Objetivo Whipworms (Trichuris trichuira) are soil-transmitted helminths that infect about 700 million people in the tropicsand sub-tropics and cause the human disease, trichuriasis. Whipworms live preferentially in the cecum of theirhosts where they tunnel through epithelial cells and cause inflammation potentially resulting in colitis. Despiteextensive research, the role of whipworm interactions with epithelial and immune cells in triggering parasiteexpulsion remains unclear, hindering the development of anti-parasite therapies. The ultimate goal of my researchproposal is to investigate and understand this interaction in detail. To achieve this, I will use T. muris, a mousemodel of T. trichuira infection in humans. This research proposal has three key aims. First, to identify new parasiteand host genes that could interplay and modulate immunological outcomes. Second, to characterize the role of hostgenes in whipworm infection and immunity. Here, novel and known candidate mutations conferring susceptibilityto colitis identified through the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute - Mouse Genetics Project will be targeted. Thus, Iwill challenge mutant mouse lines with T. muris and evaluate the influence of these mutations on anti-parasiteimmunity and expulsion. Finally, upon identification of key genes regulating the immune response to whipworms, Iwill explore the mechanism of action of selected genes and their effect on the parasite. For this, I will takeadvantage of the vast range of ‘omic’ technologies and facilities available at the WTSI. This project will generatenovel fundamental data on host-whipworms interactions and also support future efforts to control these parasites bythe identification of potential new therapeutic targets. Moreover, resulting knowledge of the parasiteimmunologicalinterplay could be exploited to understand other intestinal inflammatory diseases such as ulcerativecolitis that have many similarities with trichuriasis. Ámbito científico medical and health scienceshealth sciencestropical medicinemedical and health scienceshealth sciencesinflammatory diseasesmedical and health sciencesclinical medicinegastroenterologyinflammatory bowel diseasemedical and health sciencesbasic medicineimmunologymedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsvaccines Programa(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Tema(s) MSCA-IF-2014-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) Convocatoria de propuestas H2020-MSCA-IF-2014 Consulte otros proyectos de esta convocatoria Régimen de financiación MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinador GENOME RESEARCH LIMITED Aportación neta de la UEn € 183 454,80 Dirección WELLCOME SANGER INSTITUTE WELLCOME GENOME CAMPUS HINXTON CB10 1SA SAFFRON WALDEN Reino Unido Ver en el mapa Región East of England East Anglia Cambridgeshire CC Tipo de actividad Research Organisations Enlaces Contactar con la organización Opens in new window Sitio web Opens in new window Participación en los programas de I+D de la UE Opens in new window Red de colaboración de HORIZON Opens in new window Coste total € 183 454,80
