Objective
Multiple Sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune demyelinating disease affecting the central nervous system (CNS), causes tremendous disability in young adults and inflicts huge economic burden on the society. The incidence of MS is steadily increasing in many countries arguing for environmental factors driven changes in disease induction. How and which environmental factors contribute to disease initiation and progression is unknown. Using a spontaneous mouse model of MS, we have shown that the gut microbiota is essential in triggering CNS autoimmunity. In contrast to the mice housed in conventional housing conditions, germ free (GF) mice, devoid of gut bacteria, were protected from spontaneous experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (sEAE). Re-colonization of GF mice with a complex regular gut flora derived from specific pathogen free (SPF) mice resulted in sEAE within 2-3 months. The re-colonization also triggered pro-inflammatory T and B cell responses. However, colonization of GF mice with a reduced gut flora failed to induce sEAE during our observation period suggesting a “specific” rather than a “broader” microbial trigger. In this proposal, I want to study the role of gut microbiota in CNS autoimmunity with the following aims:
Aim 1: CNS autoimmunity triggering/protecting gut microbes and host immune responses
I want to study how and which gut bacterial species are modulating CNS autoimmunity to better understand the origin of autoimmune responses and their relation to host immune responses.
Aim 2: Molecular mechanisms of sensing of gut microbiota and microbial metabolites during CNS autoimmunity
I want to identify the molecular pathways that are involved in sensing the gut microbiota and its metabolites which are relevant to CNS autoimmunity.
Aim 3: Therapeutic application of gut microbiota for CNS autoimmunity
I want to identify therapeutic strategies targeting gut microbiota to limit the development of inflammatory processes during CNS autoimmunity.
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 microbiomes
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology multiple sclerosis
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology autoimmune diseases
- medical and health sciences health sciences nutrition
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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.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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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.
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.
ERC-STG - Starting Grant
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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.
(opens in new window) ERC-2014-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
80539 MUNCHEN
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.