Objective
Biofilms represent a multicellular lifestyle of bacteria that causes serious biomedical and technological problems. Biofilm developmental involves an inhibition of motility and an induction of adhesins at the cell surface and culminates in complex structures, in which bacteria are embedded in an extracellular matrix, which renders them resistant against antibiotics and host immune systems. The overall objective of the proposed project is to clarify nature and nurture in bacterial biofilm formation, i.e. to reveal the underlying genetic control network and its integration with environmentally responsive pathways that influence biofilm composition and architecture. The major working hypothesis of this proposal is that the ubiquitously biofilm-stimulating second messenger c-di-GMP and the many proteins associated with its synthesis, degradation and action are mainly responsible for this integration (i) by providing the molecular switches that establish the metastable states characteristic for biofilm development, and (ii) by integrating many of the environmental signals that modulate biofilm composition and architecture. Even in single species, c-di-GMP is produced and degraded by multiple diguanylate cyclases (GGDEF domain proteins) and phosphodiesterases (EAL domain proteins), respectively. This project will elucidate the regulation, function, cooperation and targets of all 29 GGDEF/EAL domain proteins during the entire series of molecular events that generates a biofilm of the model organism Escherichia coli, which includes commensals as well as important pathogens. As c-di-GMP is used by virtually all bacteria, understanding its production and mode of action will open new and general perspectives for interference with bacterial biofilm formation.
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
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs antibiotics
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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.
ERC-2009-AdG
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.
Host institution
10117 Berlin
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.