training and career development of researcher (CIG)
Coordinator
30625 Hannover
Germany
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.